ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessing the knowledge of workers in occupational safety and health hazards a case study of selected wood workshops and sawmills within Ada and Sogakope District in Ghana

In order to understand the issue of workplace safety among woodworkers, there is the need to assess the knowledge of workers in occupational safety and health hazards. Consequently, the purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge of workers in occupational safety and health hazards in some selected wood workshops and sawmills within Ada and Sogakope Districts in the Volta Region of Ghana. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey research design. The study focused on wood producers working with sawmill firms and small-scale furniture workshops within Ada and Sogakope Districts. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 160 respondents. Data was gathered through questionnaires formulated based on the research questions. The study revealed that the job category that records the highest prevalence of injuries at the workshops and sawmills were wood cutting followed by logging, trimming and processing. The study found that woodworkers usually report of back pains, hip and leg pains, headaches, respiratory problems, nausea and small cuts. The study revealed that the level of knowledge and experience of woodworkers in the occupational health hazards and safety practice was low. The study revealed that woodworkers’ sources of information of occupational hazards and safety measures were mainly from personal experiences and colleagues. The study brought to light that the safety trainings that exist among woodworkers in the study area do not equip woodworkers with adequate knowledge and skill to promote safety in an effective way. The study concluded that the knowledge of Ghanaian woodworkers is limited and outmoded to minimize risk of accidents and diseases at the workshop. Promotion of occupational health and safety through workshops, seminars and public lectures is recommended. Similar research could be carried out in other regions to confirm or refute the findings of this study.

Source: UEW
Assessing the level of awareness and utilization of instructional materials in teaching and learning of social studies in selected senior high schools in the Northern Region.

The purpose of the Study was to assess teachers’ level of awareness and utilization of instructional materials in teaching and learning of Social Studies in selected Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Northern Region. The Study adopted the quantitative approach and descriptive survey design. The Study sampled 156 teachers using the cluster sampling technique. Results of the Study were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Within the frame of Ausubel’s Theory of Meaningful Learning, the findings show that Social Studies teachers were better aware of the use of instructional materials in terms of instructional materials that offer content specific to Social Studies, reading materials such as textbooks, community resources and using a variety of instructional materials that fosters inclusivity and caters to diverse learning styles among students in Social Studies lessons. The findings also show that the use of instructional materials improved students' understanding of Social Studies concepts, made Social Studies lessons more engaging and helped students retain information better in Social Studies instructions. In addition, incorporating instructional materials fosters a deeper interest in Social Studies topics among students and the overall academic performance of students is positively influenced. Moreover, the findings show limited financial resources hindering the acquisition of materials, lack of access to technology affecting the use of digital materials in Social Studies instruction, and lack of support or resources from school administration in acquiring instructional materials for Social Studies were the major challenges that confront the Social Studies teaching and learning. The concludes that teachers in Senior High Schools in the Northern Region possess a high level of awareness and competence in utilizing diverse instructional materials specific to Social Studies. Again, there is a strong inclination among teachers to utilize various instructional materials and resources extensively. The Study recommends that the Ministry of Education and the Ghana education service should help finance schools to acquire the necessary instructional materials to ensure the effective teaching and learning of Social Studies in senior high schools. Also, teacher training institutions should train teachers on how to improvise local materials to ensure effective delivery of their lessons when the original ones are not available and also to save cost of acquiring original instructional materials.

Source: UEW
Assessing the level of breast cancer awareness among junior high school pupils at Charile Roman Catholic School

Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern, necessitating targeted efforts to enhance awareness and early detection. Despite extensive research in adult popula tions, limited attention has been directed toward assessing the awareness levels of breast cancer among younger demographics, prompting this study to focus on Junior High School Students at Charile Roman Catholic School. This study aimed to assess the ex tent of breast cancer awareness among Junior High School Students at Charile Roman Catholic School. Employing a descriptive survey design, the research selected a sample of 76 students through a combination of purposive and simple random sampling tech niques. Data collection was facilitated through a structured questionnaire, and subse quent analysis utilized descriptive statistics, presenting results in frequencies and per centages. The findings illuminated a low level of breast cancer awareness among the students, accompanied by a significant lack of knowledge regarding the signs and symptoms of the disease among many students. Notably, the study highlighted a positive inclination among students to promptly report any detected abnormalities in their breasts to either peers or healthcare facilities, intending to mitigate delayed diagnoses. Recommendations emerging from the study underscored the necessity of incorporating breast cancer studies into the junior high school curriculum to enhance students' awareness levels.

Source: UEW
Assessing the level of compliance to the built-infrastructure provisional requirements of the disability act, 2006 (act715) among professionals within the built environment in the Kumasi metropolis

This study assessed the level of compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act (715) among professionals within the Built-environment industry in the Kumasi Metropolis. The study seeks to measure the level of compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act (715), assess the compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act (715) in Ghana by stakeholders in the study area and investigate compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Acts (2006) in Ghana. The study elicited responses from a range of stakeholders within the built-environment industry in the area. Questionnaire was used to collect primary data from a randomly selected 104 professionals within the built-environment industry. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data for the study. Results of the study showed that the level of compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act among construction professionals within the Kumasi Metropolis was low. Also, the results showed that the level of compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act in the study area is significantly influenced by such variables as industry experience, level of education, policy of compliance and knowledge of the Disability Act. The study further showed that the absence of national standards and high budget allocation are the most pressing constraints to compliance with the built infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act (2006) in the study area. The study recommends that certain portions of the Disability Act should be amended to incorporate enforcement provisions. Stakeholders in the industry should regularly organize conferences, seminars and workshops in order to educate and upgrade the knowledge base of the professionals and all those who matter in the construction field. Finally, formal training institutions such as universities and technical universities should mount courses that may introduce topics under compliance to the built-infrastructure requirements of the Disability Act in Ghana.

Source: UEW
Assessing the level of financial literacy among business owners A case study of Kumasi metropolitan assembly of Ashanti region, Ghana.

This study investigated the level of financial literacy among business owners within the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. It also identified the factors affecting the level of financial literacy among small and medium businesses. Questionnaires were developed and administered to 100 selected business owners within the study area. Multiple Regression analysis was performed to test for the relationship between factors that affects people’s financial literacy. Results indicate that majority of respondents have not had any form of education. Business owners (respondents) were asked to state whether or not they are responsible for managing the finances of their enterprises. The results show that 74% of the respondents are the financial managers of their business as against 26% who said they employ the services of professionals to manage their finances for them. It was revealed that most of the respondents do not apply best practices in managing their businesses. They do not have business plan for their businesses and also do not prepare cash flow forecast. A multiple regression analysis conducted found respondents’ level of education (b = -0.345, p = 0.000), to be the only factor which influences their level of financial knowledge. Other factors such as age, gender, field of study and years in business have no influence on respondents’ level of financial knowledge. Based on the results of this study, workshops should be organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) on proper financial management so as to ensure prudent and efficient financial management practices among business owners. The study also recommend that business owners and potential business owners should be educated by the AGI on some of the basic financial issues and best practices in the course of their studies or training irrespective of their field of study, so as to develop a nation of financially literate business people.

Source: UEW
Assessing the nutritional knowledge and practice of exercisers on Aburi Ridge in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Nutrition is a significant element of any physical workout schedule. A person with satisfactory information on nourishment has a superior potential for success in distinguishing between nutritional facts from nutrition fads. Reliable information on nutrition has been believed to assume a significant function in advancing more beneficial eating practices, and thus lead to the support of fitting body weight. Among numerous exercisers in Ghana, physical activities are climax with devouring substantial amount of fatty meats accompanied with carbohydrate foods like "fufu, ɛmotuo or banku” and the drinking of alcoholic beverages. One contemplates whether they even have a thought on nutrition and determination of diet. . It is against this basis that the study did an intense research into the nutritional knowledge and practices of Exercisers on Aburi Ridge, in the Eastern region of Ghana. The primary research instruments used to gather information for the study were questionnaire, observation and interview. The group of individuals in the study were all exercisers on the Aburi Ridge, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Results from the study indicates a greater percentage of the respondents (62%) were male while the remaining 38% were female. Respondents between the ages of 21 to 30 recorded 37.5%. Just 2.5% of the respondents were above 60years. Some respondents agreed (4.1+1.14) they exercise to keep stomach trimmed. The respondents also agreed (4.41+0.91) that they exercise to maintain current weight. Others agreed (4.18+0.90) they exercise to meet friends and to stay healthy (4.49+0.93). They also agreed (4.55+0.92) that they exercise to ease stress. The respondents agreed (4.67+0.47) to exercise when they see friends work out. About 49.1% of the respondents had knowledge in the nutrition related questions. Results from the study shows that 220 (91%) of the respondents always eat lunch. However, 9% of the respondents failed to eat lunch. About 33% of the respondents took banku and hot pepper after exercise. The respondents agreed (1.65+0.72) that there was an improvement in cardio respiratory wellness levels, decrease in mortality, build and maintain bones and decrease in diabetes. Improvement in memory and thinking were similarly referred to as impacts of diet on exercise. About 55% of the respondents knew that eggs and legumes are examples of protein sources other than meat.

Source: UEW
Assessing the nutritional value of some African indigenous green Leafy Vegetables in Ghana

African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) are the cheapest and most readily available sources of important proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids in Ghana. This study was conducted to determine the nutritional values of the leaves of cocoyam (Kontomire) (Xanthosoma sagittifolia), water leaf “(Bokoboko)” (Talinum triangulare), “(Aleefu)” (Amaranth cruentus) and Moringa oleifera. Samples of the green leafy vegetables were obtained from the Centre for Biodiversity Utilization and Development (CBUD) farm at Prison Camp at Amanfrom in the Ashanti Region. The parameters determined were moisture, crude fiber, crude fat, protein, total carbohydrate, food energy and minerals (iron and phosphorus). The results showed they all had high moisture content ranging from 72.93 to 91.83% with Talinum sp. showing the highest percentage of moisture. The other characteristics like crude fiber ranged from1.00% to 10.40%, fat 1.33% to 3.19%, protein 4.46% to 6.60%, carbohydrate 1.05% to 13.50%, food energy 36.60Kcal/100g to 90.20Kcal/100g, iron 1.00mg/100g to 40.50mg/100g and phosphorus 74mg/100g to 81.90mg/100g. The results showed that no particular green leafy vegetable was superior to the others. It is therefore important to use any of the different varieties of leafy vegetables for food. It is recommended that similar investigations should be carried out on other indigenous leafy vegetables such as cowpea, baobab, kapok and cassava leaves

Source: UEW
Assessing the pedagogical content knowledge of social studies teachers and the realisation of social studies objectives in senior high schools in the Accra metropolis

The study sought to provide an assessment of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) of social studies teachers and the realization of its objectives in Senior High Schools in the Accra Metropolis. The thesis was necessary because studies have indicated that there are teachers with insufficient PCK teaching social studies, thus affecting the realization of the objectives of the subject. This thesis used questionnaires, interviews and observation guide to assess the Pedagogical Content Knowledge of social studies teachers and the realization of its objectives in Senior High Schools in the Accra Metropolis. The purposive and convenience sampling technique were used to select a sample size of eighty-six teachers to respond to the questionnaire and nine and seven teachers were selected for the interviews and observation respectively. A- twenty-item questionnaire, nine – item interview guide and twenty-two detailed observation guides were used in the collection of data for the study. The study focused on the teachers’ conception of social studies, teachers’ understanding of the goal and objectives of social studies, teachers’ professional background and experiences and teachers’ understanding and use of the techniques employed in the teaching of Social Studies in the Senior High School. The results from the study showed that large numbers of teachers met the minimum academic requirement needed to teach social studies at the Senior High School level in Ghana as it was established from the study that teachers had B. Ed/BA Social Studies, but they perceive the meaning of social studies differently due to how they were trained. Teaching of Social Studies was mostly done by the use of discussion, lecture technique, brainstorming and questioning and answering techniques without paying attention on the other techniques, such as field trips, project work, and role playing of teaching Social Studies. The study recommended that deployment of social studies teachers by GES to various Senior High Schools should be done with high recourse to those who possess the required Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Social Studies. And the social studies training programme run by University of Education, Winneba and the University of Cape Coast should be harmonized to give the subject an identical meaning and focus in achieving its objectives.

Source: UEW
Assessing the perception of vehicle owners and mechanics on the efficiency of fuel injection compared to carburetor engines of vehicles in the Tamale metropolis

The study assessed the perception of people on the efficiency of fuel injection and carburetor engines of vehicles in the Tamale Metropolis following an increase in the number of vehicles. The growth in the number of vehicles has significantly created a apperception on the efficiency and performance of carburetor or fuel injection engines. The study therefore evaluated the perception of people on the performance and efficiency of fuel injection and carburetor engines of vehicles using vehicle owners and mechanics in Tamale as a case study. The case study design was used, particularly targeting drivers, car owners and mechanics in the Metropolis. Using the questionnaires and interview, data was gathered. The key findings of the study revealed that, factors that determine engine fuel consumption includes the quantity of fuel used, vehicle owners need to examine the consumption capacity of vehicles before purchasing such vehicles. The most durable engine type in the market was carburetor engines. It was observed that, fuel injection engines were found to produce more emissions than the carburetor engines. The concerns of people and mechanics on the efficiency of the two engines types were found not to be the same. The advantages associated with carburetor engines include; carburetors can be adjusted. It is also possible to repair to ensure effective regulation of fuel consumption. Carburetor parts are replaceable and therefore do not need the services of an electrician. The study finally recommends that, the smoke emissions level should be examined by the prospective car owners and mechanics since it determines the fuel consumption level of vehicles. The most durable engine types, which were found to be the carburetor engines, should be the preferred choice of the owners when purchasing vehicles. Mechanics should seek for more skills on how to service fuel injection engine since they were found University of Education,Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh xii to be producing most emissions. In view of the fact that, concerns of people and mechanics on the efficiency of the two engines types are not the same, prospective should always insist on having the operational manuals of engines in order that, the needed information would be obtained to assist them make an informed decision concerning the purchases and maintenance of vehicles. Carburetors that can be adjusted should always to be procured. The parts for replacement should be made available to prevent carburetor frequent break down. Since carburetor repairs require no electrical services, it certainly will reduce cost during the repair of such vehicles, hence, the need to go for carburetor engines.

Source: UEW
Assessing the perception of vocational catering students on vocational education in Brong-Ahafo

Research has shown that, vocational education presents an intriguing opportunity to investigate economic and social issues and give insight into the distinctiveness of a society. This study assessed the perception of Vocational Catering Students on Vocational Education in Brong-Ahafo Region. The study adopted a survey research design, seven vocational schools and 117 students were selected randomly for the study. The data for the study was gathered through questionnaire and analyzed with statistical measurement tools such as means, independent sampled T-test, frequencies and percentages. The study found out that, high employment opportunity after school, passion of becoming caterers, society and the environment in which students lived served as the major factors that influence students’ choice to pursue vocational education. Gender was the only variation factor on how students viewed catering education. Students were of the view that, there are a lot of job varieties to be employed in after studying vocational catering course. However, students felt the cost of catering education is high. It is recommended that frantic efforts should be made in reducing the cost of catering vocational education by retooling vocational schools with tools and equipment to reduce the cost borne by students.

Source: UEW
Assessing the performance of driving schools in Sunyani municipality in the Brong Ahafo region

The main purpose of the study was to assess the performance of driving schools in Sunyani Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region. This study adopted the case study design. The researcher used both primary and secondary data sources, which were considered to be more appropriate for this study. The researcher used quantitative research approach for the study. The targeted population for the study was 381. The population of the study was made up of drivers, driving school students, tutors and residents of the Sunyani municipality. A sample size of one hundred and ninety one (191) was chosen for the study using purposive and random sampling methods. The main instrument that was used to collect information for the study was questionnaire. Primary data was collected through a field survey of student drivers from the Sunyani Municipality. The data was edited to detect and correct, possible errors and omissions that were likely to occur, to ensure consistency across respondents. The questionnaire data was then coded to enable the respondents to be grouped into limited number of categories. The SPSS version 16 was used to analyse the data. The data was presented in tabular form, graphical and narrative forms. The study findings concluded that publicity and education were essential requirements that raised community awareness and improved the effectiveness of enforcement operations. Also, road safety is an integral component of driver training. Moreover, public education played a big part in educating drivers on safety and getting them to obey traffic laws. Furthermore, driver education reduced alcohol impaired driving by altering social norms, changing risky or dangerous behaviours and created safer environments. Also, effective driver education created the awareness of the general public that accident free driving is the basis for good road traffic safety. The study recommended that students of the driving schools should be taught to obey traffic laws and desist from alcohol, drugs, overloading, over speeding, making calls while driving and change risky or dangerous behaviours and create safer environments.

Source: UEW