ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Provision of social support for the aged in the Cape Coast metropolis

With the increasing number of the aged in Ghana, social support for this segment of the population is gradually becoming an issue of great concern. There is debt of research on this. This study is therefore an attempt to provide some information for policy makers towards enhancing planning of better health, social financial support services for the aged to promote their well-being. The descriptive and explanatory survey designs were employed to achieve the objective of the research. The present study examines the type of social support available for the aged in the Cape Coast Metropolis. It assesses the adequacy or otherwise of such support. Data were gathered in two type of social communities of the five zones of the metropolis. The research focused on the type of social support available, the main providers of the support and how the aged themselves react to the support. The evidence from the study shows that the informal support system is the most important source of support for the aged. It also found that the provision of the support has gradually shifted from the extended to the nuclear family with daughters of aged providing much more than their sons. The aged admit that their children could not provide all their needs in the face of the latter's commitment to other responsibilities in the nuclear family. The implication is that government intervention will be necessary to augment the effort of their children, as a way of improving social support.

Source: UCC
Provision of teacher management and support services in public junior high schools of Lamashegu circuit ''B'' in the Tamale metropolis

This study investigated management and support services provided for teachers of Lamashegu Circuit B public junior high schools by service providers. It sought to discover services actually provided at the time, challenges faced by both service providers and teachers, and solutions needed to address them. Purposive sampling was adopted to select 62 respondents, from whom data were collected, using a questionnaire with Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha reliabilities of .91 and .82. Return rate was 100%. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collated. In all, 12 management and support services, some of which included recruitment, posting and transfer, and provision of instructional materials, were offered to the teachers. Ban on recruitment, and inadequate supply of instructional materials, were among challenges faced by the service providers. To cope with these challenges, respondents suggested, among other things that government should lift ban on recruitment, and instructional materials should be supplied adequately and early. Because of the challenges the service providers encountered, they were ineffective in discharging their duties. The study recommended that the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, the School Management Committees, non-governmental organisations, and the Member of Parliament of the area, should team up and address these challenges to boost the morale of the teachers to deliver their best.

Source: UCC
Proximate, mineral and phytochemical compositions of Vernonia amygdalina leaves grown under hot and humid tropical conditions

This study was conducted to determine the proximate and phytochemical compositions of Vernonia amygdalina leaves, to ascertain its nutritional potentials. V. amygdalina plants were cultivated, and the leaves were harvested at maturity, cleaned and apportioned into two; one portion was oven dried whilst the other was air-dried- all to a moisture content of about 15%. The dried samples were pulverized and used for proximate and phytochemical analysis. Data collected were subjected to two-sample T-test of GenStat Statistical Package (12th Edition). Results obtained show a significantly (p < 0.05) higher crude protein, dry matter, and ether extract (fat) contents in the oven-dried leaves, compared with the air-dried ones. The leaves had crude protein contents of about 25.32%, similar to those of commonly used feed ingredients, thus, implying that it can be used as feed for livestock. Phytochemicals present in the leaves include Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Phenols and Terpenoids, and these could serve as therapeutic purposes in livestock species. The leaves however, had no alkaloids and glycosides, unlike similar plant species in Nigeria, thus, its use as livestock feed would pose no health threats to animals. It is recommended that V. amygdalina leaves should be used in livestock feeding trials, to document its effects on growth rates and disease resistance in livestock

Source: UCC
Proximate, mineral and phytochemical compositions of Vernonia amygdalina leaves grown under hot and humid tropical conditions

This study was conducted to determine the proximate and phytochemical compositions of Vernonia amygdalina leaves, to ascertain its nutritional potentials. V. amygdalina plants were cultivated, and the leaves were harvested at maturity, cleaned and apportioned into two; one portion was oven dried whilst the other was air-dried- all to a moisture content of about 15%. The dried samples were pulverized and used for proximate and phytochemical analysis. Data collected were subjected to two-sample T-test of GenStat Statistical Package (12 Th Edition). Results obtained show a significantly (p < 0.05) higher crude protein, dry matter, and ether extract (fat) contents in the oven-dried leaves, compared with the air dried ones. The leaves had crude protein contents of about 25.32%, similar to those of commonly used feed ingredients, thus, implying that it can be used as feed for livestock. Phytochemicals present in the leaves include Flavonoids, Tannins, Saponins, Phenols and Terpenoids, and these could serve as therapeutic purposes in livestock species. The leaves however, had no alkaloids and glycosides, unlike similar plant species in Nigeria, thus, its use as livestock feed would pose no health threats to animals. It is recommended that V. amygdalina leaves should be used in livestock feeding trials, to document its effects on growth rates and disease resistance in livestock.

Source: UCC
Proximate, starch, sugar compositions and functional properties of cassava flour

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is very perishable and bulky. One way of prolonging its shelf-life is by drying. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of drying on proximate, starch, sugar compositions and functional properties of cassava flour. Three drying methods (open sun, solar and oven) were used to produce the dry cassava chips out of which the cassava flours were obtained. Determinations of moisture, ash, starch, crude fibre, protein, crude fat, sugar, carbohydrate contents and functional properties of the cassava flour were carried out using standard methods. The results showed that all parameters examined were affected by the drying methods except starch and crude fibre which showed no significant differences for the three drying methods. The moisture contents of the flours were 5.95%, 9.49% and 11.18% for oven, solar and open sun drying respectively. Ash contents were 2.13%, 3.25% and 3.58% for open sun, solar and oven drying respectively whereas the protein contents were 0.73%, 1.00% and 1.15% for open sun, solar and oven drying respectively. The crude fibre contents were 1.83% (open sun), 2.01% (solar) and 2.71(oven drying) while crude fat contents were 0.64% (open sun), 0.51% (solar) and 0.49% (oven drying). Carbohydrates contents were 83.48%, 83.72% and 86.10% for open sun, solar and oven respectively. The starch contents were 83.62% (open sun), 82, 39% (solar) and 84. 04% (oven) and the sugar contents were 11.14%, 22.48% and 16.107% for open sun, solar and oven respectively. The swelling capacity, foam capacity, foam stability, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, bulk density and solubility of the cassava flours from the various drying methods ranged between 9.233 – 12.513, 9.207 – 14.363, 48.037 – 60.193, 122.103 – 151.257, 100.247 – 174.777, 0.578 – 0.715 and 10.883 – 15.533 respectively. On the whole, the results indicate that oven–dried samples had best nutritional value, functional properties and keeping abilities followed by solar and then open sun

Source: UCC
Proximity and choice of College of Distance Education (CoDE) of the University of Cape Coast for further studies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the proximity of study centres to the students of College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast (CoDE/UCC) and whether further studies of distance learners who were teachers and employees could lead to absenteeism in their workplaces. Design/methodology/approach – A sequential explanatory strategy was used. A self-administered questionnaire and unstructured interviews as well as observation guides were employed to collect data from 2,077 students pursuing business and education programmes of CoDE in all study centres across Ghana. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and pattern matching of content analysis. Findings – The study found that few teachers and other workers pursuing the distance education do absent themselves from the workplace or classroom on Fridays preceding their face-to-face session because they embarked on their journey to the study centres on Friday morning. Some teachers also absented themselves from work on Mondays after face-to-face sessions for a lack of means of transport on Sunday after lessons. The absenteeism of these respondents directly and indirectly affected their employers, students and customers. Practical implications – It was therefore recommended that management of CoDE/UCC should open more study centres in all the regions especially Western, Ashanti, Upper East, Northern and Upper West Regions to reduce number of hours spent by students to their study centres and consider introducing the business programmes at the existing district centres to reduce average distance covered by these students to commute from their places of work to their respective centres in the regional capitals. It was also recommended that online/electronic learning and audio versions (impersonal communication) of the study modules should be introduced so that students would not necessary have to travel to the study centre to participate in lectures/ face-to-face sessions. Originality/value – The findings of this study will help managers and administrators of both public and private distance educational providers. In addition to providing basis and areas for establishing study centres for geographical proximity, findings of the study should prove helpful for designing and delivering electronic and audio versions of distance education modules to reduce the level of absenteeism in workplace for the students.

Source: UCC
Psychological Academic Experiences Of High-Stakes Testing And Intentions For Advanced Studies Among University Of Cape Coast College Of Education Students

The stakes attached to examinations have several influence on the progress or future of an individual, school or a country. The current study sought to investigate the Psychological Academic Experiences of high-stakes testing on intentions for advanced studies, among students in the University of Cape Coast. The design adopted for the study was a descriptive survey design. The accessible population was Level 400 regular undergraduate students in the College of Education Studies, University of Cape Coast. The sample used for the study was 428. The sample was obtained using proportionate stratified sampling and simple random sampling procedures. Questionnaires were adopted from several authors based on the constructs measured, and a confirmatory factor analysis conducted on them to ensure the validity and reliability of the instrument. The study findings revealed that students experienced high test stress levels, however, they reported not to be apathetic during examination. Again, it was revealed that majority of the students experienced comfortably low levels of test anxiety. Students further reported that they have high test-related self-esteem. It was concluded that Psychological Academic Experiences of high-stakes testing predict intentions to pursue advanced studies. Management and academic counsellors of the University of Cape Coast are therefore encouraged to develop and engage students in efficient intervention programmes and relaxation therapies that will continuously help them have lower levels of stress and anxiety during examination. Students are also encouraged to develop a positive attitude towards themselves in their academic life to enable them develop much interest in their academics.

Source: UCC
Psychological Capital And Employee Turnover Intentions Of Senior Staff At The University Of Cape Coast: The Mediating Effect Of Organisational Commitment

In the realm of organisational psychology, the exploration of psychological capital and its impact on employee behavior is of paramount interest. As such, it is very expedient to assess this impact on turnover intentions. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of psychological capital on employee turnover intentions: the mediating effect of organisational commitment among senior staff at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The study employed the quantitative approach and explanatory research design due to its research objectives. The sample size was determined by the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample determination, which pegged the sample at 319 out of a population of 1570 senior staff at the University of Cape Coast. However, data obtained from 297 respondents with a 93.4 percent response rate were reliable and thus used for the study. The results showed that, optimism had the highest significant effect on turnover intentions among employees due to the magnitude of its path coefficient, this was followed by hope and resilience. Also, it was found that organisational commitment has a significant and a negative effect on employee turnover intentions. Finally, the results showed that hope and resilience can only influence employee turnover intentions by means of how employees are committed to the organisation. Based on the outcome of the study, the study recommended that, human resource management of the university needs to pay more attention to employee’s appeal of psychological contract in the management practice by means of paying attention to the maintenance of the employees’ relation resource.

Source: UCC
Psychological Capital And Illness Perception As Predictors Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Patients With Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study was to examine how illness perception and psychological capital predict health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients. Using the convenient sampling technique, 105 breast cancer patients from the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital participated in this study. Participants answered a 44-item questionnaire that measured health-related quality of life, illness perception and psychological capital. The study found that, generally breast cancer patients have good physical and mental health-related quality of life. It was also revealed that most of the breast cancer patients have low level of psychological capital and moderate (negative) threatening illness perception. There was an association between illness perception and psychological capital. Additionally, illness perception is not a significant predictor of physical and mental health quality of life. Psychological capital predicted health-related quality of life. It was concluded that breast cancer patients are likely to develop psychological and emotional problems and this affects their quality of life. It was recommended that intervention programmes be made available for breast cancer patients to boost their psychological capital and quality of life.

Source: UCC
Psychological Capital of Football Coaches and Its Impact on Their Mental Health

Psychological Capital (PsyCap) is a recently emerging concept that has piqued research interest and investigations in clinical psychology. While mental health and the self-help industry is equally booming with researches aimed at alleviating mental illnesses. This study sought to profile the PsyCap and mental health of all 51 registered football coaches in the Ghana Premier League with the PsyCap questionnaire (short form) and Keye‘s Mental Health Continuum Questionnaire. The study adopted a mixed methodology (embedded design) to explore on one hand, the predictive value of PsyCap on the mental health of this highly stressed population and on the other hand, investigate behaviours that elite coaches intentionally engaged in and believed attributed to their flourishing state of mental health. It was found that football coaches possess exceptional levels of mental health and PsyCap. The study found a significant predictive value of PsyCap on the mental health of football coaches. The study also identified music, meditation, religion and religious activity, social and professional support, exercise and physical activity, positive affirmations and attributes, relaxation and nature, and work life balance as protective factors that shielded football coaches from the stressors of their job. The study concluded that given the evidence of the presence of PsyCap and mental health in a population once thought to undergo a lot of stress, intentional healthy behaviours can help people thrive, but with a low predictive value obtained from the regression analysis, the study recommends that a larger sample be used and other factors that may affect the relationship be explored

Source: UCC
Psychological climate and psychological empowerment: An exploration in a luxury UK hotel group

The purpose of this study was to identify aspects of employees ’work environment that were related to their feelings of psychological empowerment in a luxury hotel group. Data were collected through the administration of a self-completed questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factors analyses were run to purify the scales measuring the two constructs before testing the relationship using structural equation modeling. The results here, which form part of a larger study, suggest that the four dimensions of psychological climate identified (Managerial Support, Customer Orientation, Internal Service, and Information / Communication) positively influenced employees ’feelings of psychological empowerment, conceptualized as a three-dimensional construct (Meaning, Influence, and Competence), with clear implications for managerial policy and practice

Source: UCC
Psychological Consequences of Second Victims and Coping Strategies in Ghana

The study investigated healthcare providers‘ experiences of adverse events and the coping strategies adopted to deal with these experiences. The study employed the descriptive cross-sectional survey research design in engaging healthcare providers of two hospitals namely, the Ghana Police Hospital and the Holy Family Hospital in Greater Accra and Bono East Regions respectively. In all, 200 healthcare professionals were conveniently sampled from the total population of 423 healthcare professionals who were targeted for the study. Questionnaire was used in gathering data from respondents. Data were analysed using frequencies and percentages, means and standard deviations, multiple regression and one-way ANOVA. It came out that there was a significant relationship between level of patient adverse outcome and their psychological and physical distress. Again, the study found out that second victims used both problem and emotional focused coping mechanism to deal with the effects of adverse patients‘ outcomes. Social support, more particularly colleagues‘ support, had a significant impact on the psychological and physical distress of second victims. Finally, coping strategies (problem focused disengagement) significantly impacted the psychological and physical distress of second victims. The study concluded that following an adverse medical outcome, second victims experience both psychological and physical distress and that means of coping has impact on the wellbeing of healthcare providers involved in adverse medical errors. The management of Ghana Police Hospital and Holy Family Hospital are encouraged to provide the necessary environment and training for staff to cope with second victim syndrome

Source: UCC
Psychological Contract Breach and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour: The Role of Work Attitudes and Personality Traits among Medical Doctors in Ghana

This study was designed to assess the direct relationship between psychological contract breach and organisational citizenship behaviour among medical doctors in Ghana. It further looked at the mediating roles of work attitudes (job satisfaction, organisational commitment, and job involvement) and moderating roles of personality traits (conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, openness to experience, and neuroticism) on this direct relationship. The positivist philosophical paradigm, quantitative research approach, explanatory research design, and cross-sectional study design were utilised. A structured, pre-tested, self-administered and validated questionnaire was employed. The simple one-stage cluster sampling approach was utilised. IBM SPSS Statistics Software for windows, version 23 and Smart PLS Software, version 2.0M.3 were used to analyse the data. After controlling for sex, age, employment type and organisational tenure, this study found a significant negative relationship between psychological contract breach and organisational citizenship behaviour. This negative relationship was partially mediated by job satisfaction, organisational commitment and job involvement. Conscientiousness and openness to experience traits moderated the relationship between psychological contract breach and organisational citizenship behaviour. Similar finding was recorded for extraversion trait, but not in the direction hypothesized. However, agreeableness trait did not moderate this relationship. This research concludes that positive work attitudes reduce the effect of psychological contract breach on citizenship behaviour. Also, this study established that, during a psychological contract breach, medical doctors who are more conscientious, extraverted, and opened to new experiences are more likely to be good organisational citizens. Therefore, this study recommends the need for managers of Ghana Health Service to improve the welfare and well-being of medical doctors working in stressful environments. Moreover, healthcare managers should consider recruiting, retaining, and promoting medical doctors who display high scores on conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness to experience. Those who display low scores should be encouraged, motivated and groomed to catch-up to increase their propensity to be good organisational citizens, during a psychological contract breach.

Source: UCC