ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Experiences and perspectives of stigmatization and discrimination against people with epilepsy in Accra, Ghana

A qualitative research approach was utilized to investigate experiences and perspectives of people with epilepsy (PWE) and key informants. Twenty participants (14 PWE and 6 key informants) were purposively selected as participants for the study and in-depth interviews were conducted. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify emerging themes that addressed objectives of the study. The findings indicated that PWE and key informants included in this study perceived epilepsy as a spiritual, curable, and medical condition. Besides, it was found that for fear of being infected by epilepsy, some people stigmatized and discriminated against PWE. Additionally, the study provided evidence that PWE were stigmatized and discriminated against in employment and intimate relationships with the incidence of seizures being the major reason. Furthermore, the study revealed that PWE adopted various strategies (concealment, not responding to demeaning comments made by people, involvement in religious activities, and joining support groups) to manage stigma and discrimination. The findings suggest the need for public education about epilepsy in order to modify people's beliefs and views about the disease. Moreover, the provision of counseling services would help enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of PWE.

Source: UG
Experiences and training needs of healthcare providers involved in the care of Ghanaian adolescents living with HIV: an interventional study

Background: Caring for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (ALHIV) can be overwhelming due to their unique needs. Ghana is currently among nine countries in West and Central Africa contributing to 90% of new paediatric infections in the sub-region with a growing population of ALHIV. Regardless, gaps in paediatric related care including healthcare providers (HCPs) capacity issues have been identified. This study sought to assess the competencies of adolescentoriented healthcare providers before, and after interventionist training to inform recommendation that would guide the psychosocial care they give to ALHIV. Methods: The study adopted a mixed methods approach with a non-randomized interventional study involving threephase multi-methods. The sample consisted of 28 adolescent-oriented and multi-disciplinary healthcare providers at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) in Ghana. Data were obtained in three phases, namely, a baseline survey, interventionist training, and post-training in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using Stata version 13 for descriptive analysis while the qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo version 11. Results: Although the majority of the HCPs claim to be knowledgeable about adolescent health issues (n = 21, 75.0%), only about a third (n = 10, 35.7%) could correctly define who an adolescent is. The majority (n = 18, 64.3%) had not received any training on how to work with the adolescent client. The main areas identified for improvement in the ALHIV care in phase 1 included issues with psychosocial assessment, communication and treatment adherence strategies, creating an adolescent-friendly work environment, and availability of job aids/protocols. During the posttraining interviews, participants reported an improved understanding of the characteristics of an adolescent-friendly site and basic principles for ALHIV care. They were also able to correctly describe the widely used adolescent health assessment tool; the HEEADSSS. Post intervention interviews also revealed HCPs perception on increased practice related confidence levels and readiness to implement new knowledge and skills gained.Conclusion: This study has shown that targeted training on routine ALHIV care is effective in increasing HCPs knowledge, skills and confidence. Addressing the healthcare system/facility related gaps serves as an impetus for improved ALHIV care among HCPs.

Source: UG
Experiences Following Amputation among Amputees and Their Caregivers: An Exploratory Study in a Developing Country

Amputation is necessitated following an accident or a medical condition often to save a patient’s life. Despite the existence of the procedure and the rising number of amputees in the Ghanaian context, the emotional experiences of both amputees and their caregivers following amputation has been largely ignored. This qualitative exploratory study explored the emotional experiences of amputees and their caregivers following amputation. Using a semi-structured interview guide, ten (10) amputees and ten (10) caregivers were interviewed. Findings revealed that caregivers and amputees experienced a built up of negative emotions following amputaion. There were slight disparities in the negative emotions experienced by amputees and their caregivers. However, for both amputees and their caregiver, the experience of gratitude and news breaking method influenced their emotional experiences. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Source: UG
Experiences of Adolescent Stepchildren in the Stepfamily Context in Ghana: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

Globally, family systems are being diversified as most children are no longer living with their biological parents due to divorce, remarital, separation and unmarried personhood, leading to a rise in stepfamilies. Despite the rise of stepfamilies in the sub-Saharan In African countries, they have been largely under-studied, especially among the adolescent population. This study explored the nature of of experiences and their determining factors, as well as impact on adolescent stepchildren in the Ghanaian context. A purposeful sample of 22 adolescents who were living or had lived in a stepfamily household in the Koforidua Metropolis of Ghana were interviewed. and their responses analyzed thematically. Findings show that stepchildren had both pleasant and unpleasant experiences which had psychological, social and academic implications for their wellbeing. Precipitating factors bothered on stepchildren’s conduct, lack of blood ties between stepchildren and stepfamilies and lack of prospective benefits to stepparents. These findings underscore the need for psychological interventions for adolescents within the stepfamily context to help address the unpleasant experiences that may negatively impact on their social and psychological wellbeing.

Source: UG
Experiences Of Adolescents Living With HIV At The Fevers Unit, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

Living with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is challenging for any person especially during the period of adolescence. Many studies suggest that the services rendered in resource limited-countries do not meet the specific needs of adolescents living with HIV because little is known about their experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of adolescents living with HIV and receiving treatment, care, and support at the Fevers Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. A descriptive exploratory qualitative design was used in this study. Purposive sampling method was used to select adolescents between the ages of 14-19 years and an interview guide was used for data collection. Saturation was reached by the 12th participant. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis and eight main themes emerged from the data. These were disclosure of illness to family and significant others/reasons, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), care at the hospital and secrecy. The other themes included sources of infection/ramifications, selected experiences of adolescents, coping/support and future prospects. The findings showed that although the diagnosis and disclosure of HIV to adolescents brought feelings of sadness, worry and depression, the adolescents were determined to follow the medical instructions and comply with the treatment to live long and to be in good health. The adolescents kept their diagnoses a secret from some family members and significant others and disclosed it to people they could trust. The adolescents expressed the positive effects of the ART on their health. However, the side effects and the strict treatment regime were challenging for them. Parental/family support and encouragement from health professionals helped the adolescents to cope with their conditions. In the absence of social support networks, these adolescents found strength in their religious beliefs which helped them to cope with their conditions Although the adolescents received information about their diagnoses and treatment, knowledge on sexual and reproductive health were inadequate. Despite all the difficulties they experienced, the adolescents were hopeful and positive about the future with education as a backbone to achieve career plans. There is a need for the provision of age-appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health for the adolescents to make informed decisions. Additionally, social support networks should be established for adolescents living with HIV as a platform to enable the adolescents share information and strengthen each other to be able to go through the adolescence phase.

Source: UG
Experiences of Adult Learners Engaged in Blended Learning beyond COVID-19 in Ghana.

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the educational landscape, making exploration of blended learning (BL) instructional delivery important. Higher education institutions are navigating the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on instructional delivery. Using Accra Learning Centre as a case study, this article explores the experiences of adult learners engaged in BL after the COVID-19 crisis in Ghana. A qualitative research method was employed, and a purposive sampling procedure was used to select 15 adult learners. An in-depth interview guide was developed to garner data. Thematic, narrative, and interpretivist analytical approaches were adopted in presenting the results. Participants’ voices, experiences, and meanings were sought. It emerged that BL promotes inquiry-based, self-directed, and constructivist learning rather than using conventional face-to-face teaching and learning, though conventional teaching and learning cannot be discounted, BL fosters self-paced learning among adult learners. It recommends that faculty continue to sharpen their skills in BL instructional delivery and adult learners should be equipped with skills in time management, and effective digital tools used to engage in BL.

Source: UG
Experiences of Adult Learners Using Sakai Learning Management System in Learning in Ghana

The advancement in information and communication technology (ICT) and its application as teaching and learning tools has taken learning to a higher level. Innovations in ICT and its deployment in teaching and learning are aiding adult learning by distance education mode. Accra Learning Centre hosts the biggest students’ population pursuing degree programmes by distance education mode in Ghana. A simple descriptive statistics were adopted to help build a case in using the qualitative data. A descriptive narrative design was employed for conducting the study which tilt towards qualitative case study approach to investigate meanings and experiences adult learners have had when,– using the Sakai Learning Management System platform. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from 50 adult learners who participated in the study. Most (80%) of the learners indicated that they faced difficulties, including accessing computers, course materials online, weak link, poor network interface and connectivity, as well as power fluctuations when they started learning with the Sakai Learning Management System, which changed with time. The ICT platform created greater access to self-learning. The study concludes that the ICT laboratories should be refurbished – and installed with new computer accessories – for increased access to Sakai Learning Management System to learn.

Source: UG
Experiences of African student migrants in Moscow”: Understanding the uses of digital technologies for social services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has attracted a plethora of research from medical-related disciplines other than sociological and migration disciplines . While a significant number of research papers have considered the impacts of the COVID- 19 lockdowns and school closures on students, their observations are not directly applicable to the over 5.3 million international students across the globe. The purpose of this study is to understand how African Student Migrants (ASMs) used technologies for social services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Moscow. This study adopted a qualitative research approach to understand the use of digital technologies for social services among 40 ASMs sampled through purposive and snowballing techniques. The findings established that, the use of digital technologies by ASMs played an instrumental role in social services such as accommodation, learning and purchasing patterns rather than social communication, religious or cultural practices, psychological and physical health, and dieting during the COVID- 19 pandemic. For policy-level recommendations, tech-savvy developers, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the African Union (AU) should collaborate and create digital technologies that are suitable for social services; devise an information platform to capture basic information about ASMs that will enable them to streamline welfare stimulus packages essential to their survival in times of pandemics. This will also serve as a coping mechanism for society to prepare for new social emergencies and use digital technologies to calibrate international education and inform future policies on public health, school closures and mobility beyond borders.

Source: UG
The Experiences of Ageing Parents of Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Global improvements in health care have resulted in improved longevity for the general population, including persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Increasingly, many parents are living with and providing care for their young adults with ASD. Little, however, is known about the experiences of ageing parents of young adults with ASD, particularly in developing countries like Ghana. This study explored the unique experiences of nine ageing parents and their young adults with ASD using semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using the thematic analysis approach. Findings from the analysis of their responses revealed five themes: psychological exhaustion, future uncertainties, planning for the future, isolation and stigmatization and social support. Findings of this study serve to extend the developmental perspective of caring for caregivers and adult persons with ASD, with implications for designing interventions for such population in developing regions. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Source: UG
The experiences of attempt survivor families and how they cope after a suicide attempt in Ghana: A qualitative study

Background: Ghana's socio-cultural landscape proscribes suicidal behaviour, and this has serious ramifications for attempt survivors and their families. The objective of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of the families of attempt survivors and how they cope with the aftermath of the attempt. Methods: Ten families with attempted suicides agreed to participate in the study, hence they were interviewed. The information gathered was manually analyzed according to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) resulting in three major thematic areas. Results: Three major themes emerged two of which addressed negative experiences and reactions towards the attempts: Experiencing shame and stigma, and Reactive affect. The third theme addressed the coping resources of these informants under the theme: Surviving the stress of attempt. The specific coping resources included personalized spiritual coping, social support, and avoidance. Conclusions: Family systems theory is used to explain some of the findings of this study, and the implication for clinical practice and designing postvention programs for families after a suicide attempt are addressed. © 2017 The Author(s).

Source: UG
The experiences of caregivers of children living with HIV and AIDS in Uganda: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Home-based care for HIV patients is popular in contexts severely affected by the epidemic and exacts a heavy toll on caregivers. This study aimed at understanding the experiences of caregivers and their survival strategies. METHODS: A total of 18 caregivers (3 males and 15 females) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Analysis suggests that the caregivers are burdened with insecure provisions for food and difficulties in accessing health care. They however survived these strains through managing their relationships, sharing burden with care-recipients, social networks and instrumental spirituality. These findings are discussed under two major themes: 1). Labour of caregiving and 2). Survivalism. CONCLUSIONS: Home-based care presents huge opportunities for community response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in African settings. It is however burdensome and thus should not be left for families alone to shoulder. There is therefore an urgent need for protecting home-based care for HIV children in Uganda. Implications for improving and strengthening social interventions in home-based care of HIV/AIDS in the Ugandan context are addressed.

Source: UG
Experiences of Caregivers of Individuals with Schizophrenia in the Accra Metropolis

Background: This research explores the experiences of caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in the Accra metropolis. A review of the literature surrounding the experiences of caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia illustrated that this topic is widely researched globally except Ghana. Nevertheless, there is paucity of literature involving caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in the Accra metropolis, making the area of psychiatric research largely neglected in the country. Method: The researcher uses an exploratory descriptive qualitative design for the study. Sample Size: the study comprised of twelve (12) caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia. Sampling Technique: a purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants for the study. Data collection: The researcher conducted one to one in-depth interviews. Data Analysis: The researcher was guided by Miles and Huberman‘s 1994 framework of thematic content analysis. Ethical Approval: ethical approval for the study was sought from the institutional review board of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana, Legon for ethical clearance and approval. Permission letter was sent to the Pantang hospital‘s ethical review board for site approval. Consent: consent for this study was obtained from participants. Conclusion: base on the findings, recommendations were made on nursing research, nursing administration and nursing research.

Source: UG
Experiences of Caregivers on Disclosure of Childhood HIV Positive Status to Affected Children in the HO Municipality

Disclosure of HIV positive status to children who acquired the infection perinatally is very crucial in their management and has been shown to have numerous benefits. However, HIV status disclosure rates to children living with HIV are still low in low-and middle-income countries. This study explored the experiences of caregivers regarding disclosure of HIV positive status to their children (6-12years) using the Theory of Planned Behaviour. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 caregivers from two health facilities in the Ho municipality. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed, coded, and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that caregivers possessed negative attitudes towards HIV status disclosure to children. Most caregivers expressed fear of negative psychological reactions from the children and the ability of children to maintain secrecy. Most caregivers perceived disclosure as a discreet event and so they are delaying disclosure to an older age. Caregivers also reported that they perceived negative normative influence from significant others to disclose. The major barriers identified to be inhibiting disclosure to the children are fear of stigma, discrimination, low self-efficacy, inadequate knowledge on HIV, school-related factors, lack of disclosure teaching and lack of child-focused care at the clinics. Most caregivers said they need nurses’ support to be able to disclose. They cited 17-18 years as the preferred age they intended to disclose. The findings suggest that factors influencing HIV positive status disclosure to children with HIV are multiple, complex, and unique to each family. Family-centred disclosure interventions are needed to address the specific concerns of each family and facilitate safe HIV disclosure to children in this setting. This study offers future research directions on developing protocols for HIV disclosure to children and capacity building approaches for child caregivers. Keywords: Children, Disclosure, Experience, HIV, Caregivers

Source: UG
Experiences of Community Psychiatric Nurses in the Discharge of their Duty: A Study in the Accra Metropolis

This study sought to explore the experiences of Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) in the discharge of their duty. An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used in this study. The study was conducted in the Accra Metropolis. Thirteen participants working in the six districts of the Community Psychiatric Units of Ayawaso, Osu-Koltey, Ablekuma, Okai-koi, LEKMA, and Ashiedu-Keteke in the Accra Metropolis were used. Purposive sampling method was used to select participants with more than 3 years working experience from each Community Psychiatric Unit. A semi-structured interview guide was the tool for data collection. The major findings included difficulty locating the homes of patients due to poor home addresses and transportation, limited logistical support and irregular supply of medications. Also, there were stigmatization of the CPN, assaults from patients and the negative attitudes of relatives of patients which led to relapses. Participants had the expectation that risk allowances should be given in the event of any injury sustained whiles working. They also emphasized the need for recognition from their employers, support from stakeholders as well as Training and certification of CPNs. Various coping strategies such as reducing stigma, religion, self-motivation and reduction in home visits were employed to deal with the challenges. Based on these findings, recommendations were made to help address the challenges of the Community Psychiatric Nurses in the Accra Metropolis. Among them were: the employer and management of the various health care facilities should provide the CPNs with transport to facilitate access to their clients in the community. There should be media involvement in educating the general public on mental health issues to reduce the stigma of mental health and mental illness. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with stakeholders should embark on the training and certification of CPNs for their recognition.

Source: UG