ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting birth weight in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: This study aimed at determining the incidence of low birth weight among live births and maternal anaemia and to investigate the association between some maternal factors and birth weight. Methods: This was a retrospective cross sectional study that involved mothers who regularly attended antenatal clinics and had delivered singleton live births between January 2014 to December 2014 in the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana. Results: Out of the 405 newborns included in the study, 194 (47.90%) were females and 211 (52.10%) males with a mean birth weight of 3.25±0.52kg. There was a low birth weight prevalence of 7.7% and a maternal anaemia prevalence of 38.8%. The period of gestation (p=0.00001), maternal anaemia (p=0.0217) and maternal age (p=0.0030) were found to be significantly associated with birth weight. Sex of baby (p=0.6668), parity of mother (p=0.6959) and maternal sickling status (p=0.7915) were not significantly associated with birth weight. Conclusions: As far as low birth weight is concerned, frequency is not high among live babies born to mothers who regularly attended antenatal clinics. This agrees with studies that suggest that antenatal clinic attendance positively affects birth weight. Thus in order to reduce the high prevalence of low birth weight and maternal anaemia in developing countries all pregnant women must be encouraged to attend antenatal clinics regularly

Source: UCC
Factors affecting birth weight in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: This study aimed at determining the incidence of low birth weight among live births and maternal anaemia and to investigate the association between some maternal factors and birth weight. Methods: This was a retrospective cross sectional study that involved mothers who regularly attended antenatal clinics and had delivered singleton live births between January 2014 to December 2014 in the University of Cape Coast Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana. Results: Out of the 405 newborns included in the study, 194 (47.90%) were females and 211 (52.10%) males with a mean birth weight of 3.25±0.52kg. There was a low birth weight prevalence of 7.7% and a maternal anaemia prevalence of 38.8%. The period of gestation (p=0.00001), maternal anaemia (p=0.0217) and maternal age (p=0.0030) were found to be significantly associated with birth weight. Sex of baby (p=0.6668), parity of mother (p=0.6959) and maternal sickling status (p=0.7915) were not significantly associated with birth weight. Conclusions: As far as low birth weight is concerned, frequency is not high among live babies born to mothers who regularly attended antenatal clinics. This agrees with studies that suggest that antenatal clinic attendance positively affects birth weight. Thus in order to reduce the high prevalence of low birth weight and maternal anaemia in developing countries all pregnant women must be encouraged to attend antenatal clinics regularly.

Source: UCC
Factors Affecting Completion Of Postgraduate Mathematics Education Students In A Ghanaian University

The study was conducted to explore the completion of MPhil mathematics education students as well as the factors that can facilitate the completion of these postgraduate students in a Ghanaian university. An explanatory sequential mixed method design was adopted for the study. Data were collected using questionnaire and semi-structured interview. A sample size of seventy-nine MPhil mathematics education students responded to the questionnaire. Also, purposive sampling was used to select eight graduates for the interview. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that most MPhil mathematics education students take more than the maximum duration of three years to complete their study. Some student-related factors which can facilitate completion included: sufficient knowledge in data collection, motivation, work schedules of students as well as their interaction with the supervisors. In addition, supervisory-related factors such as working independently under supervisors‘ guidance, the ability of students to approach supervisors, constructive criticisms and helpful suggestions given by supervisors can affect the completion of the programme of study. The study again discovered that workshops organized by the department and the university on thesis writing can affect the progress of students‘ thesis writing. Some recommendations were made based on the findings.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting effective management of the mineral development fund in three selected districts in Ghana

The Government of Ghana in 1993 by an Executive Fiat established the Mineral Development Fund (MDF) to enable the District Assemblies which host mining operations to undertake development projects to mitigate the effects of mining in affected communities. The purpose of this ex-post, quasi experimental design using proxy pretest, survey and focus group discussions is to undertake an evaluation of the programme since its inception to assess the factors affecting effective management of the Mineral Development Fund in Tarkwa, Prestea Huni Valley (PHV) and Obuasi District Assemblies who have received GH₵17,673,830.25, GH₵18,277,241.00 and GH₵10,922,654.89 respectively. A total of 211 projects were examined and the factors identified to be affecting the effective management of the MDF include Districts adding the fund to IGF, several discrepancies in royalty disbursements and Districts receipts, no technical risk assessment to identify the harmful effects of mining, low efficiency rates, project cost and time variations, misappropriation, misapplication, mis-targeting of beneficiaries and carrying out frivolous projects. In Super DEA analysis Obuasi District is the most efficient. Direct logistic regressions were performed and the models correctly classified 69.9%, 85.5% and 88.7% of the cases for Tarkwa, PHV and Obuasi Districts respectively as effective projects. The ranking of the factors which affect the effectiveness of infrastructure projects by key stakeholders indicated adequate funding, adequate plans and specifications, political influence, Project Manager’s competence, constructability and risk management as the top six factors to be taken seriously throughout the project life cycle. It is therefore recommended that there should be timely collection and disbursement of the Fund; risk analysis be done to identify MDF related projects; Officials who have misapplied the Funds be sanctioned; an agency be set up to manage the Fund at the District level; key stakeholders, especially the affected communities, be involved in all stages of management of the MDF. Finally, a law should be passed to provide clear guidelines as to the collection, disbursement and management of the MDF in order to achieve its objective.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting efficacy of assessment centres in assessing children with special educational needs in Winneba, Hohoe and Accra centres

This research was designed to investigate the factors affecting efficacy of assessment centres in assessing children with special educational needs in Winneba, Hohoe and Accra centres. One of the major research questions that guided the study examined the material and logistics used in assessing children with special educational needs in the assessment centres. One hundred and twenty respondents sampled took part in the study. Structured questionnaires and interview guide were used to elicit information from heads and assessment team and parents respectively. The responses to the research instruments were organised and analysed using the SPSS version 16 software package. The statistical tools used to present the results were frequency counts, percentages, chi-square and ANOVA. The findings obtained showed that (95%) of heads and assessment team members (84) representing a significant number (79) employed the appropriate procedures such as screening, pre-referral services, eligibility, monitoring and evaluation in assessing children with special educational needs. However, the materials and logistics such as audiometer, otoscope and tympanometer needed to run the centres were inadequate. On the basis of the findings, recommendations were made for implementation such as the following: Ministry of Education should provide inservice training for the staff of Assessment Centres; the Ghana Education Service should be more responsive in the building up of these Centres by providing funds for their activities, materials and logistics as well as training more audiologists in the medical institutions.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting employee retention in national disaster management organization

Employee retention is vital as it brings implications for organisational competitiveness in an increasingly global landscape. This study was undertaken to examine the factors influencing retention in the public sector more specifically at National Disaster Management Organisation, Greater Accra region. It further seeks to establish a relationship between factors such as the recruitment and selection process of the organisations, the employees hired; that is their competencies, availability of logistics and compensation policy as attributing to retention issues in NADMO. The study employed the descriptive cross-sectional survey design, a sample of 288 was drawn from a population of 1024 staff of NADMO in the Accra Metropolis. Both primary and secondary sources of data were collected using the simple random sampling method, questionnaires were used as a source for primary data, with journals, books and dark web were the secondary source of data. The result shared a positive relationship between employee retention and the other factors such as recruitment and selection, employee competence, logistical support and employee compensation. The study further established that employee retention at NADMO is influenced by recruitment and selection, employee competence, logistical support as well as the compensation paid to employees. The study recommended that NADMO should pay careful attention to its recruitment policy in order to engage the best people for the job on merit

Source: UCC
Factors affecting female enrollment in basic schools in Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira

The purpose of this research was to find out the factors affecting female enrolment in basic schools in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District. Using the District as the case study. A total of 150 parents, 100 teachers and 150 dropout girls formed the accessible population. Within a period of two months, the researcher and his two assistants interviewed all the 400 respondents. Data collected were analysed manually and electronically by using descriptive statistical tools such as simple frequencies, relative frequencies and percentages. At the end of the study it came to light that many parents could not enroll or support their daughters' education due to poverty. Again, it was found that non-literate parents, especially, those in the rural communities had negative attitude towards female education. Based on the findings a number of conclusions were drawn and recommendations made on certain important factors to be considered for the necessary remedial measures to be instituted and implemented to better enrollment of girls in the basic schools in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District. Specifically, it was recommended that women groups should assist girls with their basic school amenities so that it would enhance girls' enrollment in the basic school in the district. In the same light, educated females from the district should team up with female teachers to mentor girls so that they would strive to remain in school because the benefits that would accrue from schooling are numerous.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting female participation in senior high school level of education in the Kwahu West Municipality

Educating girls is crucial to development, and apart from the intrinsic value of education, better educated women have higher incomes, healthier and better educated children. The benefits of educating girls are undeniable and contribute to poverty alleviation, improved nutrition and reduced childbirth. The study examined the general perception of girl child participation in education and the school factors that affects girls’participation in senior high school. The study employed the descriptive survey design. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the parents and teachers for the study. Simple random sampling technique was however used to select the students. The selected respondents provided data for the study through the use of a questionnaire which was pre-tested to obtain a reliability alpha co-efficient of 0.65 for teachers, 0.70 for parents and 0.75 for female students. The study revealed that male students are most regular in school than female students and that gender bias in the school’s curriculum hinders girls’ participation in senior high school. The study revealed that most teenage girls drop out of school due to pregnancy and the distance from home to school hinders girls’ participation in senior high school. It was therefore recommended that workshops, talk shows and seminars be organised for parents by school authorities and other stakeholders of education to sensitize parents on the need to promote girls’ child participation in senior high school.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting female SHS students’ decision to pursue accounting as a career: Evidence from some selected schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

The continuous decline in female students’ enrolment in accounting courses in Ghana has been witnessed and attributed to various factors. It is in this light that, the study seeks to assess the factors that influence female students in pursuing a career in accounting among Senior High Schools within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. The study employed the quantitative approach and descriptive research design due to its research objectives. A sample size of 136 respondents were randomly chosen to participate in the data collection exercise, but 132 respondents with a 97.1 percent response rate were used for the study. The study employed the descriptive tools such as frequencies and percentages in analysing data obtained from structured questionnaires. The study found that, motivation is the major personal factor influencing female students to pursue accounting careers. It was also found that, a role model is the major reference factor who influences female students accounting career choices. In this regard, the study recommended that, a good emphasis of accounting should be promoted in SHSs in Ghana, especially those within Sekondi-Takoradi, in order to motivate female students to pursue accounting careers.

Source: UCC
Factors Affecting Female Shs Students’ Decision to Pursue Accounting as a Career: Evidence From Some Selected Schools in the Sekondi-takoradi Metropolis

The continuous decline in female students’ enrolment in accounting courses in Ghana has been witnessed and attributed to various factors. It is in this light that, the study seeks to assess the factors that influence female students in pursuing a career in accounting among Senior High Schools within the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. The study employed the quantitative approach and descriptive research design due to its research objectives. A sample size of 136 respondents were randomly chosen to participate in the data collection exercise, but 132 respondents with a 97.1 percent response rate were used for the study. The study employed the descriptive tools such as frequencies and percentages in analysing data obtained from structured questionnaires. The study found that, motivation is the major personal factor influencing female students to pursue accounting careers. It was also found that, a role model is the major reference factor who influences female students accounting career choices. In this regard, the study recommended that, a good emphasis of accounting should be promoted in SHSs in Ghana, especially those within Sekondi-Takoradi, in order to motivate female students to pursue accounting careers

Source: UCC
Factors affecting gender representation in schooleducation: a case study of the Amansie east district

The study sought to investigate the impact, both negative and positive, of the factors that affect female participation in Senior High School education in Ghana. Using a case study method, three Senior High Schools from the Amansie East District of the Ashanti Region were selected for the study. Questionnaires were distributed to tutors, parents and students. Using bar chart and frequency distribution methods, results from the 96 respondents of the study were analysed. The study revealed that majority of the parents will educate their girl child than the boy giving reasons that, educating the girl child means educating the nation and the whole household, but educating a boy means educating an individual. Again, it was found out that classroom participation has an impact on the girl child’s ability to participate in school. It was revealedthat teachers didn’t have confidence in the girl child and thereby will prefer to engage the boys in class activities and programmes than the girls. Finally, even though most parents will prefer their girl child to attend school, they won’t give them the opportunity to study programmes of their choice and that is negatively affecting the interest of the girl child in education. In the light of the findings it is therefore recommended that the legal framework should be strengthened to include proper monitoring, and enforcement of the law that supports more female participation in schools. Just writing it down is not enough but there must be action taken against those pulling down the idea of enrolling more girls in schools than boys.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting girl-child participation in basic education in the Elmina circuit of the komenda-edina-Eguafo-abrem (keea) municipality

The study assessed factors affecting girl-child participation in basic education in the Elmina Circuit of the KEEA Municipality. It specifically dealt with the socio-economic and socio-cultural factors that affected girl-child participation in basic schools in the Circuit. It also assessed school-related factors such as teacher factors, school boys’ factors, and school facility factors affecting girl-child participation in education. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study, and two sets of questionnaires were developed for the data collection. The population of the study comprised all the teachers and female students from both public and private primary 6 to JHS level in the Elmina Circuit. The study population was 882 girls from Primary 6 to JHS, and 92 teachers. A sample size of 322 made up of 70 teachers and 252 girl students was used in the study, and a descriptive analysis was adopted. The study found that the main factors negatively influencing girl-child education in the Circuit were parents engaging their daughters in trading to support them financially; parents allowing their daughters to do more household chores than boys; early marriages; and teenage pregnancies. It is recommended that relevant stakeholders must intensify education of parents on the importance of girl-child education, and also hardworking girls should be given the needed supports such as scholarships.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting instructional supervision in basic schools: Case study of Nsuta circuit in the Techiman municipality

The study was undertaken to find out the factors, which affect supervision of instruction in the Nsuta Circuit in Techiman Municipality. The instruments used in the data collection were an interview guide and two sets of questionnaires. One set of questiormaire was used for circuit supervisors, teachers, head teachers and assistant head teachers. The other set of questionnaire was administered to 60 school prefects in the 15 randomly selected schools in the Nsuta Circuit of Techiman Municipality. The respondents were asked to indicate by ticking in a box provided on the right hand side of the questionnaire whether they agreed or disagreed with each item. Additionally, a well-structured interview guide was administered to 30 SMC/PT A executives and 5 educational administrators. A sample of one hundred and ninety-five respondents was selected. This comprises of sixty teachers, fifteen assistant head teachers, fifteen headteachers, sixty school prefects, five educational administrators in the Techiman education office and thirty SMC/PT A executives. Descriptive statistics and percentages were the main tools used in the analysis. From the results of the analysis, it was observed that, circuit supervisors and head teachers did not have enough skills and knowledge and were not sufficiently trained in supervision. School-based supervision was the type of supervision that was mostly emphasized in the Nsuta Circuit in Techiman Municipality. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that supervision in the Nsuta Circuit will improve only when head teachers and circuit supervisors were provided with the needed resource and support that will facilitate the performance of their supervisory roles.

Source: UCC
Factors affecting internal audit effectiveness in the Ghanaian public sector in Central Region

The rise in financial scandals in recent times in government institutions and entities despite the existence of internal audit units in the public sector has made the role of internal audit effectiveness to attract the attention of academic researchers, professional bodies, the financial community and regulators. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence internal audit effectiveness in the Ghanaian Public Sector. To sample the respondents for the study, purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were adopted and questionnaire was used to solicit information from 130 internal auditors in the study area. The study used Structural Equation Modelling to estimate the factors that influence effectiveness of internal audit. The study found out that, independence of internal auditors, competence of internal auditors and control environment have significant positive influence on internal audit effectiveness in the public sector in the Central Region. However, management support does not have significant positive influence on internal audit effectiveness. The study therefore recommends more regular training and development of internal auditors on new internal audit policies, rules, procedures and also sharing of experiences among internal auditors across various public institutions and organizations. Finally, the study recommends continuous improvement in control environment and independence of internal auditors. With management support, management should be proactive in the provision of all necessary financial, logistic, and human resource for internal audit effectiveness.

Source: UCC