ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Health seeking behaviours of youth in relation to sexually transmitted diseases

Health Seeking Behavior refers to those actions’ individuals undertake to find appropriate solutions for health problems. This study examined the rationale behind delay in seeking treatment for STI. Data was collected using structured questionnaires administered to participants. The study indicates education has influence on STI information. School teacher and social media were recorded to be the main source of information on STI across the various educational levels. JHS, SHS and Tertiary recorded 43.8%, 26% and 26.8% for school teacher while social media recorded 9.5%, 37.5%, and 24.4% respectively. Peer group and TV were however indicated by primary school level and no education respectfully as a source of STI information. It was revealed that family members and health workers play lesser role in educating youth on STI. Delay in seeking care for STI - related illness were common among the youth. More than half 54.9% of the respondents indicated first treatment option for STI management as going to a health facility with just a handful self-medicating 19.2%, or seeking help and self- medicating at the same time. The use of both western and traditional medication or either of the two was common on the grounds of medication has worked before. The most preferred health facility was government hospital (42.3%) with a greater perception of treatment being more effective there, 40% of respondents who preferred pharmacy indicated privacy as a reason. The study found more than half of the respondents reporting main barrier to seeking care as acceptability of the service and affordability. To encourage young people to access formal health care, specific health services should be provided for youth where they are assured of confidentiality.

Source: UCC
Health workers’ knowledge of and attitudes towards computer applications in rural African health facilities

Background: The QUALMAT (Quality of Maternal and Prenatal Care: Bridging the Know-do Gap) project has introduced an electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) for pre-natal and maternal care services in rural primary health facilities in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Tanzania. Objective: To report an assessment of health providers’ computer knowledge, experience, and attitudes prior to the implementation of the QUALMAT electronic CDSS. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with providers in 24 QUALMAT project sites. Information was collected using structured questionnaires. Chi-squared tests and one-way ANOVA describe the asso- ciation between computer knowledge, attitudes, and other factors. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted to gain further insights. Results: A total of 108 providers responded, 63% were from Tanzania and 37% from Ghana. The mean age was 37.6 years, and 79% were female. Only 40% had ever used computers, and 29% had prior computer training. About 80% were computer illiterate or beginners. Educational level, age, and years of work experience were significantly associated with computer knowledge (p B0.01). Most (95.3%) had positive attitudes towards computers average score (9SD) of 37.2 (94.9). Females had significantly lower scores than males. Interviews and group discussions showed that although most were lacking computer knowledge and experience, they were optimistic about overcoming challenges associated with the introduction of computers in their workplace. Conclusions: Given the low levels of computer knowledge among rural health workers in Africa, it is important to provide adequate training and support to ensure the successful uptake of electronic CDSSs in these settings. The positive attitudes to computers found in this study underscore that also rural care providers are ready to use such technology.

Source: UCC
Health, Safety and Environmental Risk Management in Ghana’s Upstream Oil and Gas Industry

This paper examine the major health, safety and environmental risk management in Ghana’s upstream oil and gas industry. There were four main specific objectives of the study which included examining the main occupational health hazards; the level of employees’ awareness and attitudes to HSE risk issues; the extent of management commitment to managing HSE and finally, the challenges confronting the management in addressing HSE risk issues. The study was based on the views of 105 staff from the study area. A self-administered questionnaire was the main research instrument. The results from the survey were analyzed and the first major findings were following. Considering the first objective, the study found that there are five main health hazards namely: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychological hazards. In the case of the second objective, it was found that the management attitudes toward occupational hazards and safety practices were positive. When it comes to the objective three, it was found that the level of management commitment to managing HSE risks in Ghana was very high. Finally, on the issue of challenges, it was discovered that there were various challenges of which the two most important ones were overlapping authorities and responsibilities among ministries and lack of employee and community involvement in policy making process. Based on these it was recommended that authorities and responsibilities among ministries should be well spelt out. Additionally, there should be both employees and the community involvement in policy making process.

Source: UCC
Healthcare Worker Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control: A Case Study of Sunyani Regional Hospital, Ghana

In recent times, hospital-related infection has become a meaningful threat to the lives of both clients and ordinary healthcare workers (HCWs). This study identified factors influencing clinical and non-clinical healthcare worker compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) at a regional hospital in Ghana. The study, guided by Cooper’s Reciprocal Safety Culture Model, adopted a quantitative approach, and a cross-sectional design. With confidence level of 95%, a predetermined sample size of 550 participants was randomly selected from a sample frame of 1400 HCWs. Data was collected with a questionnaire and analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Using frequency tables and percentages, descriptive statistics were used to examine research questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Mann Whitney U was used to determine gender differences among the categories (objective 6). The study found that Clinical HCWs with IPC were highly compliant (mean score = 3.23, SD 0.95). Barriers to IPC compliance among clinical and non-clinical HCWs included inadequate logistics, staff shortage, time constraints, and difficulty reporting safety concerns to management. In conclusion, it was realized that male and female clinical HCWs were not statistically different regarding IPC compliance; hence, continuous and regular training in IPC is recommended for all cadres of clinical HCWs, regardless of their gender.

Source: UCC
Healthy Eating and its Barriers: Perceptions and Practices of adolescents in Ghana

Background: Adolescents are not given much attention when it comes to feeding. However, their nutrient needs are high during this stage of life. It is important, therefore, that adolescents have reliable nutrition information that would enable them to develop healthy dietary practices. Studies of adolescents’ perceptions on healthy foods and the factors that act as barriers to healthy eating are essential for developing interventions that would promote healthy eating habits among adolescents. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of adolescents in Junior High Schools in Ghana regarding what “healthy” and “unhealthy” foods are, the importance of healthy eating and barriers to healthy eating. Methodology: This survey was a cross-sectional study involving 820 adolescents who were sampled from six Junior High Schools. A questionnaire was administered to the students after permission had been obtained from the headteachers and their parents. Results: The surveyed adolescents have some knowledge of what healthy foods are. Fruits as well as roasted and grilled food items were usually cited as healthy foods, while snack food items, fried food items, soft drinks and meat products were generally considered as unhealthy foods. Despite their knowledge of healthy foods, most of them found it difficult to obtain and eat healthy foods. Some barriers to consuming healthy foods include thelimited availability of healthy foods in homes and schools,andthe fact that healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables are expensive and usually not tasty. Conclusions: These findings suggest that healthy eating messages propagated through the lessons taught in schools are reaching adolescents. However, it behooves health educators to plan and implement interventions that would help adolescents translate their knowledge into healthy practices. School authorities and parents should create an environment where healthy foods would be readily available on school premises and at home.

Source: UCC
Heat Exposures Associated with Heat Stress and Ambulatory Hypertension Among Fish Smokers in Coastal Areas of Ghana

Occupational health is a critical aspect of workplace safety and productivity, encompassing the physical, mental, and social well-being of workers. In high-temperature working environments, such as those found in fish-smoking operations, the importance of maintaining occupational health is paramount. High temperatures pose significant health risks, including heat stress, dehydration, and heat-related illnesses, which can severely impact workers' health and efficiency. The study aimed to investigate the influence of workplace heat exposure on heat stress and ambulatory hypertension among fish smokers in the coastal areas of Ghana. Guided by six research questions, the study employed an exploratory cross-sectional design using a sample of 2,018 fish smokers. Participants were conveniently selected from Keta, Tema New Town, Teshie, Awutu Senya, Moree, Elmina, and Shama. Data was collected using adapted questionnaires and anthropometric measurements, while data analysis utilised the Kruskal-Wallis H test, bivariate analysis, and a hierarchical binary logistic regression. The findings revealed a high prevalence of heat stress, at 87.6%, and a significant rate of ambulatory hypertension at 59.0% within this population. Additionally, fish smokers who work in the afternoon exhibited significantly higher levels of heat stress compared to those who work in the morning and evening, while those working 3-5 days and 5-7 days per week experienced frequent and severe ambulatory hypertension. The study also highlighted that age, education level, alcohol and caffeine consumption, time of day, water intake, personal protective equipment usage, and working under shade influence the prevalence of heat stress among these coastal fish smokers in Ghana. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address these socio-demographic and work-related factors and enforce labour protection and safety standards within the fish-smoking industry in Ghana

Source: UCC
Heavy metal (cu, fe and zn) pollution in soils: pig waste contribution in the central region of Ghana

Pig wastes have been considered a source of heavy metal pollution in soils in communities in the Central Region of Ghana where pig production is a major occupation. The concentration of copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in pig droppings and in soils from five pig waste dumping sites designated as NS, AM, AK, AD and NK and one non-dumping site (control) in the Assin South District were studied. The mean Cu concentration in the droppings varied from 12 mg kg-1 to 46 mg kg-1 and in the order NK>AM>NS>AK>AD. The mean Fe concentration in the droppings also ranged from 551 mg kg-1 to 657 mg kg-1 whilst the Zn concentration ranged from 55 mg kg-1 to 118 mg kg-1 and in the order AD>AM>NS>NK>AK and NS>NK>AM>AK>AD, respectively. The mean concentrations of extractable Cu, Fe and Zn in the soils from all the dumping sites were significantly (P˂0.05) higher than the background value (control). The mean Cu concentration in the soils varied from 49 mg kg-1 to 70 mg kg-1, whilst the Fe varied from 957 mg kg-1 to 1020 mg kg-1 and the Zn varied from 108 mg kg-1 to 204 mg kg-1 and the order of the variations differed from that of the pig droppings. The results of the quantification of the metal contamination in the soils from the dumping sites using geoaccumulation index indicated that at all the sites, the Cu pollution in the soils was moderate, the soils were almost not polluted by Fe and the Zn pollution was light

Source: UCC
Heavy metal concentration in cassava cultivated on re-vegetatively restored mined spoils at an Anglogold concession, Obuasi-Ghana

Mining is one of the main causes of environmental pollution by heavy metals. Re-vegetation of mine spoils is an effective way of restoring the mined land to its pristine status. The study was conducted to assess the physico-chemical soil properties, heavy metal concentrations in two re-vegetatively restored mined spoils at an AngloGold concession at Obuasi. Concentration of heavy metals in cassava were used as an indicator for comparism. A simple random sampling technique was used to obtain soils at 0-15 cm depth and crop samples. Data analyses were done using GENSTAT statistical package. The results showed that the soil was slightly acidic, loamy textured, well aerated with a maximum bulk density of 1.33 Mg m-3. The mean maximum concentration values for K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ in the soil; 7.39, 12.72, 12.62, and 1.57 mg kg-1 respectively were very low. These were attributed to leaching losses and low level of organic carbon content of the soil. Also, the mean maximum concentrations of As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn levels in the soil were; 0.98, 34.50, 213.45, 56.11, 3.35 and 43.04 mg kg-1 respectively, while Cd was below detection. Metals detected in the soil were at higher concentrations compared to values in the cassava tubers. These values detected were however below phytotoxicity levels. Further studies on heavy metal accumulation in the cassava were suggested to be made at different seasons in order to help advise farmers on the consumption pattern of the crop.

Source: UCC
Hegemonic masculinities in Ayi Kwei Armah’s the healers and Ama Ata Aidoo’s Anowa

The Healers by Ayi Kwei Armah and Ama Ata Aidoo’s Anowa are two texts that focus on issues of manhood and masculinity in traditional Ghana. These writers subvert the normalization of hegemonic masculinity vaunted by society and to which many of the men in society ascribe. By throwing a critical lens on the male protagonists in the texts as gendered subjects and examining the influences that contribute to their subjectivity, this paper highlights the various constructions and manifestations of masculinities in the texts; critiquing the social institutions that make these constructions possible,showcasing the often negative consequences of masculinity on its performers, and theorizing new approaches to the male protagonist in African literary texts. In spite of the different portrayals of men by the authors, one common theme is that normative hegemonic masculinities limit and restrain the potential of the growth of the male character

Source: UCC
Helicobacter pylori Infection, Virulence Genes’ Distribution and Accompanying Clinical Outcomes: The West Africa Situation

Data on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and virulence factors in countries across West Africa are scattered. is systematic review seeks to present an update on the status of H. pylori infection focusing on prevalence rate, distribution of virulent genes, and their link to clinical outcomes across countries in the western part of Africa. is information is expected to broaden the knowledge base of clinicians and researchers regarding H. pylori infection and associated virulence factors in West African countries. Search Method. A comprehensive search of the scienti c literature in PubMed and ScienceDirect was conducted using the search terms including “Helicobacter pylori infection in West Africa”. Databases were sourced from January 1988 to December 2018. Results. Data on the incidence of H. pylori infection and related pathological factors were found for some countries, whereas others had no information on it. Smoking, alcohol, exposure to high levels of carcinogens and diet were reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of gastroduodenal diseases and gastric cancer. Besides the environmental factors and genetic characteristics, there are important characteristics of H. pylori such as the ability to infect, replicate, and persist in a host that have been associated with the pathogenesis of various gastroduodenal diseases. Concluding Remarks. is systematic search has provided information so far available on H. pylori virulence factors and clinical outcomes in West Africa. Accordingly, this piece has identified gaps in the body of knowledge highlighting the need for more studies to clarify the role of H. pylori virulence factors and associated clinical outcomes in the burden of this bacterial infection in West Africa, as data from these countries do not give the needed direct relation.

Source: UCC
‘Hello sweetie pie’: A sociolinguistic analysis of terms of endearment in a Ghanaian University

Following Brown and Gilman’s (1960) study, sociolinguists have shown an increasing interest in the use of address forms in various social milieus such as religion, politics, media and academia. Using a two-pronged conceptual framework derived from interactional sociolinguistics and an ethnographic research paradigm, this study explores how students in a Ghanaian public university address one another, strategically deploying varied terms of endearment. Three key findings emerged from the study. The first finding is that university students use epithets, flora terms, royal terms and coinage from personal names as key terms of endearment. Second, these terms of endearment serve socio-pragmatic purposes; and third, the use of endearment terms among Ghanaian university students, as Afful (2006, 2007) intimates, suggests the innovativeness, playfulness and creativity of the students as well as the warmth and conviviality and/or vivacity of African culture, even in an educational provenance. These findings have implications for inter/cross-cultural communication, language use at an educational institution, and further sociolinguistic research on terms of endearment

Source: UCC
Hematological Parameters in Ghanaian sickle cell disease patient

Background: Effective treatment and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been a challenge in Africa over the years. Hematological parameters are very useful profiles in the effective management of the disease. However, there is scarcity of studies on the hematological parameters of SCD in Ghana. This study aimed at determining hematological parameters among SCD patients with vaso-occlusion, those in the steady state as well as healthy controls at a teaching hospital in Ghana. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving a total of 628 subjects, including 148 HbAA controls, 208 HbSS patients in steady state, 82 HbSC patients in steady state, 156 HbSS patients in vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), and 34 HbSC patients in VOC. Venous blood sample was collected from all study participants. A full blood count was done within 2 hours of collection, and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume, red blood cell (RBC) concentration, mean corpuscular Hb, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular Hb concentration, and white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts were recorded. Results: WBC and PLT counts were significantly higher in both female and male patients with SCD, compared with their healthy counterparts (P0.05). The level of WBC was, however, significantly higher in patients with HbSS VOC among the SCD patients (P0.001). Levels of Hb, RBC, and hematocrit were significantly higher in the controls (P0.001). There was no significant difference in mean cell Hb among male patients with SCD (P0.274) and female patients with SCD (P0.5410). Conclusion: The SCD patients had lower Hb and RBC than the controls; however, higher PLT and WBC are noted in various status of SCD, possibly reflecting spleen effect in these patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings

Source: UCC
Hematological parameters in Ghanaian sickle cell disease patients

Background: Effective treatment and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been a challenge in Africa over the years. Hematological parameters are very useful profiles in the effective management of the disease. However, there is scarcity of studies on the hematological parameters of SCD in Ghana. This study aimed at determining hematological parameters among SCD patients with vaso-occlusion, those in the steady state as well as healthy controls at a teaching hospital in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Hematological parameters in Ghanaian sickle cell disease patients

Background: Effective treatment and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been a challenge in Africa over the years. Hematological parameters are very useful profiles in the effective management of the disease. However, there is scarcity of studies on the hematological parameters of SCD in Ghana. This study aimed at determining hematological parameters among SCD patients with vaso-occlusion, those in the steady state as well as healthy controls at a teaching hospital in Ghana. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving a total of 628 subjects, including 148 HbAA controls, 208 HbSS patients in steady state, 82 HbSC patients in steady state, 156 HbSS patients in vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), and 34 HbSC patients in VOC. Venous blood sample was collected from all study participants. A full blood count was done within 2 hours of collection, and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume, red blood cell (RBC) concentration, mean corpuscular Hb, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular Hb concentration, and white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT) counts were recorded. Results: WBC and PLT counts were significantly higher in both female and male patients with SCD, compared with their healthy counterparts (P<0.05). The level of WBC was, however, significantly higher in patients with HbSS VOC among the SCD patients (P<0.001). Levels of Hb, RBC, and hematocrit were significantly higher in the controls (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in mean cell Hb among male patients with SCD (P=0.274) and female patients with SCD (P=0.5410). Conclusion: The SCD patients had lower Hb and RBC than the controls; however, higher PLT and WBC are noted in various status of SCD, possibly reflecting spleen effect in these patients. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings

Source: UCC