ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The role of motivational teaching techniques in adult distance learning programmes

This qualitative research study explored motivational teaching techniques used by instructors of distance learning programmes (DLPs) to assist adult learners in achieving learning outcomes that meet their educational goals. The authors investigated how 11 instructors in a DLP at a large university in Ghana, Africa, applied the techniques, as well as the challenges they faced. The instructors were purposively selected for face-to-face individual interviews and classroom observations. Data were analysed using content, constant comparison and thematic approaches. The findings revealed that in their teaching of adults, the instructors used different motivational techniques, described in this research as patching, resting, piecemealing, shared learning and opportunity to try. Although the choice of techniques overlapped among the instructors in the sample, they each applied them differently to help their adult learners to learn effectively. The instructors also encountered challenges (teaching frustrations), such as learner absenteeism, unwillingness to accept change, disrespect and the lack of preparedness. These findings led to the conclusion that indisciplined learner behaviour can cause underperformance. Given that the instructors faced diverse challenges, the authors recommend that open and distance learning (ODL) instructors in Ghana take advantage of professional development opportunities to keep up to date with techniques for managing complex adult learning environments and issues. Internationally, the findings of this study highlight the need for ODL providers around the world to regularly review their services to ensure that the challenges instructors and learners are facing are addressed in a timely manner. This will ensure that ODL remains a viable alternative mode of education, especially during exceptional circumstances like COVID-19 lockdowns.

Source: UG
The role of non-executive directors in the Ghanaian SME sector

This paper reports on the role of NEDs among Ghanaian SMEs. The results of this study revealed that less than half of the SMEs sampled engage the services of NED. The study also revealed that relatively larger SMEs are more likely to employ the services of NEDs. We also found that over 80% of the SMEs with NEDs were either growing or growing rapidly. NEDs' contributions were also found to be multi-various and cut across the range of SME board functions. The study showed that most SMEs acquire NEDs mainly through informal personal contacts such as family, friends of a director, business friends rather than through formal arrangements.

Source: UG
The Role Of Non-Governmental Organizations In The Attainment Of SDG Four

ABSTRACT This research assesses the role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the attainment of SDG four. In a country which is largely polarized politically, governments in power have over the years taken to capitalization of social interventions and developments to garner political credits for elections. The phenomena, among other things has led to a situation where other contributors of the nation’s developments are often not seen nor given the necessary regard to motivate their efforts in improving the development of the country. To this end, this research sort to look at Non-Governmental Organizations in the education sector of Ghana, and ascertain their contributions to the development of the sector in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4. The research aims at making a modest contribution in highlighting their roles and functions in society. Situated in the Pluralism theory of State Development, the research aimed at discovering what the contributions of NGOs are, in improving education in Ghana, what impact these NGOs have had in attaining SDG four in Ghana and whether or not, the perceived non-recognisition of their work has any impact on the discharge of their mandate. Using interviews as the main tool for data gathering, primary data was sourced from officers of Lead for Ghana, CAMFED, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education and the Northern Association of Non-Governmental Organizations in Education. Secondary sources of information included internet sources, journal articles, books, reports, and others. The study revealed that these NGOs are contributing significantly to increasing access to education and improving on the quality of education in the country. The study also revealed that aside from governments' initiatives to provide physical educational structures, there is a more significant challenge to improving quality of teachers to schools especially in rural Ghana. NGOs like Lead for Ghana have challenged the Status Quo in improving the caliber of teachers recruited to deprived communities in the country. The study also revealed that to attain the targets of SDG four, NGOs have an important role acting as checks and pressure groups for the Ministry of Education in the formulation of Education policies to attain the targets of SDG four in Ghana. In order to continue making contributions to the development of education in the country and attaining SDG four, the study recommends an implementation of a structure by government to appreciate the efforts of these NGOs.It is recommended that the Ministry of education put in place a system that allows for NGOs to detail their work structure and focus areas in order to avoid concertartion of NGOs in particular regions. Results from the study also reveals that, NGOs and their work in education is so crucial to the overall development of the nation hence, the need to strategicall harness the resources possesd by these NGOs to the benefit of the nation.

Source: UG
The role of nutrition in the pathophysiology and management of sickle cell disease among children: A review of literature

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the common inherited blood disorders in humans and has been associated with decreased dietary intake which results in poor nutritional status and impaired growth. Nutrition is one of the most important but often forgotten aspect of care of patients with chronic disorders and there have been emerging concern in literature on increased nutritional needs of SCD patients. This paper sought to review the available literature on the roles of individual nutrients in the pathophysiology and management of SCD among children. Children with SCD have been shown to exhibit suboptimal status with respect to both macronutrients and micronutrients. Thus, nutrition could play an important role in the management of SCD. However, there is paucity of evidence coming from trials with large sample sizes to support the suggestion that supplementation with various nutrients that have been considered in this review will be helpful.

Source: UG
The Role of Nutrition in the Prevention and Management of Neonatal Jaundice in Ghana

Despite the well-established importance of nutrition in health and wellness, nutrition’s involvement in the management and prevention of neonatal jaundice varies greatly from one guideline to another, to the extent that some guidelines do not include the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of neonatal jaundice. In addition, mothers typically translate their nutrition knowledge into the care of their babies. Hence, it is prudent for mothers to have the requisite knowledge needed to prevent any health condition, including neonatal jaundice. This study, therefore, sought to investigate and consolidate practices that elucidate the role nutrition plays in the prevention and management of neonatal jaundice in Ghana. The study was a multi-center nested, case-control study involving 120 cases and 120 controls of neonates in three referral hospitals in Ghana. Assessment of nutrition knowledge showed that with regards to the WHO (2004 & 2017) infant feeding recommendations, mothers of babies with neonatal jaundice had a higher nutrition score than mothers with healthy babies. During treatment of neonatal jaundice, babies were mostly fed breastmilk only, and, in a few cases, extra fluids were given if the baby is not exclusively breastfed or there is a risk of dehydration during phototherapy. No probiotic supplements were given, and micronutrient supplementation may or may not be given, depending on the prevailing health conditions of the neonate. It is recommended that further assessment should be carried out to identify the effectiveness of the nutrition education given during antenatal and postnatal education sessions at hospitals, clinics, and health centers.

Source: UG
The role of Pentecostal clergy in mental health-care delivery in Ghana

Against the backdrop of the current discourse on how religious groups are engaged in mental health in Ghana and how to properly engage them in mental health-care delivery, this study sets out to examine the views of 20 male Pentecostal clergy on the role of their churches in mental health-care delivery in Ghana. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts. Findings showed that Pentecostal clergy lean more towards a diabolical explanatory model of mental health than a biomedical perspective. There are three roles of the church from the clergy's perspectives: exorcism, social support and health education. These roles are however hampered by certain barriers. The implication for strategies of establishing collaborative framework is discussed. © 2014 © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Source: UG
The Role Of Perceived Value In Football Club Branding: A Developing League Perspective

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify which dimensions of perceived value best mediate football club branding and fan loyalty from a developing league perspective. Design/methodology/approach: Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data using questionnaires from football fans in Ghana (N 5,700). The data were analysed using SmartPLS V3, applying structural equation modelling with bootstrapping procedure. Findings: The results indicate that club branding is an effective precursor of fan loyalty. Moreover, the findings suggest that functional, social and emotional values mediated club branding and fan loyalty, whereas epistemic and economic values did not. Originality/value: This study contributes to sports management literature by identifying the dimensions of perceived value that will be relevant in the development of club brands in a developing league context.

Source: UG
The role of personality traits in predicting days lost due to illness: evidence from the World Bank’s Skills toward Employment and Productivity survey

This paper examined the associations between the “big-five” personality traits (i.e., extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, stability and agreeableness) and days lost due to illness or health problems using data from the World Bank’s Skills toward Employment and Productivity survey on Ghana. Based on the distribution of the dependent variable (days lost due to illness), a standard binary logistic regression technique was employed. In addition, to check the robustness of our results, the negative binomial and ordinary least squares regression techniques were used. The findings showed that females are more likely to report days lost due to illness than males. Consistent with existing literature, stability was found to be inversely associated with number of days lost due to illness. Additionally, openness was found to be inversely related to the number of days lost due to illness suggesting that individuals who are more curious, novel, cultivated, aesthetic, sensitive, independent minded, intellectual and creative are less likely to report days lost due to illness. These findings add to the growing evidence that personality traits are associated with life outcomes and can be used to predict self-reported health outcomes.

Source: UG
The role of primary caregivers in Ghana's child protection system: Lessons from transnational caregivers

Children constitute the single largest sub-group of the population of many countries. They are born into societies of distinct values and cultures and deserve optimum protection regardless of where they find themselves. Thus, there has been the formulation of different legal and policy instruments at various levels to ensure the protection of children, chief among them being the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which has been ratified by many nations, Ghana being the first. Ghana has made many strides in line with her commitment to child protection. What is largely missing in the child protection efforts in Ghana is the place of primary caregivers of children (biological parents, foster parents and or caregivers of children in institutions). The subject of primary caregivers is even more crucial in the face of changing traditional familial roles and relationships and the evidence of deficits of care. The near omission of the subject of care and primary providers of care in much theoretical thinking, academic enquiry and practical planning efforts have some implications for social policy. Drawing on findings of a research on caregivers of children left behind by migrants in Ghana, this paper discusses the place of primary caregivers in the child protection system and its implications for social policy

Source: UG
Role of Protein and Amino Acids in Infant and Young Child Nutrition: Protein and Amino Acid Needs and Relationship with Child Growth

Prevention of malnutrition in infants and children is multifaceted and requires the following: access to and intake of nutritious food starting at birth with exclusive breast- feeding for the first 6 mo of life, continued breastfeeding in combination with complemen- tary foods from 6–24 mo of age, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, and access to preventive and curative health care (including prenatal). Nutrient-dense complementary foods can improve nutritional status and have long-term benefits; however, in a review of plant-based complementary foods in developing countries, most of them failed to meet many micronutrient requirements. There is need to provide other cost-effective alternatives to increase the quality of the diet during the complementary feeding stage of the lifecycle. This paper provides an overview of the development, testing, efficacy and effectiveness of the delivery of KOKO Plus on the growth and nutritional status of infants 6–24 mo of age.

Source: UG
The role of proximate and other determinants in Ghana’s fertility transition

Although studies have revealed some of the factors behind Ghana’s fertility transition, much effort is still needed to explain the contribution to the transition of social factors such as beliefs, practices, customs, etc. Most of the studies have used macro-level data (mainly the Demographic and Health Surveys), and have therefore been unable to unravel in fine details the reasons at the micro level. The objective of this paper is to examine the role of proximate and other (mainly customs and practices) determinants in Ghana’s fertility transition. Household data collected among 386 females aged between 15 and 49 years in March 2002 are used. Results show that certain cultural practices such as child fostering, and females perception of their husbands or male participating in a household chore (seen as the preserve of females in Ghana) i.e., cooking, among other factors, turn out to be significant predictors of children ever born. Further research is needed to ascertain the role of other factors, viz, females’ perception of washing and babysitting by men, and the effect of practices such as badudwan (a female rewards the husband with a ram upon giving birth to the tenth child) on fertility.

Source: UG
The Role of Religious Leaders in Suicide Prevention in Ghana. A Qualitative Analysis

Religious leaders play a key role in providing support to persons in mental health crisis. The aim of this study is to examine how religious leaders in the Ga Municipal District of Ghana perceive their role in the prevention of suicide in their community and the kinds of help they provide to persons in suicidal crisis. A semi-structured interview guide was used to gather data from 28 religious leaders. Thematic analysis of the transcribed data showed that religious leaders perceive their role in suicide prevention as frontliners with a caring obligation to help suicidal persons because of the possible loss of a life. Further, when religious leaders interact with suicidal persons, they create healing communities, provide lay counseling, provide referrals to mental health professionals, offer prayer and deliverance, provide social support, and induce hope in such persons. Implications for interprofessional collaboration and gatekeeper training for religious leaders in Ghana are addressed.

Source: UG
The role of small towns in regional development and poverty reduction in Ghana

Ghana, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, lacks a clearly articulated urban development strategy. Urban growth has been rapid but largely uncontrolled. Ghana's adoption of a decentralization programme in 1988 focused some attention on small towns. The country's more recent adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and other specific poverty reduction strategies requires more concerted state promotion of small towns. Improved service provision and delivery through small towns is a necessary component of any successful poverty reduction or regional development strategy. © Journal Compilation © 2008 Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Source: UG
The role of social marketing theory in assessing insecticide-treated net usage intentions among pregnant women in Ghana

Purpose: Despite efforts to improve the usage of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) among pregnant women in endemic malaria countries like Ghana, its usage still remains low. Therefore, this study aims to assess the intention to use ITNs and actual usage behaviour among pregnant women in Ghana using the integrated model of behaviour prediction (IMBP) and explore factors preventing its usage. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire was administered to 310 respondents using a convenience sampling technique, and the data were analysed using multiple regression. Exploratory data collected through an interview guide was analysed using Kvale and Brinkman’s (2015) five-step approach. Findings: The findings indicate a significantly positive association between intention to use ITN and actual usage of ITN among pregnant women in Ghana. Attitude and normative beliefs were the most significant predictors of intention to use ITNs among pregnant women. The result further shows that despite the generally positive perception of the effectiveness of the ITN in malaria prevention and positive intention to use it, its actual usage remains low because of discomfort (primarily associated with heat, irritation, and heat). rashes, suffocation and vomiting, size and design, reactions to ITN’s chemicals; and misconceptions about ITNs causing cancer. In this study, the implications are discussed. Originality/value: This study applied the IMBP to ITNs usage intention among pregnant women in a developing market context and found the model to predict ITN usage intention effectively.

Source: UG
The role of social media in information dissemination to improve youth interactions

This study investigated how youth in Community 8 in Tema, Ghana, used social media and how that affected their interpersonal and communication skills. The study used a combined framework of the Social Learning Theory and Media Richness Theory, as well as an exploratory descriptive design and a qualitative technique, to investigate how youth in Ghana’s Tema Community 8 perceive and use media. Thematic analysis was used to identify the main themes and patterns in the data acquired from a sample of 16 youths between the ages of 15 and 25 using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observation. Based on the findings of the study, for young people, social media is the preferred method of contact over face-to-face encounters. Some individuals believed that a more deliberate balance between digital and bodily interactions was necessary. When it comes to effects on the ability to communicate face-to-face, there is a reduction in abilities but some apparent advances in expressiveness. Comparing platforms, advantages included increased networks and innovation, but overuse led to social anxiety and distraction. The study demonstrates the need for parental mediation, digital literacy programs that enable youth to use technology intentionally and responsibly, partnerships between legislators, policymakers, and technology companies, and guidance and interventions to help young people be able to balance offline interactions with online interactions.

Source: UG
The role of social protection interventions in enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation: The case of LIPW component of Ghana social opportunities projects (GSOP)

The devastating effects of climate change and variability globally are incontestable, hence, the urgency for upscaling adaptation and mitigation strategies. Central to initiating and implementing robust adaptation and mitigation measures is innovative financing. While there are various climate change support projects in Ghana, much is still needed to fund adaptation and mitigation measures. Similarly, social protection intervention programmes abound in the country, many of which are aimed at reducing poverty and spatial development inequalities in targeted areas. Arguably, opportunities are embedded in many of these social protection programmes to bolster climate change adaptation and mitigation issues in the country. Using the Labour Intensive Public Works (LlPW) of the Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) as a case study, the paper examines how social protection interventions in Ghana could support both climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Analysing the panel data from two rounds of survey on the LIPW, the results show that, paid employment among beneficiary communities increased by 9.4% relative to the non-beneficiary households. Furthermore, it was found that extreme poverty and average poverty reduced by 7% and 21% respectively in the LlPW beneficiary communities. Thus, the adaptive capacity to climate change of LIPW beneficiaries became stronger than non-beneficiaries. The analyses also reveal that the trees plantation activities of LlPW will strengthen the mitigation of climate change in the long-term through an increase in the country's carbon sinks. This interplay between social protection interventions and climate change objectives drums home the need to mainstream climate change objectives into all social protection interventions in Ghana

Source: UG