ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Child Training in Dawu (Akuapim District)

Dawu is a village in Akuapim District of the Gold Coast Colony. It is situated on the mountain range at the eastern end of the District and is the tenth town counting from Aburi. The village was settled by the Kyerepongs who are one of the three tribes driven south by the Bantu race. It seems to be properly placed for it receives a cool north easterly wind and land breeze in the afternoons. Because of the mountains there is heavy dew drops in the morning.

Source: UG
Child Training in Fante Enyiabirim

The introduction to this essay is intended to give an insight into its nature of the area under survey. I am deliberately attempting this because it is my conviction that the mode of life of any one community depends to a large extend on the nature of the country in which the people live and to some degree on the contacts they make with people of their immediate surroundings and with the outside world. Knowledge of the conditions obtaining there will help one to appreciate to the full the many problems that have influenced in the past and still continue to affect the training of a child in that community.

Source: UG
Child Training in Sissala Culture

The Sissala tribe is found at the north western comer of the Northern territories of the Gold Coast Prior to the advent of the Europeans, this tribe was subject to various lambarima raids for slaves for the slave for the slave trade which was then carried on in many parts of Africa. The tribe was finally saved by the British when they defeated the lambarima and drove their Babahs into the French territory. The results of these slave raids are the present population of the Sissala country

Source: UG
Child training in Supowmu-1

Supowmu Dunkwa is on the cape coast-secondi road chiefly in these modern days by motor vehicular conveyance one come upon a cluster of sun –baked mud wall buildings stretching fairly parallel to the motor road for about two hundred yards and about the same number of yards deep towards the left.Suddenly because of a sharp bend of the road less than 300 yards from it and because of the thick forest which half conceals it

Source: UG
Child Training in the Kle Division of Teshie

This essay is result of an investigation of Child Training in the Kl e Division of the Teshie people. It should be understood that this work is offered with hesitation as an experimental endeavour by the uninitiated ' to tread on ' Holy Ground’. It may be regarded as a pioneer attempt to understand the people of the Deviation in as much as this is only concerned with Child Training. Based on limited field work and limited source of material, it is necessarily incomplete and, in spite of the care which has been taken to ensure accuracy, it probably contains factual errors. Teachers, and educationists on the whole, have been among the first to claim that education, to be truly efficient should be adapted to the needs of each individual child. Their maxim has been: fit the school to the pupil, not the pupil to the school. But such a principle implies that the .function of the teacher is by no means limited to actual teaching. To ensure that his teaching is successful, he must first make a psychological study of every boy or girl in his class. To teach Arithmetic to Kofi or Geography to Kojo, it is not sufficient to know the principle of Arithmetic or the facts of Geography: he must also know Kofi and Kojo. It is with this aim in view that this essay is written.

Source: UG
Child Wanted and When? Fertility Intentions, Wantedness, and Child Survival in Rural Northern Ghana

Panel survey data collected in rural northern Ghana asked women about the “wantedness” status of their children. Parous women were asked whether they wanted more children, while those who had never had a child were asked whether they wanted to have children in the future; those who said that they did not want to have any more children in the future were asked whether they wanted to become pregnant when they last became pregnant and, if so, whether they wanted to become pregnant at the time, or would have preferred to be pregnant earlier or later. This article analyzes longitudinal responses to these questions over a 10-year period. Birth and survival histories of subsequently born children linked to preference data permit investigation of the question: are “wanted” children more likely to survive than “unwanted” children? Hazard models are estimated to determine whether children born to women who indicated that they did not want to have a child at the time they did, or did not want any more children in the future, have a higher risk of mortality relative to children who were reported wanted at the time of pregnancy. Results show no significant differences in adjusted mortality risks between children who were reported to be wanted and those reported to be unwanted.

Source: UG
Child welfare in Ghana: The relevance of children's rights in practice

Summary: When Ghana ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) it made a commitment to ensure compliance with the UNCRC by reviewing its children and youth social policies. Yet, to date, there is little empirical evidence that compares how children's rights are perceived by professionals at the strategic and operational levels in Ghana. Thus, this article seeks to provide an insight by comparing the two professional levels. Drawing on in-depth interview data with government personnel who have strategic responsibilities of child care policies and with operational staff in a residential child care institution we analyse how the relevance of children's rights is constructed by these two groups. Findings: It is concluded that at both professional levels the concept of children's rights is associated with legislation and institutions, rhetoric of rights and child participation. However, for many of the operational staff children's rights appeared to be an abstract concept even though it was central to their daily work. Applications: The study suggests that implementation of the UNCRC has so far remained largely at the policy level, as a result, very little has been accomplished to advance children's rights in terms of changing the relationship between the State and children. It is therefore critical to organise more child rights training for professionals who are engaged in direct work with and/for children at all levels of the Ghanaian society to inform their practice. Further, the training needs to rectify the limitation and misconstrual of the concept of children's rights to only child participation. © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Source: UG
Childhood Activities and Schistosomiasis Infection in the Kassena-Nankana District of Northern Ghana.

Schistosomiasis is a common cause of morbidity especially among rural children in less developed countries. The extent and distribution of schistosomiasis infection among school-age children was assessed and the association between some childhood activities and prevalence of infection was determined in northern Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted during which stool and urine samples were collected from children 6-15 years. Samples were analysed using the Kato-Katz technique and the 10 ml urine filtration methods respectively. Data on water contact activities were also collected. The level of infection was compared in relation to location and water contact activities. A total of 1,764 children participated in the study. Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 18.9%. The highest level of infection (33.1%) was found among children resident in the southern part of the district, the lowest among those in the eastern (3.6%) and northern (3.8%) parts. S. mansoni infection was 10.9%. The highest level of S. mansoni infection (54.2%) was found among children resident in the central part of the district. The overall prevalence of infection (S. haematobium+S. mansoni) was moderate (27.1%). More males (32.5%) than females (20.2%) were infected (χ2=32.8, P<0.0001). Children aged 9-12 years had the highest prevalence of infection (31.8%; 95% CI: 28.4- 35.5) with the lowest among those aged 6-8 years (23.9%; 95% CI: 20.2-28.0). Swimming in the canals (χ2=404.4, P<0.0001) and working on tomato farms (χ2=37.7, P<0.0001) were risk factors for infection. Herding cattle appeared to have protected the children from infection (χ2=34.8, P=0.0001). Schistosomiasis is prevalent throughout the district with children resident in the central and southern parts of the district being more at risk of infection. There is the need to put in place an integrated and effective schistosomiasis control programme.

Source: UG
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in Ghanaians and Germans--a comparative study.

The records of 20 ALL patients aged 12 years and below seen at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital(KBTH) between December 1982 and May 1990 were examined as well as that of their counterparts in Hamburg University Children's Hospital(HHOG) matched by age, sex and as closely as possible date of presentation. Data on clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and outcomes were taken and analysed using binomial proportions and paired samples T-tests. It was found that KBTH patients presented with lower haemoglobin levels, bigger organ enlargements, received less intensive treatment and defaulted more often than HHOG patients. White blood cell(WBC) counts were statistically the same. Achievability of remission was 75% and 100% for KBTH and HHOG patients respectively. Average follow up was 6 months for KBTH patients and 69 months for HHOG. 60% of KBTH patients had defaulted at the time of the study. 75% of HHOG patients were alive at the time of study with the longest follow up being 114 months. It is concluded that in spite of the bigger organ enlargement for the KBTH patients, WBC count which is the single most important prognostic factor was the same for both groups, and with less intensive therapy, achievability of remission for KBTH was 75%--reasonably good. More work need to be done in Africa on prognostic features and treatment.

Source: UG
Childhood anaemia in Ghana: An examination of associated socioeconomic and health factors

Anaemia is a significant public health issue in many low-income countries, yet little systematic work has examined associated socioeconomic and health factors beyond clinical research. The present study examines the effects of the characteristics of individual children, their mothers and households on anaemia prevalence among Ghanaian children under age five. A generalized linear mixed regression model is applied to data derived from the 2008 MEASURE Demographic and Health Survey in Ghana to estimate fixed and random effects of associated variables on anaemia. Significantly associated factors include childs age, sex, and fever status in the two weeks preceding the survey, mothers body mass index, haemoglobin level, health insurance coverage, mothers education and household wealth status. Factors not significantly associated include whether children received iron supplements, slept under a mosquito bed net and the type of mosquito bed net utilized. Childhood anaemia is related to personal, social and environmental factors. Developing sound policy to address this health problem will require additional research to understand the ways in which these factors are related. © 2013 The African Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers.

Source: UG
Childhood deaths from malignant neoplasms in Accra

Background: Malignant neoplasms are set to become a leading cause of childhood death in sub- Saharan Africa as immunization programmes reduce deaths due to infectious diseases. Knowledge of the pattern of deaths from these neoplasms is therefore desirable. Objective: To describe the pattern of deaths from paediatric malignancies, compare this to morbidity figures and provide baseline data for planning child care services. Methods: A 10 year retrospective survey of autopsy cases of paediatric malignancies at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Mortuary was carried out based on autopsy files form January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1999 Results: A total of 252 cases of childhood malignant tumours were retrieved, 139 males and 113 females with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The most common malignancy was lymphoma forming 54% of cases and almost all of Non-Hodgkin’s type. Non-Burkitts type (29%) was the commonest followed by Burkitts (24%) and Hodgkin’s disease only one percent. The lymphomas were followed by central nervous system (CNS) tumours (13%), nephroblastomas(10.3%) leukemias (6.7%) hepatic tumours (4%) and sarcomas (2.6%). Less common tumours were Neuroblastomas (2.4%) and retinoblastomas (2%). Conclusion: Overall the pattern of deaths from paediatric malignancies followed the pattern of relative incidence in morbidity figures from Ghana and the subregion except for a relatively higher proportion of deaths from CNS tumours and a lower proportion from sarcomas. The pattern of cancer deaths seen in this study is similar to that seen in advanced countries except that lymphomas replace leukemia as the commonest cause of death

Source: UG
Childhood Hearing Impairment in Senegal

We recently showed that variants in GJB2 explained Hearing Impairment (HI) in 34.1% (n = 15/44) of multiplex families in Senegal. The present study aimed to use community-based na tionwide recruitment to determine the etiologies and the clinical profiles of childhood HI in Senegal. Participants with early onset HI were included after clinical examination, including audiological assessment by pure tone audiometry and/or auditory brainstem response. We investigated a to tal of 406 participants from 295 families, recruited from 13/14 administrative regions of Senegal. Male/female ratio was 1.33 (232/174). Prelingual HI was the most common type of HI and accounted for 80% (n = 325 individuals). The mean age at medical diagnosis for congenital HI was computed at 3.59 ± 2.27 years. Audiological evaluation showed sensorineural HI as the most frequently ob served HI (89.16%; n = 362 individuals). Pedigree analysis suggested autosomal recessive inheritance in 61.2% (63/103) of multiplex families and sporadic cases in 27 families (26.2%; 27/103), with a consanguinity rate estimated at 93% (84/90 families). Genetic factors were likely involved in 52.7% (214/406) of the cases, followed by environmental causes (29.57%; 120/406). In 72 cases (17.73%), the etiology was unknown. Clinically, non-syndromic HI was the most common type of HI (90.6%; n = 194/214 individuals). Among families segregating syndromic cases, type 2 Waardenburg syn drome was the most common (36.3%; 4/11 families). This study revealed putative genetic factors, mostly associated with high consanguinity rate, as the leading causes of early-onset HI in Senegal. The high consanguinity could provide a good opportunity to identify variants in known and novel genes involved in childhood HI

Source: UG
Childhood obesity in urban Ghana: evidence from a cross-sectional survey of in-school children aged 5–16 years

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern in many low-income urban settings; but its determinants are not clear. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of childhood obesity and associated factors among in-school children aged 5–16 years in a Metropolitan district of Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among a sample of 285 in-school children aged 5– 16 years. Pre-tested questionnaires and anthropometric data collection methods were used to collect data. Descriptive, bivariate, binary and multivariate logistic regression statistical techniques were used to analyse data. Results: Some 46.9% (42.2% for males and 51.7% for females) of the children were overweight. Of this, 21.2% were obese (BMI falls above 95th percentile). Childhood obesity was higher in private school (26.8%) than public school (21.4%), and among girls (27.2%) than boys (19%). Factors that increased obesity risks included being aged 11–16 as against 5–10 years (aOR = 6.07; 95%CI = 1.17–31.45; p = 0.025), having a father whose highest education is ‘secondary’ (aOR =2.97; 95% CI = 1.09–8.08; p = 0.032), or ‘tertiary’ (aOR = 3.46; 95% CI = 1.27–9.42; p = 0.015), and consumption of fizzy drinks most days of the week (aOR = 2.84; 95% CI = 1.24–6.52; p = 0.014). Factors that lowered obesity risks included engaging in sport at least 3times per week (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.33–0.96; p = 0.034), and sleeping for more than 8 h per day (aOR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.19–0.79; p = 0.009). Conclusion: Higher parental (father) educational attainment and frequent consumption of fizzy drinks per week may increase obesity risks among in-school children aged 5–16 years in the Metropolitan district of Ghana. However, regular exercise (playing sport at least 3 times per week) and having 8 or more hours of sleep per day could lower obesity risks in the same population. Age and sex-appropriate community and school-based interventions are needed to promote healthy diet selection and consumption, physical activity and healthy life styles among in-school children.

Source: UG
Childrearing, motherhood and fatherhood in Ghana

This study examines childrearing practices, motherhood, and fatherhood in Ghana. It looks at the contextual background of the country, ethnic groupings, family systems and childrearing practices, and the patrilineal and matrilineal systems. The evidence shows that mothers are oriented towards the permissive style of parenting, whereas fathers use an authoritarian style. However, it further shows that some mothers and fathers use an authoritative parenting style. The study also revealed that some parents accept corporal punishment as a method of disciplining children, while others frowned on its usage. The study underscores the importance of situating parenting within one’s culture.

Source: UG
Children with cerebral palsy in Ghana: malnutrition, feeding challenges, and caregiver quality of life

Aim To assess feeding difficulties and nutritional status among children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Ghana, and whether severity of feeding difficulties and malnutrition are independently associated with caregiver quality of life (QoL). Method This cross‐sectional survey included 76 children with CP (18mo–12y) from four regions of Ghana. Severity of CP was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System and anthropometric measures were taken. Caregivers rated their QoL (using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Family Impact Module) and difficulties with eight aspects of child feeding. Logistic regression analysis explored factors (socio‐economic characteristics, severity of CP, and feeding difficulties) associated with being underweight. Linear regression was undertaken to assess the relationship between caregiver QoL and child malnutrition and feeding difficulties. Results Poor nutritional status was common: 65% of children aged under 5 years were categorized as underweight, 54% as stunted, and 58% as wasted. Reported difficulties with child's feeding were common and were associated with the child being underweight (odds ratio 10.7, 95% confidence interval 2.3–49.6) and poorer caregiver QoL (p<0.001). No association between caregiver QoL and nutritional status was evident. Interpretation Among rural, low resource populations in Ghana, there is a need for appropriate, accessible caregiver training and support around feeding practices of children with CP, to improve child nutritional status and caregiver well‐being. What this paper adds • Malnutrition is very common among children with cerebral palsy in this rural population in Ghana. • Feeding difficulties in this population were strongly associated with being underweight. • Feeding difficulties were associated with poorer caregiver quality of life (QoL). • Child nutritional status was not associated with caregiver QoL.

Source: UG
Children’s attitudinal reactions to TV advertisements The African experience

This paper is aimed at exploring African children’s attitudinal reactions to television advertisements. A total of 65 children from four African countries – Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda – participated in 12 focus group discussions on the subject matter. Findings suggest that they like television advertising in relation to its entertainment features – especially when the messages feature children characters, cartoons, music, celebrities and humour – and those promoting foods. They also derive excitement from advertising messages that are presented in Pidgin language and/or humorously integrated with local languages. However, they have an aversion to messages that terrify them and those they consider boring. This paper supplements the existing literature on the attitudes of children to advertising, but from Africa as a different contextual platform. It also suggests directions for the effective use of marketing communications strategies in relation to television advertising for marketers and other bodies with special roles in communicating with children such as government agencies and NGOs.

Source: UG
China and Africa: Model of South-South Cooperation?

Chinese officials often claim that their country’s massive involvement in Africa is an example of “South-South cooperation” with tremendous potential to unlock Africa’s development prospects. They maintain that China’s economic involvement in the continent is less exploitative and more relevant to local needs than the North’s. Starting from a relatively small amount of investment in the early 1990s, China has become Africa’s biggest economic partner. Yet, as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Investment (UNCTAD) and other studies have shown, Chinese trade and investment in Africa are reproducing African countries as exporters of raw materials and importers of manufactured goods. This paper deconstructs the uncritical view of China’s development cooperation with Africa as “South-South” cooperation, highlighting its potential tensions, incongruities, downsides, and dilemmas. It demonstrates both good and bad news. Recent data show that despite the slowdown of the Chinese economy and slump in prices of certain raw materials, the total value of China-Africa trade is on the rise, with Africa’s exports to China growing rapidly, indicating a narrowing gap between imports and exports in the bilateral trade. However, whether this phenomenon is sustainable remains in doubt. Dynamics of the boom and bust cycles of commodity markets, limited diversification, domestic institutional constraints, limited tariff exemptions and rising debt on African countries can all compromise the recent progress in China-Africa trade and exacerbate their asymmetrical relationship, reproducing the trade pattern between the West and African countries.

Source: UG