ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
'This Sickness Is Not Hospital Sickness': A Qualitative Study of the Evil Eye as a Source of Neonatal Illness in Ghana

Previous research has described the evil eye as a source of illness for pregnant women and their newborns. This study sought to explore the perceptions of the evil eye among mothers whose newborns had experienced a life-threatening complication across three regions of Ghana. As part of a larger, quantitative study, trained research assistants identified pregnant and newly delivered women (and their newborns) who had survived a life-threatening complication at three tertiary care hospitals in southern Ghana to participate in open-ended, qualitative interviews about their experiences in March-August 2015. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim into English and analysis using the constant comparative method of theme generation. A total of 37 mothers were interviewed, 20 about neonatal illnesses and 17 about maternal illnesses. Six of the 20 mothers interviewed about their newborn's illnesses spoke at length about the evil eye being a potential cause of newborn illness. The evil eye was described in a variety of terms, but commonalities included a person looking at a pregnant woman, her newborn baby, the baby's clothes and even the mother's food, causing harm, even unintentionally. Prevention required mothers covering themselves while pregnant and keeping the baby away from others until it was old enough to ward off the evil eye. Treatment required traditional medicine, yet some indicated that allopathic medicine could help. The evil eye appears to serve a social control mechanism, encouraging pregnant women to dress modestly, stay indoors as much as possible and behave appropriately. The evil eye is a pervasive, universally understood phenomenon across three regions of Ghana, even amongst a hospitalized population receiving allopathic health care for life-threatening complications of childbirth. Understanding the role of the evil eye in newborn illness attribution is important for clinicians, researchers and programmatic staff to effectively address barriers to care seeking.

Source: UG
“Those are things for&nbsp;married people” exploring parents’/adults’ and&nbsp;adolescents’ perspectives on&nbsp;contraceptives in&nbsp;Narok and&nbsp;Homa Bay Counties, Kenya

Background: Contraceptive use among adolescent girls is low in many sub-Saharan African countries including Kenya. Attitude and perspectives about contraception of community members including adolescent girls themselves may be likely to limit contraceptive use among adolescent girls. This study was conducted to explore and compare adults’/parents’ and adolescent girls’ narratives and perspectives about contraception in Narok and Homa Bay coun- ties, Kenya. Methods: Qualitative data from 45 in-depth-interviews conducted with purposively selected consenting adolescent girls aged 15–19 was used. Additionally, twelve focus group discussions were held with 86 consenting adults con- veniently recruited from the two counties. All discussions were conducted in the local language and audio recorded following consent of the study participants. Female moderators were engaged throughout the study making it appro- priate for the study to solicit feedback from the targeted respondents. Results: Findings highlighted adults’ perceptions on adolescents’ sexuality and the presence of stringent concep- tions about the side-eﬀects of contraception in the study communities. Some participants underscored the need for open contraceptive talk between parents and their adolescent girls. Four main themes emerged from the discussions; (i) Perceptions about adolescents’ sexuality and risk prevention, (ii) Conceptions about contraception among nul- ligravida adolescents: fear of infertility, malformation and sexual libertinism, (iii) Post-pregnancy contraceptive consid- erations and (iv) Thinking diﬀerently: divergent views regarding contraceptives and parent/adolescent discussion. Conclusions: Our ﬁndings suggest the need for increased attention towards adolescents and their caregivers particularly in demystifying contraceptive misconceptions. Programmatic responses and models which include the provision of comprehensive sexuality education and increased access to and utilization of SRH information, products and services through a well-informed approach need to be well executed. Programmatic eﬀorts like SRH community education should further seek to enhance the capacity of parents to discuss sexuality with their adolescents.

Source: UG
“Those are things for married people” exploring parents’/adults’ and adolescents’ perspectives on contraceptives in Narok and Homa Bay Counties, Kenya

Background: Contraceptive use among adolescent girls is low in many sub-Saharan African countries including Kenya. Attitude and perspectives about contraception of community members including adolescent girls themselves may be likely to limit contraceptive use among adolescent girls. This study was conducted to explore and compare adults’/parents’ and adolescent girls’ narratives and perspectives about contraception in Narok and Homa Bay counties, Kenya. Methods: Qualitative data from 45 in-depth-interviews conducted with purposively selected consenting adolescent girls aged 15–19 was used. Additionally, twelve focus group discussions were held with 86 consenting adults conveniently recruited from the two counties. All discussions were conducted in the local language and audio recorded following consent of the study participants. Female moderators were engaged throughout the study making it appropriate for the study to solicit feedback from the targeted respondents. Results: Findings highlighted adults’ perceptions on adolescents’ sexuality and the presence of stringent conceptions about the side-effects of contraception in the study communities. Some participants underscored the need for open contraceptive talk between parents and their adolescent girls. Four main themes emerged from the discussions; (i) Perceptions about adolescents’ sexuality and risk prevention, (ii) Conceptions about contraception among nulligravida adolescents: fear of infertility, malformation and sexual libertinism, (iii) Post-pregnancy contraceptive considerations and (iv) Thinking differently: divergent views regarding contraceptives and parent/adolescent discussion. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the need for increased attention towards adolescents and their caregivers particularly in demystifying contraceptive misconceptions. Programmatic responses and models which include the provision of comprehensive sexuality education and increased access to and utilization of SRH information, products and services through a well-informed approach need to be well executed. Programmatic efforts like SRH community education should further seek to enhance the capacity of parents to discuss sexuality with their adolescents.

Source: UG
Though the Missionary is dead, God lives: African Initiatives in the founding, continuation and spread of nineteenth century Wesley Methodism in Ghana/West Africa. BOLESWA

Invariably, Christian missionary historiography is Sub-Saharan Africa has been unduly Eurocentric. It has the tendency of attributing successes of missionary endeavors to the efforts of the Western missionaries, pushing the crucial role of the indigenous African Christian to the background. The fact is the history of African Christianity is woefully incomplete if it does not underscore the reaction of the indigenous African and his/her role in its spread. This essay is a contribution to various attempts to highlight aspects of the role of indigenous Africans in the missionary endeavors of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) in Ghana/West Africa during the nineteenth century. It emphasizes the fact that successful missionary work in Africa has been a joint effort by the Western missionaries and their African counterparts.

Source: UG
Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species

As several learned gentlemen of distinguished abilities, as well as eminent for their great humanity, liberality and candour, have written various drays against that infamous traffic of the African Slave Trade, carried on with the West India planters and merchants, to the great Shame and disgrace of all Christian nations wherever it is admitted in any of' their territories, or in any place or situation amongst them; it cannot be amiss that I should thankfully acknowledge these truly worthy and humane gentlemen with the warmest sense of gratitl1de, for their beneficent and laudable endeavours towards a total suppression of that infamous and iniquitous traffic of stealing, kid-napping, buying, selling, and cruelly enslaving men

Source: UG
A three-year prospective study of 137 cases of acute leukaemia in Zimbabwe.

The overall goal of the department is to conduct research and provide solutions to nutritional problems in Ghana. In pursuance of this goal, the Nutrition Department since its inception has focused its research in the areas of maternal, infant and young child nutrition, food consumption and food security and micronutrient deficiency and interventions. These are priority food and nutrition problems in Ghana.

Source: UG
The thrills and tears of National Health Insurance Scheme cardholders in Ghana

Ghana introduced a national health insurance scheme (NHIS) in 2004 as part of a major development policy framework - Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) implemented in 2003. The aim of the NHIS was to replace the hitherto obnoxious ‘Cash and Carry System’ of paying for health care at the point of service, and to provide a better and much more humane financial arrangement that will enable the poor to access health care service without having to pay at the point of service delivery. The establishment of the scheme was also to ensure an improvement in the quality of basic health care services for all citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable. After years of being burdened under the cash and carry system the introduction of the NHIS received loud applause especially among the poor who now found a social protection system that provided succour for their healthcare expenditure problems. Five years later, a nationwide Citizen’s Assessment of the scheme showed that over 40 percent of Ghanaians have not subscribed to the scheme and about 36 percent others who ever registered failed to renew their cards after expiry of their membership. Unfortunately no attempt is made to understand ‘at a close range’ the tears of those who have dropped out of the scheme or the thrills of those who are still registrants with the scheme. Information of this sort is important to help pull out both real and out of sight problems that confront the implementation of a publicly-subsidised national programme such as the NHIS. The goal of this study is to provide information on the determinants of households’ renewal or non-renewal (dropout) of membership on the NHIS. The methodology is both quantitative and qualitative. The qualitative allowed a closer interaction with persons who have used the insurance card to access health care.

Source: UG
Through the lens of the clinician: autopsy services and utilization in a large teaching hospital in Ghana

Abstract Background Declining hospital autopsy rates in many countries have generated considerable concern. The survey determined challenges of the autopsy service in a large Teaching Hospital in Ghana, from the perspective of clinicians. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) over in 2012. The data was collected using a 69 item self-administered structured questionnaire. In all a total of 215 questionnaires were sent out and 119 doctors responded. Data was collected on the challenges of the autopsy services and barriers to autopsy request from the perspectives of clinicians. Survey data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics (i.e. proportions, ratios and percentages. Data from survey was analyzed with SPSS version 21. Results The most common reasons for requesting autopsies were to answer clinical questions, 55 (46.2%) and in cases of uncertain diagnosis, 54 (45.4%). Main demand side barriers to the use of autopsy services by clinicians were reluctance of family to give consent for autopsy 100 (84%), due to cultural and religious objections 89 (74.8%), extra funeral cost to family53 (44.5%) and increased duration of stay of body in the morgue 19 (16%). Health system barriers included delayed feedback from autopsy service 54 (45.4%), difficulties following up the autopsy process 40 (33.6%) due to uncertainties in the timing of particular events in the autopsy process, and long waiting time for autopsy reports 81 (68.1%). More than a third of clinicians 43 (36.2%), received full autopsy report beyond three weeks and 75 (63.1%) clinicians had concerns with the validity of reports issued by the autopsy service (i.e. reports lack specificity or at variance with clinical diagnosis, no toxicological, histological or tissue diagnoses are performed). Conclusion The autopsy service should restructure itself efficiently and management should support the provision of histological and toxicological services. Strengthening internal and external quality improvement and control of autopsies in the Hospital are essential.

Source: UG
Through the lens of the clinician: Autopsy services and utilization in a large teaching hospital in Ghana

Background: Declining hospital autopsy rates in many countries have generated considerable concern. The survey determined challenges of the autopsy service in a large Teaching Hospital in Ghana, from the perspective of clinicians. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) over in 2012. The data was collected using a 69 item self-administered structured questionnaire. In all a total of 215 questionnaires were sent out and 119 doctors responded. Data was collected on the challenges of the autopsy services and barriers to autopsy request from the perspectives of clinicians. Survey data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics (i.e. proportions, ratios and percentages. Data from survey was analyzed with SPSS version 21. Results: The most common reasons for requesting autopsies were to answer clinical questions, 55 (46.2%) and in cases of uncertain diagnosis, 54 (45.4%). Main demand side barriers to the use of autopsy services by clinicians were reluctance of family to give consent for autopsy 100 (84%), due to cultural and religious objections 89 (74.8%), extra funeral cost to family53 (44.5%) and increased duration of stay of body in the morgue 19 (16%). Health system barriers included delayed feedback from autopsy service 54 (45.4%), difficulties following up the autopsy process 40 (33.6%) due to uncertainties in the timing of particular events in the autopsy process, and long waiting time for autopsy reports 81 (68.1%). More than a third of clinicians 43 (36.2%), received full autopsy report beyond three weeks and 75 (63.1%) clinicians had concerns with the validity of reports issued by the autopsy service (i.e. reports lack specificity or at variance with clinical diagnosis, no toxicological, histological or tissue diagnoses are performed). Conclusion: The autopsy service should restructure itself efficiently and management should support the provision of histological and toxicological services. Strengthening internal and external quality improvement and control of autopsies in the Hospital are essential. Â© 2014 Yawson et al.

Source: UG
Throwing stones in Jest: Kasena women’s proverbial revolt

This paper looks at how Kasena women from Northern Ghana take advantage of a socially sanctioned medium, the joking relationship that exists between an individual and her spouse’s siblings, to subvert and contradict Kasem proverbs in an effort to transcend the misogynist images and connotations of these proverbs as well as to critique patriarchal norms.

Source: UG
“Thy Law Is within My Heart” (Ps 40:7). Sacred Tradition in the Hebrew Psalter and in African Indigenous Texts

Every society possesses systems for accessing, preserving, and transmitting its traditions. These are meant to ensure that privileged knowledge entrusted to reliable custodians is passed on un‑ changed between generations for the preservation of society. In Africa, scholars have advocated new hermeneutical approaches to the study of the Bible, arguing that the adoption of traditional methods of exegesis served as another instrument in the colonialists’ toolkit to undermine the reception and preservation of Africa’s sacred traditions. Using African Biblical Hermeneutics, this paper studies the processes for preserving Sacred Tradition in Psalm 40. Similar processes are found in African Indigenous Sacred Texts such as the mate masie of the Adinkra textual system. I argue, therefore, that a complementary reading of the texts of the two traditions could serve to de‑link from the monocular vision of traditional exegesis and offer a much more fruitful approach to interpreting these texts and making them relevant to the contemporary African reader.

Source: UG
Thyroid hormone status in Ghanaian patients with chronic kidney disease

Introduction There is limited data on the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Ghanaian individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Studies exploring the effect of thyroid hormones on renal function decline are also scanty. Unrecognized thyroid dysfunction in CKD may increase the burden of adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine thyroid hormone status and lipid profiles in patients with CKD attending the Renal Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Methods 60 clinically euthyroid patients with CKD, and 65 clinically euthyroid subjects without CKD were recruited for this study. Estimation of effective glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was done using the 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula with subsequent staging of CKD (stages 2-4). Collected venous blood samples from all study participants were analyzed for creatinine, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG). Results Levels of TC, HDL, LDL, and TSH levels did not differ significantly between the two study groups. However, TG, VLDL, FT3 and FT4 levels were significantly higher in CKD patients than in the control group. TC, TG, HDL, LDL, VLDL and TSH levels were not significantly different between stages of CKD in study subjects, although FT4 and FT3 levels were significantly different between all stages of CKD. Conclusion Higher levels of FT3 and FT4 but not TSH, are associated with the incidence of CKD and eGFR decline in Ghanaian CKD patients.

Source: UG
Tibullus Poems and issue on Yoruba beliefs. Drumspeak International

The human society has a history of exposure to strange or incomprehensive experiences. Different explanations have been employed in coming to terms with puzzling occurrences for ages, and here is a consideration of superstition, the subjective pattern that often guides or accounts for human perceptions and behaviours, either as individuals or as a group, which may be overt and obvious to others or inward. Superstition in this context is treated as a belief that is held on to, even when an empirical basis is lacking. The paper employs the work of the roman poet. Tibullus and some Yoruba beliefs to examine behaviours to which human beings attach a specific meaning or set of meanings that are challenged from time to time by reasoning considered more enlightened. In addition to underlining the personal subjective meanings of Roman and Yoruba beliefs, the paper partly depicts how social and religious structures influence self-goals, and problem-solving activities, calling on man to bear some responsibility for his action or inaction.

Source: UG
Tick communities of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Background The majority of the African population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. To increase the productivity and sustainability of their farms, they need access to affordable yield-enhancing inputs of which parasite control is of paramount importance. We therefore determined the status of current tick species with the highest economic impact on cattle by sampling representative numbers of animals in each of seven sub-Saharan countries. Methods Data included tick species’ half-body counts from approximately 120 cattle at each of two districts per country, collected four times in approximately 1 year (to include seasonality). Study sites were chosen in each country to include high cattle density and tick burden. Results East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania) showed overall a higher diversity and prevalence in tick infestations compared to West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria). In East Africa, Amblyomma var iegatum (vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium), Rhipicephalus microplus (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Anaplasma marginale), R. evertsi evertsi (A. marginale) and R. appendiculatus (Theileria parva) were the most prevalent tick species of economic importance. While the latter species was absent in West Africa, here both A. variegatum and R. microplus occurred in high numbers. Rhipicephalus microplus had spread to Uganda, infesting half of the cattle sampled. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is known for its invasive behaviour and displacement of other blue tick species, as observed in other East and West African countries. Individual cattle with higher body weights, as well as males, were more likely to be infested. For six tick species, we found reduced infestation levels when hosts were treated with anti-parasiticides. Conclusions These baseline data allow the determination of possible changes in presence and prevalence of ticks in each of the countries targeted, which is of importance in the light of human-caused climate and habitat alterations or anthropogenic activities. As many of the ticks in this study are vectors of important pathogens, but also, as cattle may act as end hosts for ticks of importance to human health, our study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for tick infestation surveillance and prevention.

Source: UG