ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Immunosurveillance and molecular detection of hepatitis B virus infection amongst vaccinated children in the West Gonja District in Savanna Region of Ghana

Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective preventive measure in reducing the incidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its consequences such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver failure and death. Ghana introduced the universal HBV vaccination in the national Expanded Programme on Immunization in 2002. The current study sought to determine the sero-protection rate and the prevalence of HBV infection among fully vaccinated children in the West Gonja District in the Savanna Region of Ghana. This cross-sectional study recruited three hundred and fifty (350) fully vaccinated children who visited West Gonja Catholic Hospital from September to December 2019 for healthcare. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain information on the demographics. The clinical history of the participants was obtained from the hospital records. Sera were separated from 2-5ml of blood sample collected from each participant after informed consent had been sought from their parents/guardians. Sera were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc using ELISA. Samples positive for HBsAg or anti-HBc were tested for HBV DNA by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. The overall sero-protection rate (anti-HBs titers � 10 mIU/mL) among the studied participants was 56% with anti-HBs geometric mean titer (GMT) of 95.7 mIU/mL (± 6.0; 95% CI) compared with GMT of 2.8 mIU/mL (± 0.2; 95% CI) among non-seroprotected participants. There was no statistically significant difference in sero-protection rate between males and females (p-value = 0.93) and in relation to age (p-value = 0.20). The prevalence of HBV infection among studied participants as determined by the HBV DNA/HBsAg positivity was 1.4% while anti-HBc sero-positivity was 2%. Even though the sero-protection rate and HBV infection rate reported in the current study compares with that of other international studies further studies need to be conducted to understand the factors related to sero-protection and HBV infection rate in the Savanna Region of Ghana.

Source: UG
Impact Analysis of Induced FM Radio Interferences on Aeronautical Radio Navigation Systems: Case Study of Kotoka International Airport, Accra-Ghana

This paper investigates the effect of interference on Aeronautical Navigation systems by Frequency Modulation (FM) broadcasting signals. Precisely, the paper evaluated the impact of 3rd order intermodulation distortion on the VHF omnidirectional range and the instrument landing system (Localizer) used at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The necessity of this study stems from the fact that, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) between FM audio broadcast and aeronautical radio communication services operating in the range of 85.7-108MHz and 108-117.975 MHz respectively is essential for safe flight operation. An analytical method of estimating the 3rd order intermodulation distortion has first been presented followed by simulation approach with the intermodulation analysis software v.10 and subsequent simulation with the Matlab software to determine and display the power spectral density of the output signals. All FM station frequencies in the Greater Accra region have been considered and paired to form dual tone signals that were considered input signal before assessing the impact of the 3rd order intermodulation harmonic. It was found that multiple 3rd order intermodulation harmonics distort and perturbate the aeronautical communication system in the Greater Accra region and these lead to severe safety implications for the operation of the aeronautical navigation system. It was recommended that broadcasting stations should implement cavity filters to reduce the effect of 3rd order intermodulation harmonics; they should respect the specification prescribed to them by the NCA and operate within limits allocated to them in order not to breach the international regulation of ITU that deems it an offense to interfere with the aeronautical communication system and to further ensure safety to the aviation navigation system.

Source: UG
Impact analysis of innovation and gendered constraints in the fisheries sector of southern Ghana

This paper adopts the multinomial endogenous treatment effect approach to analyze the impact of innovation choices on the income of 230 fish workers in the Greater Accra and Central regions of Ghana, while the Kendall’s ranking technique is applied to analyze the constraints to innovation. Findings show that technological and non-technological innovations available to fish workers have positive impacts on their income. Specifically, savings, credit access, and support service are identified to have positive impacts on income while gender and membership of a fish workers’ association have negative impacts on income. The most pressing constraints to innovation faced by female fish workers are cultural/ethnic restrictions, social exclusion, and time constraints. On the other hand, a high dependency ratio and discrimination in access to resources are the most pressing constraints faced by male fish workers. The paper recommends that stakeholders should continue to offer support services to fish workers. In addition, lending institutions should make credit accessible at lower interest rates. Interventions by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and development agencies that aim to solve constraints of fish workers should be approached from a gender dimensio

Source: UG
An Impact Assessment of Farmer Participation on Food Security in Northwestern Ghana

This paper employed Arnstein’s typology of participation to examine the impact of participation on subsistence farmers’ food security. The study compared diferences in the nature and impact of participatory approaches used by two NGOs involved in implementing a food security programme in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Two benefciary villages were sampled from the operational area of each NGO, with a ffth village as a control group. Using an exploratory sequential mixed method design, in-depth interviews were conducted with project ofcers and focus group discussions done with farmers. The data was analysed thematically to understand the type of participation used in each NGO’s programmes. In addition, 350 structured questionnaires (250 benefciaries and 100 non-benefciaries) were administered to individual farmers and the data analysed using diference-in-diferences estimation to assess the impact of participation on food security. The results indicate that more robust forms of participation signifcantly impact benefciaries’ food security. The study therefore supports the use of meaningful participatory approaches in interven tions to improve food security.

Source: UG
Impact evaluation of a social protection programme paired with fee waivers on enrolment in Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme

Objectives The study aimed to understand the impact of integrating a fee waiver for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) 1000 cash transfer programme on health insurance enrolment. Setting The study was conducted in five districts implementing Ghana’s LEAP 1000 programme in Northern and Upper East Regions. Participants Women, from LEAP households, who were pregnant or had a child under 1 year and who participated in baseline and 24-month surveys (2497) participated in the study. Intervention LEAP provides bimonthly cash payments combined with a premium waiver for enrolment in NHIS to extremely poor households with orphans and vulnerable children, elderly with no productive capacity and persons with severe disability. LEAP 1000, the focus of the current evaluation, expanded eligibility in 2015 to those households with a pregnant woman or child under the age of 12 months. Over the course of the study, households received 13 payments. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes included current and ever enrolment in NHIS. Secondary outcomes include reasons for not enrolling in NHIS. We conducted a mixed-methods impact evaluation using a quasi-experimental design and estimated intent-to- treat impacts on health insurance enrolment among children and adults. Longitudinal qualitative interviews were conducted with an embedded cohort of 20 women and analysed using systematic thematic coding. Results Current enrolment increased among the treatment group from 37.4% to 46.6% (n=5523) and decreased among the comparison group from 37.3% to 33.3% (n=4804), resulting in programme impacts of 14 (95% CI 7.8 to 20.5) to 15 (95% CI 10.6 to 18.5) percentage points for current NHIS enrolment. Common reasons for not enrolling were fees and travel. Conclusion While impacts on NHIS enrolment were significant, gaps remain to maximise the potential of integrated programming. NHIS and LEAP could be better streamlined to ensure poor households fully benefit from both services, in a further step towards integrated social protection.

Source: UG
Impact evaluation of the free maternal healthcare policy on the risk of neonatal and infant deaths in four sub-Saharan African countries: a quasi-experimental design with propensity score Kernel matching and difference in differences analysis

Objective Despite the huge financial investment in the free maternal healthcare policy (FMHCP) by the Governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso, no study has quantified the impact of FMHCP on the relative reduction in neonatal and infant mortality rates using a more rigorous matching procedure with the difference in differences (DID) analysis. This study used several rounds of publicly available population-based complex survey data to determine the impact of FMHCP on neonatal and infant mortality rates in these two countries. Design A quasi-experimental study to evaluate the FMHCP implemented in Burkina Faso and Ghana between 2007 and 2014. Setting Demographic and health surveys and maternal health surveys conducted between 2000 and 2014 in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Zambia. Participants Children born 5 years preceding the survey in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Zambia. Primary outcome measures Neonatal and infant mortality rates. Results The Propensity Score Kernel Matching coupled with DID analysis with modified Poisson showed that the FMHCP was associated with a 45% reduction in the risk of neonatal mortality rate in Ghana and Burkina Faso compared with Nigeria and Zambia (adjusted relative risk (aRR)=0.55, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.76, p<0.001). In addition, infant mortality rate has reduced significantly in both Ghana and Burkina Faso by approximately 54% after full implementation of FMHCP compared with Nigeria and Zambia (aRR=0.46, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.59, p<0.001). Conclusion The FMHCP had a significant impact and still remains relevant in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 and could provide lessons for other sub-Saharan countries in the design and implementation of a similar policy.

Source: UG
Impact of a bottom-up community engagement intervention on maternal and child health services utilization in Ghana: a cluster randomised trial

Background: Ghana is among African countries not likely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) three (3) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 per 100,000 live births by the year 2030 if maternal and child health services utilization are not improved. Community engagement in health is therefore advocated to help address this challenge. This study evaluated the impact of a community engagement intervention on maternal and child health services utilization in Ghana. Methods: This study was a cluster randomised trial among primary healthcare facilities (n = 64) in the Greater Accra and Western regions in Ghana. Multivariate multiple regression analysis and paired-ttest were used to determine impact of the community engagement intervention on maternal and child health indicators at baseline and follow-up. Results: Intervention health facilities recorded significant improvements over control facilities in terms of average spontaneous vaginal deliveries per month per health facility (baseline mean = 15, follow-up mean = 30, p = 0.0013); child immunizations (baseline mean = 270, follow-up mean = 455, p = 0.0642) and female condoms distribution (baseline mean = 0, follow-up mean = 2, p = 0.0628). Other improved indicators in intervention facilities were average number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests for non-pregnant women (baseline mean = 55, follow-up 104, p = 0.0213); HIV tests for pregnant women (baseline mean = 40, follow-up mean = 119, p = 0.0067) and malaria tests (baseline mean = 43, follow-up mean = 380, p = 0.0174). Control facilities however performed better than intervention facilities in terms of general laboratory tests, voluntary counselling and testing, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, male child circumcisions and other minor surgical procedures. Conclusion: Community engagement in health has the potential of improving utilization of maternal and child health services. There is the need for multi-stakeholder dialogues on complementing existing quality improvement interventions with community engagement strategies.

Source: UG
Impact of a personal response system on hospital use by low-income African American and white elders

In 1994, the American Red Cross initiated a subsidized personal response system program for low-income elders in the Detroit area to help these elders maintain their independence at home. Data were collected on 379 low-income, at-risk elderly clients from Detroit and surrounding Wayne County, Michigan. More than 80 percent of the sample were African American (n = 313), and the remainder were white (n = 66) elders. Statistically significant changes in number of emergency room visits only occurred among white subscribers, increasing on average by 1.4 annual visits. One year after the installation of the personal response system, white users were twice as likely as the African Americans to make an emergency room visit or to stay overnight in the hospital. Subsidized personal response system may be an appropriate third-party government-supported secondary intervention for home-based low-income and at-risk elders to prevent premature emergency room use, hospitalizations, and institutional placements.

Source: UG
Impact of active night population and leakage exponent on leakage estimation in developing countries

Methods for network leakage estimation include water balance, component analysis and minimum night flow (MNF) methods, the latter of which involves subtracting the customer night use (QCNU) from night leakage and multiplying by the hour day factor (HDF). QCNU and HDF respectively depend on Active Night Population (ANP) and leakage exponent (N1). In most developing countries, these parameters are assumed in the MNF method, thus introducing errors which makes setting realistic leakage reduction targets and key performance indicators (KPI) problematic. In this study, QCNU and HDF were evaluated by determining the relative error associated with ANP and N1 to establish localized rates for accurately estimating leakage in water networks. Between 7 and 11% relative error was associated with every 1% higher or lower ANP while up to 4% relative error was observed for every N1 step considered. A linear relationship exists between the relative error associated with both N1 and ANP although that of ANP is twice as high as N1: This has technical implications for setting water loss reduction targets and investing in the water infrastructure. It is recommended that water utilities must establish localized ANP and N1 values for accurate leakage estimation in water networks.

Source: UG
Impact of adoption in Ghana of an improved fish processing technology on household income, health and nutrition

Surveys were conducted in three fishing communities in Ghana, where an improved fish smoking technology (the Chorkor smoker) had been introduced previously, to assess the impact of adopting the improved technology on household income, health and nutritional status. Fifty-one fish processors (all women), who had adopted the improved fish processing technology, were selected for the study, in which the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique, nutritional survey methods and structured questionnaires were used to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. The results revealed that there was an improvement in economic activities. This resulted in a positive impact on household income and food consumption patterns of the processors. Improvement in household income resulted from increases in the quality and quantity of output, price per unit output and profits. Improvement in food consumption pattern was mostly in respect of quality and quantity of food intake, but the types of food consumed remained the same. The nutrient intake of the respondents was good on average, with a majority exceeding the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein, vitamin B1 and calcium. The average body mass index (BMI) of the processors was also within the ideal range of 20-25. Adoption of the new technology also improved the health status of the respondents. Lessening of eye problems and headaches as a result of reduced exposure to smoke and heat was reported by 52% of the women. However, preschool children were undernourished as a result of poor child feeding practices. In any technology transfer process, apparently unrelated nutritional factors need to be considered. © 2002 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Source: UG
Impact of agricultural practices on ecosystem health of lagoons: a case study of the Keta Lagoon Complex in Ghana, West Africa.

The paper reports on the current ecological health of the Keta Lagoon Complex by analyzing a suite of physical, chemical, and biological environmental conditions prevailing within it. Results are discussed in relation to the main human activity (i.e., agriculture) prevailing in its catchment. The current water quality of the lagoon has declined compared to data collected 20 years ago with elevated levels in parameters such as nitrate, phosphate, turbidity, and temperature. Secchi disk depth, salinity, and dissolved oxygen levels in the lagoon have decreased. More than 60% of the total area of the lagoon is predicted to be currently unsuitable to support aquatic life. The Carlson’s TSI estimated for the various zones of the lagoon ranged between 72.40 and 80.61 depicting a highly eutrophic lagoon, with about 90% of the total area studied confirmed to be experiencing some degree of eutrophication. The plankton index of biotic integrity also yielded high values of between 3 and 6 in most areas of the lagoon, thereby affirming the poor health of the lagoon. The diversity of phytoplankton and benthic macroinvertebrate species in the lagoon has reduced significantly in the last two decades with about 11 genera of phytoplankton missing in the present study. Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage richness, evenness, and diversity have decreased from 3.6, 2.0, and 5.8 in 2008 to 1.2, 0.8, and 1.7 respectively, in the present study. Overall, the health of the Keta Lagoon remains poorer and continues to decline with no signs of recover

Source: UG
The impact of Agricultural Runoff on the Quality of two streams in vegetable farm areas in Ghana

A study of two small streams at Kumadan and Tano, Ghana, was undertaken during the rain and dry season periods between February, 2005 and January, 2006 to investigate the impact of vegetable field runoff on their quality. In each stream we compared the concentration of current-use pesticides in one site immediately upstream of a vegetable field with a second site immediately downstream. Only trace concentration of endosulfan and chlorpyrifos were detected at both sites in both streams in the dry season. In the wet season, rain-induced runoff transported pesticides into downstream stretches of the streams. Average peak levels in the streams themselves were 0.07µgL-1 endosulfan 0.02 µgL-1 chlorpyrifos (the Akumadan stream); 0.04µgL-1endosulfan, 0.02 µgL-1 chlorphyrifos (Tono stream). Respective average pesticide levels associated with streambed sediment were 1.34µgkg-1 and 0.32 µgkg-1 (the Akumadan stream), and 0.92 and 0.84 µgkg-1 (the Tano stream). Further investigations are needed to establish the potential endosulfan and chlorpyrifos effects on aquatic invertebrate and fish in these streams. Meanwhile measures should be undertaken to reduce the input of these chemicals via runoff.

Source: UG
Impact of Allelic Polymorphisms in Pfama1 on the Induction of T-Cell Responses in Malaria Endemic Communities in Ghana

The eradication of malaria requires a combined effort involving all available control tools, and these efforts would be complemented by an effective vaccine. An effective malaria vaccine should be capable of inducing protective immune responses against variant forms of the parasite and in a genetically diverse population. Allelic polymorphisms in antigens that are targets of protective immune responses are a major drawback to vaccine development. This study investigated the influence of allelic polymorphisms in Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1) peptide sequences from three strains of P. falciparum (3D7, 7G8 and FVO) on their function as targets of immunodominant T cell responses. PBMCs were obtained from subjects from Legon (low malaria transmission zone) and Obom (high malaria transmission zone) and tested against 15 synthetic PfAMA1 peptides using ELISpot assay. The peptides were also tested for induction of CD4+ and CD8+ specific T cell IFN-γ responses by ELISpot using PBMCs with depleted T cell subsets. The 15 peptides represent six sets of allelic peptides from the three parasite strains. Data was expressed as the spot forming cells (sfc) per million PBMCS and analysed at two levels; first for positivity for immunodominance based on a set of criteria, and second for statistical differences between sfc/million PBMC data between peptides with any allelic set. None of the unfractionated PBMCs of subjects from Legon made positive response to any of the peptide tested. However, 2 subjects from Obom responded positively to 4 out of the 15 peptides used. Two of the 4 peptides were alleles and belong to the same allelic set (7G8 vs 3D7/FVO respectively) while the remaining two peptides belong to different allelic sets. In assays with CD8+ enriched PBMCs, a single subject from Legon and 3 subjects from Obom made positive response to 4 new peptides in addition to 2 peptides that made positive responses from the unfractionated PBMCs. In similar assays with CD4+ cells, there were no positive responses to any peptide for subjects from Legon. However, subject s made a positive response to 2 peptides belonging to the same allelic set. Overall, majority of the peptides which made either positive response by the set criteria or statistically significant responses had amino acid variability at positions 1 and 4 and most of the substitutions were to a charged amino residue. Also, majority of the specific IFN-γ response were from subjects belonging to the high malaria transmission zone. On the basis of this data, polymorphisms in PfAMA1 affect the induction of T- cell responses in malaria exposed subjects, and this effect is more pronounced in areas with high parasite exposure.

Source: UG