ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Correlates of Patients’ Preference for Therapeutic Injections in a Major Regional Referral Hospital in Ghana: Implications for Policy and Clinical Practice

Abuse of injections, particularly in resource poor countries, remains a challenge evident in the increasing preference for therapeutic injections over oral medication. Objective of this study is to explore factors associated with patients’ preference for therapeutic injection over oral medication in the Volta Regional Hospital, Ho in Ghana. The study is a cross-sectional survey conducted among 200 patients accessing care in Volta Regional Hospital. Data were analyzed using STATA statistical software for data analysis. Univariate probit regression was used to ascertain factors associated with patients’ preference for therapeutic injections over oral medication (main outcome variable of interest). It was found that 74% of the 200 respondents preferred injection to oral medication. More outpatients preferred injectable medication over oral (p = .041); 86% of the respondents said they never experienced complication related to injectable medication. Patients who perceived injection as more efficacious were more likely to opt for it over oral medication (coefficient = 2.22; SE = 0.33; p < .05). It is concluded that patients’ preference for injectable medication over oral remains high in Ghana, and this preference is significantly associated with patients’ perceptions on superiority of injections over oral medication. There is the need to intensify health education for clients and in-service trainings for health providers to control abuse of therapeutic injections and promote patient safety.

Source: UG
Correlates of Poverty in Africa: Exploring the Roles of Remittances, Financial Development, and Natural Resources

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how remittances, financial development (FD), and natural resources and their different transmission channels can be used to reduce poverty in Africa. Design/methodology/approach Using the Human Development Index (HDI) as the measure of welfare, the authors specify these relationships using the System GMM estimator approach. Findings The authors hypothesise that for remittance to effectively improve welfare, the recipient of remittances must have access to credit to profitably utilise the monies. Again, the authors assert that FD can be effective in improving welfare when development of the sector actually benefits the poor. The authors provide empirical support for these hypotheses using 54 African countries covering the period 1990-2012. The findings also show that the North African region has been able to utilise its oil rents in particular to improve welfare unlike the Sub-Saharan counterpart. Originality/value This paper is the first to jointly estimate the impact of remittances, FD, and natural resources on welfare using a comprehensive measure of poverty – HDI.

Source: UG
Correlates of prevalent HIV infection among adolescents, young adults, and older adult female sex workers in Ghana: Analysis of data from the Ghana biobehavioral survey

Background Human immunodeficiency virus infection remains a high burden among key populations such as female sex workers in the world. We aimed to provide distribution of prevalence and correlates of Human immunodeficiency virus infection among adolescent, young, and older adult FSWs in Ghana. Methods This data was obtained from the biobehavioral survey of female sex workers (2020) in Ghana based on a time location sampling approach for the selection of respondents. A sam pling frame was developed taking into consideration list of venues, days, and time that sex workers operate across all the regions of Ghana. These lists were derived from a sampling universe which was obtained during a mapping exercise. All sex workers aged 16 years and above and eligible on the day of visit participated. Human immunodeficiency virus testing was done based on First Response and Oraquick. To obtain estimates for sex workers, sampling weights were calculated and applied to the dataset. Inferential analyses using Bayesian regression models were applied with interaction effects. Results A total of 5,990 participants completed both the biological and behavioral aspects of the study. The HIV prevalence among female sex workers in Ghana was 4.67% (CI: 4.05%, 5.40%). About 70% of the respondents who tested positive for Human immunodeficiency virus were among the older adults (= >25 years) group. Generally, there was a high preva lence variation across the 16 regions of Ghana, from 0.00% to 8.40%. Respondents’ age was a significant contributor to the prevalence of HIV. Respondents who were forced into having sex had higher odds (38%) of being positive in the combined analysis. Respondents who had comprehensive knowledge of HIV had lower odds (39%) of testing positive. Conclusion The findings suggest a low prevalence of HIV among sex workers in 2020 compared to the 2011 and 2015 biobehavioral survey results but higher than the general population. Specifi cally, older adults have a higher prevalence of HIV. There is generally low level of compre hensive knowledge among sex workers. Interventions geared towards increasing FSW knowledge on risky behavior should be vigorously pursued.

Source: UG
Correlates of sexual inactivity and met need for contraceptives among young women in Ghana

Background Young women in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience unintended pregnancies despite effective contraceptive methods being more readily available than ever. This study sought to determine the correlates of met need for contraceptives and sexual inactivity among young women in Ghana who want to postpone childbearing. We examine this among all women and then separately by marital status. Methods Using data from 1532 females aged 15–24 years from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, we conducted descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses to assess sociodemographic, economic and obstetric determinants of the type of family planning method (current abstinence, modern contraceptive method) used by married and unmarried young women. Results A higher proportion (~ 44%) of the respondents was currently abstinent compared to those with met need (~ 25%). Abstinence was higher among single young women while unmet and met need were higher among the married. Having at least senior high school education was significantly associated with the likelihood of current abstinence (especially among single women) and with met need. Being in the middle and rich categories, on the other hand, was associated with lower likelihood of current abstinence and a met need. Compared with multiparous women, those with one or no surviving child had a lower likelihood of being abstinent and having a met need. Other correlates of both current abstinence and met need are region of residence and ethnicity, while previous pregnancy termination and age were associated with abstinence and contraceptive use, respectively. Conclusions Unmet need is high among young women but abstinence is an option they are using. As reproductive health programmes target the at-risk groups, the secondary and higher educational levels must be attained by most women as this is associated with use of abstinence and met need.

Source: UG
Correlates of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students in Colorado: Analysis and Implications of School-based HIV/AIDS Programs

Objectives of this study arc to examine correlates of antecedent sexual risk exposures associated with HIV/AIDS infection among adolescents participating in the 2005 Colorado Youth Behavioral Risk Survey (CYBRS), and to determine gender differences associated with these exposures since previous studies have produced mixed findings. Variables assessing these relationships were drawn from CYBRS, 2005. We used y to assess bivariate relationships and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate associations among dependent variables (sexual risk behaviors, age at first sex, and number of sexual partners in the past 3 months) and independent variables (in-school H1V/A1DS education, use of illegal substances, physically forced sex, and alcohol use). We found no significant effect of having received in-school HIV/AIDS education on all outcome measures. Compared with females, males were more likely to initiate sex at a relatively younger age, report unprotected sex with multiple partners, and drink alcohol before sexual intercourse. Among females, using 2 illegal substances increased the odds of early sexual debut by 12 times, while using ≥3 substances increased the same odds to 44-fold. Likewise, binge drinking was also asso¬ciated with higher odds of having multiple partners. Hispanic ethnicity and physically forced sex variables were consistently associated with high risk sexual behaviors, early sexual initiation, and increased number of sexual partners. Efforts to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic among adolescents may need to focus on targeted interventions aimed at addressing gender- and racial/ethnic-specific risk exposures among this population group, including risk behaviors linked with lifetime physically forced sex. The need to re-examine the role of in-school HIV prevention programs to build adequate competencies among students, parents and community leaders to reduce risk associated with HIV/AIDS infection among youth is emphasized.

Source: UG
Correlates of uptake of HIV testing among children and young adolescents in Akwa- Ibom state, Nigeria: a secondary data analysis of the Akwa-Ibom aids indicator survey, 2017

Background: In order to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, there is a need to significantly reduce the rate of new infection among children and young adolescents. Identifying the correlates of testing behaviour is necessary to improve HIV testing campaigns by refining messages that target individuals in this age group. The objective of this study was to determine the correlates of HIV testing among children and young adolescents in Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. Methods: The outcome was a secondary data analysis of the 2017 Akwa-Ibom AIDS Indicator Survey. Data of 4037 children and young adolescents aged 0–14 years was assessed in this study. Analysis was done using STATA version 16. Chi-squared test and logistic regression models were used to measure association and its strength between uptake of HIV testing and some independent variables (child/caregiver’s age, sex, educational status, child’s location, caregiver’s knowledge of HIV and caregiver ever tested for HIV) at 5% significance level. Results: Result showed that only 14.2% of the children and young adolescents have been tested for HIV. Previous history of blood transfusion (AOR = 5.33, 95%C.I = 2.60–10.92, P = < 0.001), caregiver’s level of education (AOR = 2.67, 95%C.I = 1.30–5.51, P = 0.008) and caregiver ever tested for HIV (AOR = 8.31, 95%C.I = 5.67–12.19, P = < 0.001) were significantly associated with uptake of HIV testing. Conclusion: This study concludes that a large proportion of children and young adolescents in Akwa-Ibom state have never been tested for HIV. There is a need for HIV testing interventions to be targeted towards this age groups and their parents/guardian. Addressing the knowledge gap amongst caregivers especially in rural areas is crucial towards improving the effectiveness of HIV testing interventions.

Source: UG
Correlation of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide metabolites, trace elements, and antioxidant enzymes in patients with sickle cell disease

Background: Lipid peroxidation plays a very important role in sickle cell pathophysiology. The formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Nitric oxide (NO) is a known vasodilator which plays a role in endothelial function. The current study determined the association between MDA and NO metabolites (NOx), trace elements, and antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in patients with SCD. The ratio of MDA/NOx was also determined as an index of oxidative stress in the study groups. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 90 patients with SCD and 50 “healthy” controls. Blood samples (n = 140) were collected from the study groups. The plasma, sera, and red cells were kept at −20°C for biochemical analyses. Hemoglobin (Hb) and NOx levels were determined in the plasma using Labsystem Multiskan MS and Griess reagent system, respectively. Super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were determined in the red cells using assay kits from Cayman chemicals. Lipid peroxidation biomarker MDA was determined in the sera using the TBARS assay. Levels of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were also determined in the sera using Variant 240FS. MDA and NOx ratio was computed for the study groups and compared. Results: Levels of Hb, NOx, SOD, CAT, and Zn were significantly lower in the patients with SCD (P < .001). MDA, Fe, and MDA/ NOx ratio were, however, significantly higher in the patients with SCD (P < .001). There was no significant correlation between MDA and NOx, SOD, CAT, Fe, and Zn in the study groups. MDA, however, correlated positively and significantly with Cu in the HbSS patients with vaso-occlusive crises (VOC). Gender did not affect the levels of oxidative stress markers. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest a link between lipid peroxidation and Cu in HbSS patients with VOC. Increased MDA/NOx ratio may contribute to sickle cell pathophysiology by promoting oxidative stress

Source: UG
Correlation of relative density and strength properties with anatomical properties of the wood of Ghanaian Celtis species

The relative density (RD) and mechanical strength properties of the wood of four Ghanaian Celtis species have been studied. There were significant differences between the relative densities of the wood of the species. The wood of Celtis mildbraedii was significantly heavier (RD = 0.872) than those of C. adolfi-friderici (RD = 0.685), C. wightii (RD = 0.771) and C. zenkeri (RD = 0.789). Celtis adolfi-friderici was the lightest among the four species. There was good correlation between the relative density and some of the strength properties of the species. The wall thickness of the vessels and fibres, the fractional wall volume of the vessels and fibres of the wood were the major contributors to the density and strength of the wood of C. adolfi-friderici, C. mildbraedii and C. zenkeri.

Source: UG
Correspondence Relating to a Scheme for Extending the System of Village Dispensaries and Improving the Training of the African Nursing and Dispensing Staff

I have the honour to refer to that part of the Report of the Committee, appointed by the Secretary of State in 1927, which dealt with a scheme for the creation and training of an auxiliary service of Medical Assistants, and to paragraph 16 of Sir Ransford Slater's despatch of the I7th November, 1928, in which he informed Mr. Amery that he approved that scheme in principle and would submit his views after questions of details and costs had been settled

Source: UG
Correspondence relating to the Proposal to Close down 'The Gold Coast Commercial Intelligence Bureau

I have the honor to refer to the Governor's dispatches No. 491 Dated the 3rd July, 1929 and No. 26 dated the 7th January, 1930 on The subject of the Gold Coast Commercial Intelligence Bureau in which various arguments for and against the continuation of the Bureau were Discussed at some length. Although measures have been taken to reduce The expenditure of the Bureau, the question of its continuance must now Be further considered owing to the need for drastic reduction of the Colony's expenditure.

Source: UG
Correspondence relating to the Proposal to Close down the Gold Coast Commercial Intelligence Bureau

I have the honour to refer to the Governor's despatches No. 491 dated the 3rd July, 1929 and No. 26 dated the 7th January, 1930 on the subject of the Gold Coast Commercial Intelligence Bureau in which various arguments for and against the continuation of the Bureau were discussed at some length. Although measures have been taken to reduce the expenditure of the Bureau, the question of its continuance must now be further considered owing' to the need for drastic reduction of the Colony' s expenditure.

Source: UG
Correspondence Relating To the Queen's Jurisdiction on the Gold Coast and the Abolition of Slavery within the Protectorate

Whereas the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty has resolver to abolish slave dealing in Her Protectorate of the Gold Coast and the importation thereinto of slaves and persons intended to be dealt with as slaves and also to provide for the Emancipation of persons holden as slaves within the said Protectorate

Source: UG
Corrigendum to “Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings”

While both school- and community-based modalities can provide nationally representative data among eligible adolescents, several shortcomings in adolescent health measurement in LMICs were noted by the GAMA Advisory Group (Reference 13 as in the original paper). First, these measurements do not equally cover all adolescent subgroups, with evidence gaps being largest for males, younger adolescents aged 10–14 years, adolescents of diverse genders, ethnicities, and religions, as well as those out of school and migrants. Second, age-disaggregated data are often lacking—due in part to incomplete age coverage—limiting their use for program planning. Third, several aspects of adolescent health are inadequately covered including mental health, substance use, injury, sexual and reproductive health among unmarried adolescents, and positive aspects of adolescent health and well-being. Fourth, the definitions and assessment methods used across adolescent health indicator frameworks are incon sistent. For example, adolescent overweight and obesity—a major cause of non-communicable diseases and a public health risk for future and intergeneration health—is inconsistently captured across indicator frameworks and strikingly absent from the SDGs (Reference 13 as in the original paper). Additional shortcomings include, current adolescent health data systems often lack intersectoral coordination beyond health (e.g., with education, water and sanitation, and social protection systems) and suffer from irregularities in coverage and timing (Reference 6 as in the original paper).

Source: UG
Corrigendum to importance offisheries for food security across threeclimate change vulnerable deltas Science of the total Environment640–641 (2018) 1566–1577

On the behalf of my co-authors I submit the following corrigendum: #1 Hilsa kelee should be replaced with Tenualosa ilisha (in 3 places) Appendix A - Table A1 Page 9 - Marine (under common name Hilsa Shad) Page 10 Freshwater (under common name of Hilsa shad) Page 11 Table A2 Freshwater (under common name of Hilsa shad) #2 Penaeus semiculcatus should be Penaeus semisulcatus (in 1 place). Page 10 Table A2 Penaeid Prawn #3 Cirrhinus cirrhosus should be Cirrhinus mrigala (in 3 places). Appendix A Page 10 Table A1 Aquaculture Page 11 Table A2 Freshwater Page 11 Table A2 Aquaculture #4 Oreochromis mossambicus should be Oreochromis niloticus (in 1 place). The fish is not native in Bangladesh, therefore, for tilapia, Oreochromic niloticus – ‘Native’ should be replaced with ‘Introduced’ in 3rd column. (in 1 place). Appendix A Page 10 Table A1 Aquaculture Finally, the acknowledgments of the manuscript should be: This work was funded under the project “Deltas, Vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and Adaptation (DECCMA)” funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC 107642) and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) through the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA). Jose A. Fernandes received further funding through the Gipuzkoa Talent Fellowships programme, by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, Spain. We thank all the people that have helped to collect the data. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

Source: UG
The corrosion behaviour of WC-VC-Co hardmetals in acidic media

The effect of increasing vanadium carbide (VC) content on the corrosion behaviour of tungsten carbide – 10 wt% cobalt hardmetals was investigated in 1 M hydrochloric (HCl), and sulphuric (H2SO4) acids solutions. Increasing VC content makes the open circuit potential (OCP) in the test solutions more negative than the base alloy. Specimens exhibited pseudo passivation in all the test solutions. Increasing VC led to decreasing corrosion current density. However, the corrosion current densities during chronoamperometric tests were lower for 0 wt% VC. XRD and Raman spectroscopy showed that hydrated WO3 formed in the surface films of all specimens in hydrochloric acid (HCl), while hydrated vanadyl sulphate also formed for higher VC content specimens in sulphuric acid (H2SO4).

Source: UG
Corruption and illegal logging in Ghana

Illegal logging is widespread in Ghana, a West African country with a history of rapid forest loss. While state forest management agencies have often attributed their inability to control illegal logging to lack of resources, this paper shows how corrupt practices also contribute to the problem. It has been demonstrated that as a result of neopatrimonialism and bureaucratic corruption, stated rules for awarding timber utilisation contracts have often been ignored. Similarly, although the activities of chainsaw operators have been banned, operators still rely on their corrupt networks with forest guards to harvest wood for sale. Corruption also affects the ability of the Forest Services Division to collect royalties and taxes from timber firms. As a result of these corrupt practices, the exploitation of forest resources is resulting in negative development outcomes. This paper suggests that improving the institutional framework of the state, legalising the operations of chainsaw operators and increasing the participation of civil society in forest monitoring processes might control corruption and illegal logging in Ghana.

Source: UG
Corruption Here, Corruption There, Corruption Everywhere: A Framework for Understanding and Addressing Public Sector Corruption in Developing African Democracies

Corruption exists in all political jurisdictions globally, but it is believed to be more pronounced in transitional democracies especially African countries. Due to the extent of corruption in African countries, scholars and practitioners in the fields of public policy and development studies suggest that corruption has significantly undermined, and continues to undermine development on the continent. Using Africa as a case study and selected theoretical models, this paper views corruption as a transaction process and provides a model to explain how the transaction occurs between the actors involved. It also explores how corruption diminishes efforts towards the development of Africa, and proposes a comprehensive framework that can be adopted to curb the canker of corruption in Africa. The study adopted the content analysis technique within qualitative study. It thus, draws extensively on existing literature available in peer reviewed articles, conference and government reports, books and magazines. Among the key findings of the study are that; corruption is a two-way affair, which manifests in some sort of demand and supply. It was also found out that the prevalence of weak bureaucratic institutions and systems (context) and the manner of how transactions are conducted (process) all contribute to promotion of corruption in developing African countries. In order to address the problem of corruption, the study recommends the adoption of a holistic approach, which involves a strong political will to enforce law and order, strengthening state institutions to detect, expose and prosecute culprits irrespective of their status and political affiliation. The paper also suggests that bureaucratic and political elites should take the lead in fighting corruption by conducting themselves in a manner that will inspire trust and confidence in the entire political system.

Source: UG