LAUSR

How children experience hospitalization is very different from how an adult experiences hospitalization, and the same child will experience hospitalization differently. There have been efforts by individuals, groups and countries to minimize the detrimental effects and trauma that hospitalization can have on a child. One of the main goals is to normalize the hospital environment. The fight to achieve this has led to the introduction of arts in healthcare to reduce stress and also improve child healthcare. Despite the increasing effort by other countries to inculcate art in healthcare, Ghana seems to have neglected the role that arts play on child healthcare management. There also seem to be no research conducted on the role of art in childcare management in the country. For that matter, the aim of the research was to find out the effects of visual arts on child health care management in some selected hospitals in Ghana. To achieve the objectives of this study, the following research questions were instrumental: What are the types of visual arts forms used in child healthcare management? What are the perceptions of health personnel on the use of visual arts in child healthcare? What are the benefits of the use of visual arts forms in child healthcare delivery? The study adopted the descriptive survey design for the study. The study used health personnel at the children hospitals as respondents. A sampling size of 14 health personnel was selected. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse and describe the data collected and that formed the basis of the presentation of findings. The study though had some limitations, is capable of influencing child health care management positively. The following findings and conclusions were drawn: The types of visual arts forms used in child healthcare management are pictures and drawings on hospital walls, use of cartoons, drawing, painting and beading. The most common one among the hospitals is pictures and drawings on hospital walls. About 43% of health personnel are not even aware of anything about arts in child healthcare. Health personnel who are aware of it and have observed art therapy before have positive view about the use of Arts (visual art forms) in child healthcare delivery. The use of visual art forms as a form of child healthcare delivery is very beneficial to patients, parents and hospitals VIDA KORKOR TETTEH 2019