ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Description, Biology, and Medical Significance of Leishmania (Mundinia) Chancei n. sp. (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae) from Ghana and Leishmania (Mundinia) Procaviensis n. sp. (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae) from Namibia

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
Descriptive Analysis Of Changes In Ghana's Food Availability And Food Safety Information Between 2010 And 2020

Access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is essential to ensure food and nutrition security and healthy lives for all. Secure access to nutritious food ensures healthy eating habits, economic growth, and stability in an economy. However, food insecurity and malnutrition persist globally. In Ghana, more than half of food-insecure people reside in the Northern ecological zones of the country. Moreover, Ghana lacks a systematic food security monitoring system to track food insecurity among vulnerable populations. This study reviewed existing evidence on the current situation and changes related to food production, trade, safety, and consumption in Ghana, as part of the process to develop food-based dietary guidelines for the country. The literature review included peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 – 2020 in Ghana to document household-level food production, consumption, and safety issues. In addition, food disappearance data (from 2010 to 2018) from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was analysed. Means and compound annual growth rates were calculated for each food item included. The results showed that per capita food production was higher than per capita consumption in all the food categories studied, except for vegetables, and fish and fishery products. Food consumption was centred on a few priority staple crops such as cassava, maize, rice, and yams, with less consideration given to underutilised foods such as akokono (palm weevil larvae). Food imports exceeded food exports in all food categories except 1) cocoa beans and products, 2) root crops and tubers, 3) oil-bearing crops and nuts, and 4) fruits and products. Fruit and vegetable consumption in Ghana has been declining since 2013. There was also a rise in the import and consumption of processed foods, especially tomato paste, sugars, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Food safety issues included microbial contamination, aflatoxin contamination, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked fish, mercury in fish, pesticide and heavy metal residues in vegetables and fruits, and food adulteration. The evidence synthesized from this study will be useful to inform the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ghana.

Source: UG
Descriptive epidemiology of lymphatic filariasis in Ghana

A national filariasis survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia and clinical disease associated with lymphatic filariasis in Ghana. Multi-stage systematic sampling was used to select households to be examined in all 10 administrative regions of the country. The results showed a high prevalence of microfilaraemia and disease with considerable regional variation in all the quantities investigated. In general, the disease was more prevalent in the northern guinea savannah and the southern coastal savannah, while the middle forest belt was relatively free. Even within the regions, there was considerable variation in the distribution of the disease. The disease is of potentially major public health significance, particularly in the northern and coastal savannahs, and requires the design and implementation of a control programme.

Source: UG
Design and development of a microcontroller based traffic light control system using image processing techniques: - A case study prototype for Legon-Okponglo Junction, University of Ghana

Traffic congestion on our roads especially in the urban cities is becoming overwhelming. Safety and comfort of road users is gradually becoming a matter of grave concern. Present Traffic Light Controllers (TLC) are based on microcontroller and microprocessor. The limitation with the TLC is that it uses the pre-defined hardware, which is functioning according to the program that does not have the flexibility of modification on real time basis. This proposed system makes use of embedded technology along with image processing analysis to control traffic at a local intersection that consists of a main road and two side roads and it is an improvement upon the efficiency of the current Traffic Light Controllers. Intervals between the green, amber and red states are based on current traffic density, which optimizes traffic light switching and avoids traffic congestion. A prototype for controlling traffic at the intersection is designed and simulated using the Proteus Design Suite. Using image processing technique via OpenCV, background differencing of an empty-lane road and a traffic congested road is performed. The resulting output is fed as input to the microcontroller system for traffic light control system on real-time data. © 2012 IEEE.

Source: UG
Design and development of an Android application to process and display summarised corporate data

In the corporate world today, managers are always faced with a lot of decisions to make based on data generated at their various offices. The decision-making process is very vital as decisions taken by management could make a company either overtake or stay within reach of its competitors. This paper presents the design and development of an Android application that would retrieve summarised data from a central database process and display that information on an android device so as to aid managers in their decision-making process. The components of designed and developed system include (1) a web application through which workers would input data at their various workplaces (2) a database hosted on a central server that would store information entered by workers (3) an application programming interface (API) that would take requests from the Android application, query the database and serve the results back to the Android application and (4) an android application that processes and displays results to users. The android application is developed using Eclipse in conjunction with android SDK tools. The application retrieves data from a database per user request and displays the retrieved information on an android device. Users of this application would be able to analyse data quicker hence make quick decisions as they would not be drowned in a flood of detailed information. There is also an added benefit of having access to company data on the go. © 2012 IEEE.

Source: UG
Design and Evaluation of a Hybrid Technique for Detecting Sunflower Leaf Disease Using Deep Learning Approach

Agriculture and plants, which are a component of a nation’s internal economy, play an important role in boosting the economy of that country. It becomes critical to preserve plants from infection at an early stage in order to be able to treat them. Previously, recognition and classification were carried out by hand, but this was a time-consuming operation. Nowadays, deep learning algorithms are frequently employed for recognition and classification tasks. As a result, this manuscript investigates the diseases of sunflower leaves, specifically Alternaria leaf blight, Phoma blight, downy mildew, and Verticillium wilt, and proposes a hybrid model for the recognition and classification of sunflower diseases using deep learning techniques. VGG-16 and MobileNet are two transfer learning models that are used for classification purposes, and the stacking ensemble learning approach is used to merge them or create a hybrid model from the two models. &is work makes use of a data set that was built by the author with the assistance of Google Images and comprises 329 images of sunflowers divided into five categories. On the basis of accuracy, a comparison is made between several existing deep learning models and the proposed model using the same data set as the original comparison.

Source: UG
Design and evaluation of a subcutaneous contraceptive implant training simulator

Objective: To design and fabricate a subcutaneous contraceptive implant insertion simulator, and to characterize the performance of nursing students trained with and without the simulator. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on nursing students in Ghana who had no previous training in the insertion of contraceptive implants. They were given standardized training in insertion of implants from 25 April to 26 April, 2016, and then were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The control group watched insertions of live implants while the intervention group practiced using the simulator. Local materials were used to fabricate the simulator. The performance of both groups was assessed after the training. Results: The participants consisted of 50 nursing students. Those in the intervention group were more likely to: insert the implant accurately (95.2% vs 78.4%, P<0.001); take less time to complete an insertion (mean of 33.6 seconds vs 42.2 seconds, P<0.001); and commit fewer errors (1.9 vs 2.5, P=0.005) compared to the control group. In addition, participants rated the simulator high on 11/11 of the product requirements with the teaching (93.2%), learning (91.4%), and skill acquisition (88.6%) requirements being the highest rated. Conclusion: A low-cost, locally fabricated simulator is an effective tool for augmenting the current training protocol by improving insertion skills of contraceptive implants.

Source: UG
Design and field methods of the ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study

The ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study is an exploratory, community-based survey of 8075 adolescents aged 10–19 in 9 communities in 7 countries: Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Communities were selected opportunistically and existing population cohorts maintained by health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs). The study is intended to serve as a first round of data collection for African adolescent cohorts, with the overarching goal of generating community-based data on health-related behaviours and associated risk factors in adolescents, to identify disease burdens and health intervention opportunities. Household-based sampling frames were used in each community to randomly select eligible adolescents (aged 10– 19 years). Data were collected between July 2015 and December 2017. Consenting participants completed face-to-face interviews with trained research assistants using a standardised questionnaire, which covered physical activity, cigarette and tobacco use, substance and drug use, mental health, sexual behaviours and practices, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, food security and food diversity, teeth cleaning and hand washing, feelings and friendship, school and home activities, physical attacks and injuries, health care, health status assessment and life satisfaction, as well as media and cell phone use and socio-demographic and economic background characteristics. Results from this multi-community study serve to identify major adolescent health risks and disease burdens, as well as opportunities for interventions and improvements through policy changes

Source: UG
Design and Implementation of an Integrated Web Application for the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate of the Ghana Police Service

A major challenge facing most organisations is how to share data and services in a timely and cost effective manner to simplify business processes. Integrating new application modules or devices with an existing system smoothly and without any discernible errors or complications is a major issue. A framework for creating rapidly loosely coupled service applications components, the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), which meets time and cost constraints, has been proposed. In this paper, we report on the adoption of an iterative approach to implement an integrated web based information system for the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service. The system is developed as a set of independent web applications sharing a database to provide a single and easy point of information access. In each iteration, a composite of the system is designed and tested, thus meeting the project design objectives.

Source: UG
Design and implementation of community engagement interventions towards healthcare quality improvement in Ghana: a methodological approach

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Design and methodology of a mixed methods follow-up study to the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

Background: The intended meaning behind responses to standard questions posed in large-scale health surveys is not always well understood. Systematic follow-up studies, particularly those that pose a few repeated questions followed by open-ended discussions are well positioned to gauge the stability and consistency of data and to shed light on the intended meaning behind survey responses. Such follow-up studies require extensive coordination and face challenges in protecting respondent confidentiality during the process of recontacting and reinterviewing participants. Objectives: We describe practical field strategies for undertaking a mixed methods follow-up study during a large-scale health survey. Methods: The study was designed as a mixed methods follow-up study embedded within the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). The study was implemented in 13 clusters. Android tablets were used to import reference data from the parent survey and to administer the questionnaire, which asked a mixture of closed- and open-ended questions on reproductive intentions, decision-making, and family planning. Results: Despite several obstacles related to recontacting respondents and concern about respondent fatigue, over 92 percent of the selected sub-sample were successfully recontacted and reinterviewed; all consented to audio recording. A confidential linkage between GDHS data, follow-up tablet data, and audio transcripts was successfully created for analysis. Conclusions: We summarize the challenges in follow-up study design, including ethical considerations, sample size, auditing, filtering, successful use of tablets, and sharing lessons learned for future follow-up surveys.

Source: UG
Design and preclinical development of a recombinant protein and DNA plasmid mixed format vaccine to deliver HIV-derived T-lymphocyte epitopes

Coordinated interactions between helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (HTL and CTL) are needed for optimal effector cell functions and the establishment of immunological memory. We, therefore, designed a mixed format vaccine based on the use of highly conserved HIV-derived T-lymphocyte epitopes wherein the HTL epitopes were delivered as a recombinant protein and the CTL epitopes which were encoded in a DNA vaccine plasmid. Immunogenicity testing in HLA transgenic mice and GLP preclinical safety testing in rabbits and guinea pigs were used to document the utility of this approach and to support Phase 1 trial clinical testing. Both vaccine components were immunogenic and safely co-administered.

Source: UG
Design and testing of communication materials for a breastfeeding social media marketing campaign: Breastfeed4Ghana

Breastfeed4Ghana was a social media-based campaign implemented to address identified gaps in the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in Ghana. This paper describes the process of campaign materials development and testing to ensure their cultural and content appropriateness. The 60 campaign materials, each consisting of an image and text message, underwent a process of creation, testing, revision, and finalization. Existing research evidence and infant and young child feeding communication tools that were culturally relevant for Ghana were used to develop the materials. All materials were tested and finalized through an iterative process that incorporated input from six focus group discussions (FGDs) with mothers, and content and technical experts. The materials were revised to ensure scientific accuracy, understandability, and cultural appropriateness of the messages, as well as alignment of the messages with the images. Finalized materials were reviewed and approved by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority. Analysis for this paper involved summarizing and categorizing the types and sources of input as well as the research team’s responses to the input received. The 60 campaign materials received a total of 132 inputs. Most inputs came from FGDs (78.4%); and most inputs were on the campaign material images. The evidence-informed process of materials creation, use of multiple input sources, and a broad-based iterative process allowed the creation of 60 evidence-based and culturally appropriate materials for a breastfeeding social media campaign in Ghana. This paper could serve as a guide for other social media campaign efforts looking to develop culturally appropriate materials.

Source: UG
Design and testing of communication materials for a breastfeeding social media marketing campaign: Breastfeed4Ghana

Breastfeed4Ghana was a social media-based campaign implemented to address identified gaps in the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding in Ghana. This paper describes the process of campaign materials development and testing to ensure their cultural and content appropriateness. The 60 campaign materials, each consisting of an image and text message, underwent a process of creation, testing, revision, and finalization. Existing research evidence and infant and young child feeding communication tools that were culturally relevant for Ghana were used to develop the materials. All materials were tested and finalized through an iterative process that incorporated input from six focus group discussions (FGDs) with mothers, and content and technical experts. The materials were revised to ensure scientific accuracy, understandability, and cultural appropriateness of the messages, as well as alignment of the messages with the images. Finalized materials were reviewed and approved by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority. Analysis for this paper involved summarizing and categorizing the types and sources of input as well as the research team’s responses to the input received. The 60 campaign materials received a total of 132 inputs. Most inputs came from FGDs (78.4%), and most inputs were on the campaign material images. The evidence-informed process of materials creation, use of multiple input sources, and a broad-based iterative process allowed the creation of 60 evidence-based and culturally appropriate materials for a breastfeeding social media campaign in Ghana. This paper could serve as a guide for other social media campaign efforts looking to develop culturally appropriate materials.

Source: UG
Design of a Blood-Warming Device for Resource-Limited Settings

Blood warming is usually required to get the temperature of blood to 37oC from storage temperatures of 1–6 oC to prevent hypothermia during transfusions. Needs assessment at various hospitals revealed that blood warming is a major challenge in Ghana. Local methods of warming blood include leaving blood bags on walls in the open at ambient temperature to warm, putting bags in warm water or leaving blood bags under running tap water. These methods are inefficient, unsafe and time consuming. Efficient blood warmers are available but they are very expensive and unaffordable for the resource limited hospitals surveyed. A cost effective, safe and efficient blood warming and thawing device was designed to address the above-mentioned problems in resource-limited settings. Materials and components were selected based on specifications obtained from potential users, functional analysis, existing products and standards. The components of the device are encased in a housing insulated with polymer foam to reduce heat loss to the environment. It is anticipated that this intervention will be invaluable in situations where quick blood transfusions are required to save lives.

Source: UG
Design of a large irradiation channel at MNSR facility in Ghana

In the design of new slant tube for large sample irradiation in the Ghana Research Reactor-1 facility, Monte Carlo N-Particle Code version 5 (MCNP-5) was employed to simulate the neutron flux profile of the new design. The results show that the neutron flux peaks at different points, at an average thermal neutron flux of (1.1406 ± 0.0046) × 1011, (1.1849 ± 0.0047) × 1011 and (1.0580 ± 0.0044) × 1011n cm-2 s-1 around the reactor vessel. The first two peaks happened to coincide with pneumatic transfer pipes in the pool, but the third peak happened to be in line with the slant tube position. It was observed that as the diameter of the tube varies from 3.90 cm to 23.40 cm, the average thermal neutron flux decreased exponentially from (1.1849 ± 0.0047)1011 n cm-2 s-1 to (3.3241 ± 0.0100) × 1010 n cm-2 s-1. The average thermal neutron flux decreases exponentially along the diameter of the designed slant tube from (1.0366 ± 0.0042) × 1011 n cm -2 s-1 to (9.7396 ± 0.0136) × 109 n cm-2 s-1. From the results, it is evident that a slant tube of diameter 15.00 cm can be installed at the original slant tube position for large sample irradiation. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Design of a sliding intravenous stand

More than 80 percentages of hospitalized patients in Ghana and other parts of the world receive intravenous therapy of one form or the other with the hope of getting better. However, most of these patients end up in worse situations due to intravenous infiltration. The purpose of this work is to identify the reasons why infiltration is very common among various settings and how the situation can be reduced if not totally eradicated. Following an engineering design process together with other engineering knowledge obtained, the issue of movements during intravenous infusion was identified and a sliding intravenous stand was developed to help in curbing the situation. The design makes provision for height adjustment, sliding through bed frame and it is relatively cheaper to existing designs.

Source: UG