ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Strategies for effective male involvement in family planning practice in Wa District, Upper West Region of Ghana.

The effectiveness and success of family planning depends on the involvement of couples (wife andhusband) but this hardly happen in most communities as evidenced in the Wa municipality of Ghana.It is the belief, though erroneously among most males that the practice of family planning should bethe sole responsibility of the female. This paper examines the factors, which inhibit male activeinvolvement in family planning practice, and the strategies that can be implemented to make maleseffective and reliable partners in family planning practice in the Wa District of the Upper West region,Ghana The survey method, using the purposive and simple random sampling techniques wasemployed. Data for the study were gathered by the use of focus group discussions, structuredinterview schedules and questionnaire from a sample size of 160 respondents made up of married menand staff of the Reproductive Health unit of Ministry of Health. The findings of the study revealedthat men perceive family planning as a preservefor women. The militating factors against maleinvolvement identified include lack of attractive, safe and convenient male contraceptives, femaleoriented family planning facilities, service providers tend to be mostly females, high premium placedon children, disapproval of modern contraceptives by their religions-the catholic and Islamic faiths,the association of family planning with promiscuity and pressure to have many children bypolygamous family The strategies identified by the study for effective male involvement includeintensive education on benefits, misconceptions and rumours based on level of formal education,traditional setting , geographical location and vocation of the people. The target for education shouldinclude religious leaders, chiefs and opinion leaders who are custodians of these deep rooted culturaland religious beliefs

Source: UG
Strategies For Effective Male Involvement In Family Planning Practices In Wa District, Upper West Region Of Ghana

The effectiveness and success of family planning depends on the involvement of couples (wife and husband) but this hardly happen in most communities as evidenced in the Wa Municipality of Ghana. It is the belief, though erroneously among most males that the practice of family planning should be the sole responsibility of the female. This paper examines the factors, which inhibit male active involvement in family planning practice, and the strategies that can be implemented to make males effective and reliable partners in family planning practice in the Wa District of the Upper West region, Ghana. The survey method, using the purposive and simple random sampling technique was employed. Data for the study were gathered by the use of focus group discussions, structured interview schedules and questionnaire from a simple size of 160 respondents made up of married men and staff of Reproductive Health Unit of Ministry of Health. The findings of the study revealed that men perceived family planning facilities as a preserve for women. The militating factors against male involvement identified include lack of attractive, safe and convenient male contraceptives, female oriented family planning facilities, service providers tend to be mostly females, high premium placed on children, disapproval of modern contraceptives by their religion- the catholic and Islamic faiths, the association of family planning with promiscuity and pressure to have many children by polygamous family. The strategies identified by the study for effective male involvement include intensive education on benefits, misconceptions and rumours based on level of formal education, traditional setting, geographical location and vocation of the people. The target for education should include religious leaders, chiefs and opinion leaders who are custodians of these deep rooted cultural and religious beliefs.

Source: UG
Strategies for enrolment management in private universities in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has negatively affected the educational systems of most countries, most especially, private universities in Ghana. The study assessed the strategies adopted by private universities in Ghana for effective enrolment management practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The descriptive qualitative research method was used to solicit primary data through interviews, document/system reviews, and observations from private universities. The study established that the private universities were able to deploy some strategies which had positive impact on enrolment management at the universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the strategies adopted include transition to the digital learning experience (using digital learning experience ZOOM, LOOM, Microsoft Team, and Google Meet); establishing an enrolment command center to coordinate and support the decision making activities regarding students’ access, recruitment, admission, persistence, retention, and completion during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond; and the deployment of virtual tour services by improving tour services virtually and making navigation points on the university websites. Furthermore, the use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp) and financial aid served as strategies for effective enrollment management. The findings of the study provide empirical and practical support and information for university administrators, academic advisors, educators, and researchers on the strategies that they can deploy for effective enrolment management practices in private universities during epidemics or pandemics and beyond.

Source: UG
Strategies for financing social health insurance schemes for providing universal health care: a comparative analysis of five countries

Background: Universal Health Coverage has become a political priority for many African countries yet there are clear challenges in achieving this goal. Though social health insurance is considered a mechanism for providing financial protection, less well documented in the literature is evidence from countries in Africa who are at various stages of adopting this financing strategy as a way to improve health insurance coverage for their populations. Objectives: The study investigates whether social health insurance schemes are effectively and efficiently covering all groups. The objective is to provide evidence of how these schemes have been implemented and whether the fundamental goals are met. The selected countries are Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. The study draws lessons from the literature about how policy tools can be used to reduce financial barriers whilst ensuring a broad geographic coverage in Africa. Methods: The study relies primarily on a review of literature, both documented and grey matter, which include key documents such as government health policy documents, strategic plans, health financing policy documents, Universal Health Coverage policy documents, published literature, unpublished documents, media reports and National Health Accounts reports. Results: The results show that each of the selected countries relies on a plurality of health insurance schemes with each targeting different groups. Additionally, many of the Social Health Insurance programs start by covering the formal sector first, with the hope of covering other groups in the informal sector at a later stage. Health insurance coverage for poor groups is very low, with targeting mechanisms to cover the poor in the form of exemptions and waivers achieving no desirable results. Conclusions: The ability for Social Health Insurance programs to cover all groups has been limited in the selected countries. Hence, relying solely on social health insurance schemes to achieve Universal Health Coverage may not be plausible in Africa. Also, highly fragmented risk pools impede efforts to widen the insurance pools and promote cross-subsidies.

Source: UG
Strategies for Managing Common Pool Natural Resources in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Past Experience and Future Challenges

This article reviews the literature on the conservation and livelihood impacts of recent policy and institutional reforms concerning the management of common pool natural resources in sub-Saharan Africa. The evidence suggests that the specific institutional and natural resource context is critical to the success or failure of reforms. We also identify several methodological and data deficiencies in the literature that pose significant challenges for the design of effective and sustainable policies in the future. We propose several priorities for future research, including improving the characterization of the nature, extent, and purpose of policies; controlling for confounding effects and selection bias in research design; developing standardized and conceptually sound impact measures that are aligned with the goals of policy reforms; adopting ecosystems approaches that model complex coupled socioecological systems; broadening cost and benefit measures to include the regulation of ecosystem services of significant local, regional, and global value; and identifying long-term economic incentives and benefit-sharing arrangements among stakeholders, particularly given the increasing competition from alternative land use options. Finally, we find that the literature is dominated by contributions from the natural sciences, suggesting an opportunity to increase the role of environmental economics and policy research

Source: UG
Strategies for recovery of copper and gold as single constituents or an alloy: Selective separation and adsorption-coupled incineration of the bulk metal-loaded adsorbents

To recover useful metals from waste PCBs, environmentally friendly bioleaching has recently attracted attention. Accordingly, distinct protocols are required to adequately recover the bioleached metals. Herewith, we present strategies to separate and recover copper and gold from a bioleached solution of waste PCBs. Polyethylenimine-polyacrylic acid composite adsorbents (PPCAs) were screened from among different candidate adsorbents. By only adjusting the mixing ratio of PEI and PAA, it was possible to recover gold and copper as single constituents or an alloy. A two-step strategy was designed, leading to the successful separation of copper and gold, first through selective adsorption of copper and then by bulk adsorption of copper and gold. The experimental maximum equilibrium uptakes of copper by PPCA-2 and PPCA-7 were 667±0.06 and 587±0.16 mg g-1, respectively. The pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order models fitted the kinetic data of copper better than gold. Following incineration, the adsorbents were characterized for examining the crystallinity and atomic energy states of the metals. Consequently, XRF analysis revealed that the copper-gold alloy ash contained 96.7±0.40% Cu and 1.73±0.26% Au. This study would be helpful for future studies that would aim at the separation and recovery of metallic minerals from bioleachates.

Source: UG
Strategies to Enhance Rehabilitation After Acute Kidney Injury in the Developing World

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is independently associated with new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. However, only a minority of patients receive follow-up care after an episode of AKI in the developing world, and the optimal strategies to promote rehabilitation after AKI are ill-defined. On this background, a working group of the 18th Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative applied the consensus-building process informed by a PubMed review of English-language articles to address questions related to rehabilitation after AKI. The consensus statements propose that all patients should be offered follow-up within 3 months of an AKI episode, with more intense follow-up (e.g., <1 month) considered based on patient risk factors, characteristics of the AKI event, and the degree of kidney recovery. Patients should be monitored for renal and nonrenal events post-AKI, and we suggest that the minimum level of monitoring consist of an assessment of kidney function and proteinuria within 3 months of the AKI episode. Care should be individualized for higher risk patients, particularly patients who are still dialysis dependent, to promote renal recovery. Although evidence-based treatments for survivors of AKI are lacking and some outcomes may not be modifiable, we recommend simple interventions such as lifestyle changes, medication reconciliation, blood pressure control, and education, including the documentation of AKI in the patient's medical record. In conclusion, survivors of AKI represent a high-risk population, and these consensus statements should provide clinicians with guidance on the care of patients after an episode of AKI. © 2017 International Society of Nephrology

Source: UG
Strategies to manage hepatitis C virus infection disease burden—Volume 4

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Strategies to Upgrade Animal Health Delivery in Village Poultry Systems: Perspectives of Stakeholders From Northern Ghana and Central Zones in Tanzania

Village chicken production holds much potential for the alleviation of malnutrition and poverty in rural communities in Africa. Owing to their subsistence nature, however, such systems are rife with infectious poultry diseases such as Newcastle disease (ND). Strategies common for the management of ND and other poultry diseases in intensive production systems, including vaccination and biosecurity measures, have seen limited success in the village production systems. New approaches are needed that can successfully deliver animal health inputs and services for the effective management of poultry health challenges in low-input systems. Our study utilized focus group discussions with men and women farmers as well as other poultry value chain actors such as input suppliers, live bird traders and processed poultry meat retailers, to investigate potential options for delivery of animal health care to village poultry systems in northern Ghana and central Tanzania. ND was commonly reported as a major disease constraint in the study sites of the two countries, with resulting fatalities particularly impactful on men and women producers and on traders. We therefore also conducted interviews that focused specifically on the gender component of village chicken production. The key health related challenges prioritized by women and men participants included limited access to, and poor quality of, vaccines and veterinary drugs, a shortage of veterinary officers, and insufficient knowledge and training of farmers on flock management practices. Women, more than men, emphasized the difficulties of accessing poultry health services. Our assessments suggest that for poultry health care delivery in the studied communities to be effective, there is need to improve the supply of good quality drugs and vaccines in rural areas, respond to the needs of both men and women, and recognize the different incentives for farmers, traders and other value chain actors. Community-based approaches and increased use of ICT technology such as mobile phones have much to offer in this regard.

Source: UG
Stream processes and dynamics in the morphology of the densu river channel in Ghana

The Densu River Basin has come under serious threat from a number of human activities such as farming, lumbering, sand winning, animal grazing, dam construction among others. These activities have significant implications on the fluvial processes of the river such as erosion, braiding and flooding. The study examined the current fluvial processes and landforms and the dynamics in the river morphology since the 1960s. This was done by analysing existing survey maps and air photographs. This involved air photo interpretation and digitizing of old topographic maps which were overlaid on each other to identify changes in the river's course. These analyses were backed by field studies to verify findings from these secondary data sources. Fluvial processes in the river channel include erosion and braiding which is hastening the siltation of the Weija Lake, a dam built at the river's mouth. The study revealed that the lower section of the river channel was characterised by ox-bow lakes, meanders and sand dunes. Channel morphology in the middle and upper courses was that of incised river valleys with rapids, water falls and pot-holes. It was also noticed that, the construction of the Weija Dam has led to the drying up of the Sakumo Lagoon below the dam as water flow into the lagoon is regulated. The reduction of fresh water flow into the lagoon has promoted salt mining in the delta declared as a RAMSAR Site. Another major change at the mouth of the river has been the sealing - off of one distributary of the river due to the accretion of a sand bar westwards from Grefi to Bortianor. This change in the river's course is due to the low flows at the mouth as a result of the dam hence the river lacks the requisite energy to carry away sand dunes deposited at its mouth. © 2008 International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Streaming Religious Services During A Public Health Crisis: How Digital Religion Shapes Population Well-Being And Intergenerational Learning

This study employs the therapeutic landscape theory to explore how online religious services during lockdown restrictions shape experiences of well-being and intergenerational learning. We used qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus groups with older adults and pastors in five churches in Ghana to explore how online religious places are conceptualized as therapeutic landscapes for sustaining wellbeing goals amidst a global pandemic. We identified multiple pathways of meaning through which online religious services shape the lives of people in a faith community to sustain the experience of well-being in a difficult time. In addition, this paper reflects on the broader implications of COVID-19 in shaping a paradigm shift in digital religion and intergenerational learning experiences through a changing religious landscape precipitated by lockdown. restrictions that have drastically altered traditional religious places.

Source: UG
Street Children in Ghana’s Golden Triangle Cities: Mental Health Needs and Associated Risks

More than 61,000 persons below the age of 18 are living on the streets in the Greater Accra region in Ghana. Street children is a hidden vulnerable population and a global public health issue in the world, but little is known about their mental health and health needs, and mechanisms that contribute to their poor health. With a lack of mental health research to guide intervention or psychoeducation programme and policy planning, this study aimed to address these research gaps by examining prevalence of mental health problems and a set of associated risk factors (i.e. Perceived quality of life, and social connection). In addition, we examined whether the associations between risk factors and mental health problems were moderated by demographic and contextual factors (i.e., gender, age, work status, reason for living on street, number of years in street). Two hundred and seven children between age 12 and 18 who lived on the street in three cities (Accra, Sekondi Takoradi, and Kumasi) were recruited. Data were gathered through adolescent survey/interviews. Multiple regression was utilized to examine risk factors and moderation efects. Results support high mental health needs among street children. Approximately 73% street children experienced moderate to severe mental health problems, and 90% experienced poor quality of life. Perceived quality/happiness of life was the strongest predictor for street children’s mental health. Social connection was associated with children’s mental health only in certain subgroups and contexts. This study adds new epidemiological evidence for street children, an extremely vulnerable population, in Ghana and global child and adolescent mental health.

Source: UG
Street Trading and Environmental Management in Central Accra: Decentralisation and Metropolitan Governance in Ghana

Ghana’s decentralised system of development administration is supposed to involve all stakeholders in the governance of all local government areas, including metropolitan areas, in development at the local level. Among the many stakeholder groups that a metropolitan assembly has to deal with are trade associations. Members of the street traders associations are engaged in street trading, particularly in the central business district (CBD) of Accra Metropolitan Area (AMA). Street trading, like other aspects of the informal economy, has not been physically integrated into the urban land use and the management system of the metropolitan areas and yet the activities of street traders impinge on urban environmental management. This has been a source of conflict between them and the authorities of AMA, though AMA collects a substantial amount of money from them in form of market tolls etc annually. While AMA has made several attempts to settle street traders in the CBD, AMA has so far not been able to adequately address the challenges posed by street trading in the heart of the city. This paper describes street trading in the CBD of AMA and the role played by traders and their associations in environmental management within the CBD of AMA. It also describes the relationships between the street traders and their associations on one hand and between them and the AMA authorities on the other regarding the above and the question of their physical integration within the space economy of the metropolitan area. The paper discusses the implications of these for the decentralisation process as well as for the governance of the metropolitan area.

Source: UG
Street-level bureaucrats’ coping strategies and how they affect public service delivery in Ghana

Street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) are at the front of public social policy-making and implementation. This paper examines actions, behaviours and SLBs coping strategies in social service delivery. It uses interviews, documentation and observations with a comparative case study approach. It contributes to public social policy implementation in developing world context. It adds to street-level bureaucracy debates that actions and behaviour of SLBs are not only influenced by workload and working conditions but are influenced by their organisational culture. It moves away from the traditional public bureaucracy perspective and brings a new dimension on SLBs coping strategies within public-private organisational contexts. Findings suggest that organisational behaviour, interests, resources and culture influence the coping strategies SLBs adopt in organisations, which affect their clients’ access to social services. Ironically, findings suggest SLBs in private organisations seem more inclined

Source: UG