ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Career needs of polytechnic students: a case study of Takoradi polytechnic

this study was carried out to identify the counselling needs of polytechnic students using takoradi polytechnic in the western region of ghana as a case study. it aimed at finding out their prevalent counselling needs, sources of support available to students and whether they desire services provided by the counselling department of the institution, taking into considerations variables such as; age, gender, academic level, programme of study and marital status. descriptive research design was used for the study, cluster, stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed in selecting two hundred students for the research. questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and sixty were collected after two weeks. frequencies, percentages, cronbach`s alpha, factor analysis and chi-square were use in analysing the data. the results revealed that although students encountered a myriad of problems and also desired consultations with professional counsellors to solve their problems, majority of them did not patronize the services provided by the counselling centre, but rather relied on friends when in need. the study recommends among others that counselling at takoradi polytechnic should be formalised and carried out alongside the curriculum as an audited course.

Source: UCC
Career Orientations as Antecedent of Perceived Life Satisfaction among Ghanaian Teachers

Work is essential and provides a number of psychological experiences that promote mental well-being individuals, aside the financial gain. This study explored how the inner drives, motive and values of the teachers affect their work experiences. When there a fit between the personal resources of the teachers and their job demands, they are more likely to have fulfilled and satisfying work experience, which would boost their satisfaction in life. The study involved a sample of 297 professional teachers from the basic and Senior High Schools from the Cape Coast and Tema Metropolises of the Central and the Greater Accra regions respectively. The design employed for the study was quantitative survey. The data for the study were collected within three weeks at the two metropolises. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that the carer orientation of Ghanaian teachers significantly predict their areer/life satisfaction. Service dedication was found to be the most significant predictor of career experience of teachers. Males were also found to be significantly higher on pure challenge, autonomy and managerial competence anchors. Age of respondents was also significantly related negatively with their pure challenge and service dedication anchors. The implications of these findings were discussed.

Source: UCC
Career Preference, Career Intention, and Academic Performance of Accounting Students in Selected Universities in Ghana

The study examined career preference and academic performance of accounting students in Ghana. The study was informed by the social cognitive career theory, theory of planned behaviour and trait factor theory, and followed the pragmatist research philosophy. Sequential explanatory design and follow-up explanations model were employed for the study. The study engaged all the 360 undergraduate accounting students in the quantitative phase of the study. Through convenience sampling, 15 participants were selected for the qualitative phase. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to gather quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (ANOVA, t-test, linear regression and structural equation modelling) statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data. It emerged from the study that personal factors, reference factors and job factors significantly influenced career preference of accounting students. However, only job factors such as salary directly influenced students’ academic performance. Academic performance in Management Accounting was positively influenced by performance in Financial Accounting. There was no statistically significant difference between the academic performance of male and female accounting students. Career preference intention was found to mediate the relationships between job factors, personal factors, reference factors and academic performance. Accounting students who were willing and determined to pursue accounting career put in maximum effort to perform academically better. Accounting educators must expose students to accounting career opportunities and the positive outcomes of the accounting profession.

Source: UCC
Career progression of women in the accountancy profession in Kumasi metropolitan assembly of Ghana

This study investigated the barriers to women career advancement and progression in the accountancy profession in the Kumasi Metropolis. The study sampled 48 female accountants from various institutions who also occupy diverse positions in the Metropolis. Data was collection through questionnaire and were further analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency and percentages. The study revealed that most of the female accountants pursue a career in accounting due to their educational background. It was also found that the pay or salary was the least reason for most females wanting to go into the field of accounting. Again, it was identified that most female accountants are not able to progress because of factors such as childcare and family responsibilities, discrimination in promotion, poor work environment, long hours of work and heavy workload or paper work. Lastly, the study revealed that the female accountants’ commitment to the job is greatly influenced by workplace incentives like maternity leave, retirement benefits and regular performance appraisal. It was also evident from the results that most institutions do not offer benefits such as on-site day care centre for nursing mothers, medical allowance, overtime pay and performance bonus. The study therefore recommends that family and spouses of female accountants should offer regular support to them especially when it comes to the upbringing and caring for the children; since this can serve as a major barrier to women’s career progression.

Source: UCC
Caregiver’s perceptions regarding assisted care in the Cape Coast Metropolitan area

Objectives: This study explored and described perceptions of caregivers regarding inception of assisted care. Background: In old age, people increasingly need help from others. Older people’s inability to take care of themselves makes them dependent on their families. Their survival is at risk when they become frail or fall ill, and a single bout of ill health may well be terminal. Methods: This study used three questions in its investigation: How do the aged prepare for their ageing? What services constitute the traditional model for care? How would respondents feel if this care was replaced with assisted care that took the form of modernized traditional care? The study used a mixed method, sequential approach in which qualitative data was collected before quantitative data. The quantitative data was used to augment the qualitative data. Data was collected through focused group discussions and questionnaires from 388 respondents ranging in age from 13 to 72 years and over a period of 5 months ie. from September 2016 to January 2017. The Focus Group Discussions, (FGD) were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Quantitative data was entered into SPSS version 23 and cleaned. Both sets of data were coded and analysed. Results: The study revealed that the primary role of care givers was to provide care for their aged; that they had no idea how the aged they served prepared for their ageing, and that the idea of assisted care was well received, with strong approval from almost all of the 388 respondents. Conclusion: Care givers perceived assisted living as an area where they could learn new skills and have an opportunity to earn money from legitimate work. The study also showed that care givers pay less attention to the work they were doing because it was unpaid.

Source: UCC
Caregiver’s Perceptions Regarding Assisted Care in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area

This study explored and described perceptions of caregivers regarding inception of assisted care. Background: In old age, people increasingly need help from others. Older people’s inability to take care of themselves makes them dependent on their families. Their survival is at risk when they become frail or fall ill, and a single bout of ill health may well be terminal. Methods: This study used three questions in its investigation: How do the aged prepare for their ageing? What services constitute the traditional model for care? How would respondents feel if this care was replaced with assisted care that took the form of modernized traditional care? The study used a mixed method, sequential approach in which qualitative data was collected before quantitative data. The quantitative data was used to augment the qualitative data. Data was collected through focused group discussions and questionnaires from 388 respondents ranging in age from 13 to 72 years and over a period of 5 months i.e. from September 2016 to January 2017. The Focus Group Discussions, (FGD) were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Quantitative data was entered into SPSS version 23 and cleaned. Both sets of data were coded and analysed. Results: The study revealed that the primary role of care givers was to provide care for their aged; that they had no idea how the aged they served prepared for their ageing, and that the idea of assisted care was well received, with strong approval from almost all of the 388 respondents. Conclusion: Care givers perceived assisted living as an area where they could learn new skills and have an opportunity to earn money from legitimate work. The study also showed that care givers pay less attention to the work they were doing because it was unpaid.

Source: UCC
Caring for Children Living with HIV/AIDS: Family Caregivers Experiences at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, Ghana

Introduction: Family caregivers remain the pillar of support for children living with HIV/AIDS. Appreciating their roles and experiences is a significant aspect of family-centered care and has implications for improved care outcomes. This study therefore aimed at exploring the care related experiences of Ghanaian family caregivers of children living with HIV. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among family caregivers of children living with HIV accessing healthcare at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, Accra. A total of 15 one-on-one interviews had been conducted by the time saturation of data was reached. Thematic content analysis was employed to unravel the data. Results: Almost all (n=14,93.3%) of the caregivers were women, less than two thirds (n=10, 66.6%) of the caregivers were below forty years and (n=7, 46.7%) being the non-biological parent(s). Emergent themes were: social experiences (financial constraints, good family support, social isolation/secrecy); spiritual experience (Inner strength derived from increased faith in God); psychological experiences (inner satisfaction in performing caregiver roles; and anxiety over their children’s future); physical experiences (care being demanding); altered quality of life (mainly adverse changes); and health care related experiences (supportive staff a key motivator fostering caregiver role). Conclusion: The study found both positive and negative family caregiver experiences with regards to the care of their HIV infected children. Healthcare providers must capitalize on the positive experiences to provide strength-based care, which involves incorporating the clients’ own strengths and capabilities as well as wider support network in the planning and delivering of services for children and adolescents living with HIV. Available social support from government and nongovernmental organizations should also be sustained.

Source: UCC
Caring for Children Living with HIV/AIDS: Family Caregivers Experiences at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, Ghana

Family caregivers remain the pillar of support for children living with HIV/AIDS. Appreciating their roles and experiences is a significant aspect of family-centered care and has implications for improved care outcomes. This study therefore aimed at exploring the care related experiences of Ghanaian family caregivers of children living with HIV. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted among family caregivers of children living with HIV accessing healthcare at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, Accra. A total of 15 one-on-one interviews had been conducted by the time saturation of data was reached. Thematic content analysis was employed to unravel the data. Results: Almost all (n=14,93.3%) of the caregivers were women, less than two thirds (n=10, 66.6%) of the caregivers were below forty years and (n=7, 46.7%) being the non-biological parent(s). Emergent themes were: social experiences (financial constraints, good family support, social isolation/secrecy); spiritual experience (Inner strength derived from increased faith in God); psychological experiences (inner satisfaction in performing caregiver roles; and anxiety over their children’s future); physical experiences (care being demanding); altered quality of life (mainly adverse changes); and health care related experiences (supportive staff a key motivator fostering caregiver role). Conclusion: The study found both positive and negative family caregiver experiences with regards to the care of their HIV-infected children. Healthcare providers must capitalize on the positive experiences to provide strength-based care, which involves incorporating the clients’ own strengths and capabilities as well as wider support network in the planning and delivering of services for children and adolescents living with HIV. Available social support from government and non-governmental organizations should also be sustained.

Source: UCC
Carotenoids content of Corchorus olitorius and Solanum macrocarpon - commonly used Ghanaian vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are rich in carotenoids. The study investigated the effect of duration of storage and cooking time on the carotenoids in Corchorus olitorius and Solanum macrocarpon, locally known as ‘adeimey’ and ‘gboma’ respectively. The storage conditions were: overnight at room temperature (25°C), refrigeration for one day and a week, and cooking at 100oC for thirty minutes. The three individual carotenoids and total carotenoid content (TCC) were quantified using HPLC and by measuring absorbance at 450 nm, respectively. The TCC varied from 17.1 mg/100 g to 670.2 mg/100 g. The β-carotene content ranged from 7.5 mg/100 g to 196.3 mg/100 g while lutein ranged from 1.4 mg/100 g to 112.8 mg/100 g. The zeaxanthin content ranged from 0.7 mg/100 g to 16.3 mg/100 g. These results show that the two green leafy vegetables are good sources of carotenoids. There were variations in the concentrations of carotenoids in Solanum macrocarpon and Corchorus olitorius with the latter having a higher carotenoids content than the former. β-carotene was the most predominant carotenoid whilst zeaxanthin was the lowest in the vegetables studied. It was observed that the β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and the total carotenoid contents decreased drastically when the vegetables were left to stand overnight at room temperature, refrigerated for one day and a week and then cooked for thirty minutes. These findings suggest modification in the storage and cooking practices of these green leafy vegetables to ensure retention of the carotenoids for the best nutritional value and health benefit; hence the need for policy towards nutrition education on vegetable processing and storage.

Source: UCC
Carrer decision-making difficulties of senior high school students in koforidua municipality

The main motivation for this research was the researcher’s desire to know the career decision-making difficulties of Senior High School (S.H.S) students in Koforidua Municipality. The descriptive survey method was employed for conducting the study. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 364 senior high school students from Koforidua Municipality. Data were collected mainly by the use of an adapted questionnaire. Means, standard deviation, frequency counts, rank order, t-test and analysis of variance were used in the analysis of data. The study found that dysfunctional myths were the most prevailing difficulties that senior high school students encountered in their career decision-making. Also, there was no significant difference in S.H.S students’ career decision-making difficulties on the basis of their preferred careers. There was no significant difference in S.H.S students’ career decision-making on the basis of their programme of study, and on the basis of their class. In view of the findings, it was recommended that the Ministry of Education should make room for more counsellors at Senior High School level who would champion the cause of career guidance. Also, school counsellors have been enjoined to make conscious efforts to demystify students’ dysfunctional career myths which have been found in the study to be their most prevailing career decision-making difficulties

Source: UCC
Carriage of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in male subjects in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a public health problem in Africa because of its frequency and its various consequences in both men and women. In Burkina Faso, there is little data on the carriage of HPV infection in male subjects. This study aimed to determine the carriage of HPV infection in male subjects in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2015 to September 2016. During this study period, a total of 124 male subjects who gave informed consent were recruited as part of a fertility assessment. Semen samples were analyzed by Real- Time PCR using Real TM Quant High Risk Screen HPV kit to detect 14 high-risk HPV genotypes. The Chi square test was used for comparisons. Results Of the 124 male subjects, 22 were positive for at least one high-risk HPV, with a prevalence of 17.7%. HPV 56 was the most represented genotype with a frequency of 20%, followed by HPV 39 (11%) and HPV 68 (11%), HPV 16 (8%). The genotypes HPV 18, HPV33, HPV35, HPV51 and HPV52 also had the same frequency of 6% each and the HPV 31, 45, 59 and 66 had the same frequency of 3% each. Of the 22 positive cases, 10 were multiple infections. Spermocytogram of patients showed at least one abnormality in 87.9% of cases. Necrozoospermia and oligozoospermia were the most abnormalities observed with 42% and 40% respectively followed by asthenospermia (18%); teratozoospermia (16%) and azoospermia (14%).

Source: UCC
Carriage of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in male subjects in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a public health problem in Africa because of its frequency and its various consequences in both men and women. In Burkina Faso, there is little data on the carriage of HPV infection in male subjects. This study aimed to determine the carriage of HPV infection in male subjects in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2015 to September 2016. During this study period, a total of 124 male subjects who gave informed consent were recruited as part of a fertility assessment. Semen samples were analyzed by Real- Time PCR using Real TM Quant High Risk Screen HPV kit to detect 14 high-risk HPV genotypes. The Chi square test was used for comparisons. Results Of the 124 male subjects, 22 were positive for at least one high-risk HPV, with a prevalence of 17.7%. HPV 56 was the most represented genotype with a frequency of 20%, followed by HPV 39 (11%) and HPV 68 (11%), HPV 16 (8%). The genotypes HPV 18, HPV33, HPV35, HPV51 and HPV52 also had the same frequency of 6% each and the HPV 31, 45, 59 and 66 had the same frequency of 3% each. Of the 22 positive cases, 10 were multiple infections. Spermocytogram of patients showed at least one abnormality in 87.9% of cases. Necrozoospermia and oligozoospermia were the most abnormalities observed with 42% and 40% respectively followed by asthenospermia (18%); teratozoospermia (16%) and azoospermia (14%). Conclusion This study showed that like women, men are infected by HPV with a relatively high prevalence. In addition, the predominant genotypes in the male subjects of this study are not those targeted by the HPV vaccines available in our countries. Hence the need to reinforce the strategies for controlling HPV infection and HPV prophylactic vaccination for young boys.

Source: UCC
Cascade and commutative self-assembles of nanoscale three-component systems controlled by the conformation of thiacalix[4]arene

In this work, the formation of two- and three-component supramolecular systems based on cone, partial cone, 1,3-alternate stereoisomers of heteroditopic “hosts”: p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene containing 4-amidopyridine fragments with silver(I) cations and dicarboxylic acids in liquid and solid phases were studied by UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy methods. It has been shown that these macrocycles are coreceptors, capable of simultaneously binding silver(I) cations, dicarboxylic acids (oxalic, malonic, succinic, maleic, fumaric acids), and hydroxyl acids (glycol, tartaric acids). For the first time, by the dynamic light scattering method, it has been shown that the conformation of p-tertbutyl thiacalix[4]arenes significantly affects the type of three-component system formed: cone is characterized by the formation of cascade systems; for partial cone, intermediate systems; and for the 1,3-alternate stereoisomers, three types of three-component systems (cascade, intermediate, and commutative) were observed

Source: UCC
A case report of villar’s nodule in a woman without surgical history

We report a case of umbilical endometriosis with unusual clinical expressionin a woman in the reproductive years with no surgical history and no known history of endometriosis.Endometriosis manifested as progressive transformation of the normal umbilicus into several small nod-ules, with bleeding coinciding with the menstrual cycle. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology andsurgical treatment consisted of omphalectomy

Source: UCC
Case Report: A case of dipylidiasis in a first-trimester pregnant woman attending a routine antenatal clinic at Elmina health centre, Ghana [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]

Dipylidiasis is a zoonotic parasitosis caused by a canine and feline tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum which rarely infects humans, usually infants and young children. The accidental ingestion of cysticercoid infected flea Ctenocephalides felis is the cause of this cestode infection in humans. Here we report the first and a rare case of adult dipylidiasis in a first-trimester pregnant woman in Ghana. She reported at the health facility for a routine antenatal check-up with apparently no symptoms or signs of the infection at the time of the visit. Her routine stool examination revealed a single egg packet of Dipylidium caninum and was treated with a single dose of praziquantel. It is important for pathologists and laboratory technicians to be aware of the emergence of human dipylidiasis in Ghana. A conscious effort should be aimed at the creation of awareness among pet owners and the general population of the public health importance of zoonotic parasites that infect pets and domestic animals.

Source: UCC