ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Understanding female migrant child labor within a cumulative risk framework: The case for combined interventions in Ghana

North-to-south migration has been a persistent trend in Ghana. Yet the migrating population has recently shifted to become predominantly female and younger, with a significant increase in rural adolescent girls seeking employment in urban and peri-urban areas. For adolescents without strong networks of social and financial support, this practice can jeopardize their physical and mental health, putting them at risk of sexual victimization and economic exploitation. Building upon the work of cumulative risk and ecological systems theorists, this article examines the case of female adolescent load bearers (Kayayei) in Ghana, highlighting the need to develop and evaluate multi-component prevention efforts.

Source: UG
Understanding flooding events in Ghana: a social marketing and self-determination theory perspective

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to deepen the understanding of individuals’ flood disaster mitigation behaviour through the theoretical lens of self-determination theory (SDT). Specifically, the paper examines the influence of autonomy, competence and relatedness on individuals’ self-determined motivation for flooding disaster mitigation. The study also examines whether self-determined motivation influences individuals’ flood disaster mitigation behaviour adoption. Design/methodology/approach – Through a cross-sectional survey design, the study used a quantitative research approach for data collection and analyses. Specifically, data was analysed using the structural equation modelling technique. Findings: The result of this study revealed that competence was the strongest predictor of self-determination motivation, followed by autonomy. The result further shows that self-determined motivation positively influences individual’s adoption of flood mitigation behaviour. However, the results showed that relatedness does not predict self-determined motivation for flood disaster mitigation. Practical implications: To enhance the effectiveness of flood disaster mitigation social marketing campaigns, the SDT psychological needs constructs (particularly competence and autonomy) can aid in assessing the motivation of the target population towards adopting mitigation behaviours. An assessment of motivation will help understand perception of flood risk and behavioural evaluation. The consideration of autonomy and competence on motivation will aid in developing effective campaigns to satisfy the needs of the target population. Originality/value: The paper adds to the limited research that used SDT to understand a social marketing phenomenon

Source: UG
Understanding How Democracy Limits Public Sector Reforms in Ghana

Ghana – Africa’s so-called model for democratic good governance – has implemented several donor-sponsored public sector reforms (PSR) in an attempt to improve core areas of state functionality, but the impact of such reforms remains generally disappointing. In this paper, we show that the nature of democratic competitive elections in Ghana is central to understanding the country’s limited success in improving the effectiveness of public institutions. Faced with a credible threat of losing power to excluded factions in competitive elections, reform initiatives tend to be driven largely by the logic of pursuing short-term projects that could deliver votes to maintain the ruling coalition rather than pursuing long term PSR to enhance the developmental effectiveness of state institutions. This has often resulted in decisions that undermine reform efforts, ranging from needless and costly institutional duplication to the wholesale removal of champions of PSR associated with previous regimes. Reform discontinuities across ruling coalitions is a norm, undermining the impact of reform initiatives that require a longer-time horizon to bear fruit.

Source: UG
Understanding human wildlife conflicts in rapidly expanding urban complexes: Epidemiological profile of snakebite victims indicates builders are at risk

Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease considered a disease of the poor and prevalent among rural farmers. Although focus on snakebites among urban dwellers is generally minimal, the high rates of housing construction that characterize peri-urban zones of developing countries may predispose housing workers to snake-human encounters and bites, therefore creating differences in epidemiological factors underlying snakebites in urban and rural areas. Using demographic characteristic of snakebite victims, we assessed the occupational risk to snakebites in the capital city of Ghana. Farming was not as common among the urban dwellers as building works but the prevalence of snakebites was in the order: farmers (39%) > builders (22%) > Office Workers (5%) > Businessmen (5%) > and unemployed (4%) indicating the few farmers in the city had the highest risk of sustaining snakebites. The frequent work schedule of builders in uncompleted and housing under construction increased their snakebite risk as these areas are good refugia for snakes. The majority (70.8%) of snakebite victims turned to traditional healers although medical facilities were available in the city. Trends in snakebite incidents from the reviewed medical records were unreliable as a result of the low proportion of snakebite victims reporting to medical facilities. © 2015, CESER Publications.

Source: UG
Understanding innovation process within an interactive social network: Empirical insights from maize innovations in southern Ghana

Agricultural innovations propel improvement in agricultural productivity. Even though, the related literature largely reports low adoption of innovations, the literature deficiently accounts for the complexities and the interactive social contexts that embed innovation processes. In addressing the lacuna, it remains imperative to understand the complexities of the innovation process. This study assesses the factors influencing the intricate innovation processes toward the uptake of maize innovations among smallholder farmers in Ghana. The study relied on focus group discussions, observations, and individual in-depth interviews with thirty maize farmers in Kintampo District and Wenchi Municipal Assembly in Ghana. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative information. The findings show many instances of learning, knowledge transfer, and uptake of practices among farmers during innovation processes. We find adaptations to existing farm practices, and local contexts. With unintended outcomes which appear useful for learning and co-learning in the innovation ecosystem. The innovation processes are shaped by farmers characteristics and personal goals, trialability of technology, social network, relative advantage of the technology, access to information and extension services, and sociocultural conditions in the external environment. The farmer field schools, and field days constitute important conduits in promoting increased maize innovations uptake among farmers. We suggest that, in understanding adoption, focus should be paid to the complexities in the innovation processes reckoning that it is embedded in an interactive social network, with many instances of learning, co-learning, knowledge transfer, contestations, and negotiations. This should guide policy decisions to better inform the design of programme interventions

Source: UG
Understanding knowledge management strategies in institutions of higher learning and the corporate world: A systematic review

Abstract: Knowledge management is a popular concept among many disciplines in higher learning institutions. Notwithstanding, reviewed literature shows that, the concept is highly practiced by corporate entities as compared to institutions of higher learning. A systematic review was done to specifically examine the various knowledge management strategies that are used by higher learning institutions considering the popularity of the concept coupled with the fact that it is taught widely across institutions of higher learning. The review was done with over 40 publications of varied topics on knowledge management. These were retrieved from various academic search engines and databases. The study found that, there is inadequate literature on knowledge management strategies in higher learning institutions; however, codification and personalization were generally identified in most of the studies as the main strategies of knowledge management. Strategies like, communities of practice, knowledge partnering and knowledge harvesting were suggested by this study. Higher learning institutions are therefore encouraged to start practicing what they teach by conducting more empirical studies on the concept.

Source: UG
Understanding land-use/cover change process for land and environmental resources use management policy in Ghana

Accurate information on land-use/cover change is a critical input for natural resource use management policy decisions. In Ghana, however, land-use/cover change is premised on the assumption that there has been a historically simple, linear, and uniform degradation of vegetation across all landscapes. The Kintampo and neighboring districts have become a subject of intense debate as to the real nature of prevailing land cover changes .It is commonly assumed that there is ubiquitously progressive irreversible woody vegetation loss across the area. The paper reports on the process and amount of land-use/cover changes that have prevailed in specific localities across the area within a 10-year period. It is hoped this will improve understanding and management of land-use/cover change in Ghana. Remote sensing and Geographic information systems technologies were used for the investigation. A multi-site satellite imagery approach was adopted to ensure that inductive inferences could be made. The outcome of the study indicated that, in space and time, there have been significant land-use/cover changes. Variability in change was a constant, rather than occasional feature across these human dominated landscapes. The conversion and transformation processes indicated that the traditional land-use strategies are self-sustaining. Any effective land-use/cover management strategy should be built upon the existing traditional farming system knowledge and practices. © 2007 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

Source: UG
Understanding linkage to care with HIV self-test approach in Lusaka, Zambia - A mixed method approach

Introduction: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a novel approach designed to assist in achieving the goal of at least 90% of the population that learn their HIV status. A self-test user with a positive test is required to visit a clinic to link into HIV care, yet little is known about patient preferences for linkage strategies. We examined the intention to link to care amongst potential HIVST users and the suitability of three linkage to care strategies in Lusaka Province, Zambia. Methods: We conducted a representative cross sectional survey of 1,617 individuals aged 16–49 years old in Lusaka Province. Participants were shown a video of the HIVST. Data on intention to link to care and preferred linkage to care strategies—text message, phone call and home visits were collected. Eight focus group discussions were held concurrently with survey respondents to understand their preferences between the three linkage to care strategies. Results: Of 1617 enrolled, 60% were women, 40% were men, with an average age of 27years (IQR = 22, 35). More men than women had at least secondary education (84% vs 77%) and were either employed or self-employed (67% vs. 41%). 85% (95%CI = 83 to 86) of participants said they would link to care within the first week of a positive self-test. Income >2,000 Kwacha (USD 200) per month versus income < 2,000 Kwacha (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.59; 95%CI: 0.40 to 0.88; p = 0.009) and never versus prior HIV testers (AOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.91; p = 0.020) were associated with reduced odds of intention to link to care. 53% (95%CI = 50 to 55) preferred being prompted to link to care by home visits compared to phone call (30%) or SMS (17%). Conclusion: We found almost nine out of ten potential HIVST users in the general population intend to link to care shortly after a positive test, and preferred home visits or phone calls to facilitate linkage, rather than SMS. Also, higher income earners and those who never tested for HIV were associated with reduced odds of intention to link to care. Policy guidelines and implementation strategies for HIVST should be responsive to patient preferences for linkage to care strategies to achieve the continuum of HIV care. © 2017, Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.

Source: UG
Understanding masculinities, empowering women: What have boys in Ghana got to do with it?

Since 1995, the first author has taught two graduate courses in African Studies that have been for her among the most satisfying in her career as a university teacher: ‘Gen- der and Culture in African Societies’ and ‘Gender and Development in Africa’. Although male students normally out-number females in these classes, a function of male/female ratios at the University of Ghana as a whole, in 2004, for the first time, the class on ‘Gender and Culture’ included only male students. Also, for the first time it focused on ‘Men and Masculinities’ and was co-taught with a male faculty member from the English Department.¹ The material we used came from the Social Sciences and Humanities and included novels as well as a significant number of works by male authors. Three variables had changed from earlier years – the class composition, the course focus, and the sex of the co-instructor – and it seemed that simultaneously so did the level of engagement of the male students with the idea of transformative gender relations. However, what was most enlightening for the instructors was how the link between the shift in focus from (a) gender relations and women’s ‘oppression’ (even though we do look at these issues in very concrete ways) to (b) one on how masculinity is constructed, and sometimes operates to ‘marginalise’ women, as well as oppress some men, was associated with a much greater level of commitment among the (male) students to the equal treatment of females. In other words, we presented a shift from a typical oppressor/oppressed concep- tualisation of gender relations. My colleague and I felt that such a binary construction was overly simplistic and not particularly helpful as it reduced masculinities to ‘good’ and ‘bad’ masculinities (Robinson, 2001).²

Source: UG
Understanding Migration Motivations in West Africa: The Case of Nigerians in Accra, Ghana

Contemporary migration studies increasingly focus on intra-continental migration especially in Europe. In Africa, this interest has not been pursued even though evidence abounds in the literature to suggest the presence of intra-African migration. Explanations of the motivation for such migrations often employ the ‘economic push-pull model’. This paper interrogates the ‘economic push and pull’ argument in the migration motivation literature. It presents a range of pull factors that do not follow this conventional approach. The paper first reconstructs Nigerian presence in, and connection with Ghana, and then explores the contemporary motivating factors for Nigerian migration to Ghana. The paper argues that, contemporary Nigerian migration to Ghana is motivated by multiple factors reflecting political, economic and historical considerations. The paper concludes by arguing that a multi-factoral migration motivation interpretation appears more adequate in explaining Nigerian migration to Ghana.

Source: UG
Understanding of family medicine in Africa: A qualitative study of leaders' views

Background The World Health Organization encourages comprehensive primary care within an ongoing personalised relationship, including family physicians in the primary healthcare team, but family medicine is new in Africa, with doctors mostly being hospital based. African family physicians are trying to define family medicine in Africa, however, there is little clarity on the views of African country leadership and their understanding of family medicine and its place in Africa. Aim To understand leaders' views on family medicine in Africa. Design and setting Qualitative study with in-depth interviews in nine sub-Saharan African countries. Method Key academic and government leaders were purposively selected. In-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide, and thematically analysed. Results Twenty-seven interviews were conducted with government and academic leaders. Responders saw considerable benefits but also had concerns regarding family medicine in Africa. The benefits mentioned were: having a clinically skilled all-rounder at the district hospital; mentoring team-based care in the community; a strong role in leadership and even management in the district healthcare system; and developing a holistic practice of medicine. The concerns were that family medicine is: unknown or poorly understood by broader leadership; poorly recognised by officials; and struggling with policy ambivalence, requiring policy advocacy championed by family medicine itself. Conclusion The strong district-level clinical and leadership expectations of family physicians are consistent with African research and consensus. However, leaders' understanding of family medicine is couched in terms of specialties and hospital care. African family physicians should be concerned by high expectations without adequate human resource and implementation policies. © British Journal of General Practice.

Source: UG
Understanding older adults' functioning and health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana: A descriptive qualitative study

Little research has been conducted to explore the functional status of community-dwelling older adults in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the functional status and health-seeking behavior of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. Utilising Using a descriptive-qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 12 eligible older adults from southern Ghana. With the use of NVivo (v12), descriptive and focused coding techniques were employed to analyse the data. The following five themes were identified after the data analysis: (a) older adults' health status during COVID-19 pandemic, (b) feeling limited; (c) feeling of unhappiness for being inactive, (d) striving to be active and (e) seeking healthcare during COVID-19 pandemic. This study revealed the unique health and social-related needs of Ghanaian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study's findings draw attention to the urgent need for the state to devise practical health and social-related initiatives to support older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: UG
Understanding Party Factionalism And Fragmentation, The Case Of Two Nkrumahist Parties In Ghana

It is widely argued that intra-party struggles for leadership and the emergence of factions within any political party are inevitable. However, it becomes problematic when cooperative factionalism within political parties turns out to be degenerative. This article sets out to illuminate some possible triggers that have contributed to the inability for Ghana’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) and People’s National Convention (PNC) to overcome their fragmentation. The argument here is that excessive personality cults, coupled with the exploitation of warring factions within the CPP and PNC have undermined the electoral prospects of these two Nkrumahist-inspired parties. The article notes, among other dynamics, the need for these parties to build robust party structures, tone down on excessive personalisation of party leadership, and minimise political opportunism.

Source: UG
Understanding Policy Framework For Slum Governance In A Developing Country

Purpose: Slum discourse has attracted significant research interest among scholars. The study examined the policy framework for slum governance in Ghana with the goal of offering recommendations to structure slum management. Design/methodology/approach – Anchored on exploratory qualitative methodology, the study utilized a purposive sampling technique to select 18 respondents from the major ministries for in-depth interviews. Findings: The results showed an absence of a central national policy for slum governance because slums development has received less national priority. It also revealed a lack of coordination among the sector ministries in policy formulation, which tends to create a blame game among them. Further, it was found that slum programs are driven by media, political and non-governmental actors. Research limitations and implications: The conclusion and the outcome of this study cannot be generalized as to represent the whole ministries in Ghana in the space of slums management due to the qualitative approach. A recommendation is offered for the creation of a separate authority to take charge of the slums in Ghana. Practical implications: This study elucidates a context-specific understanding of the policy framework for slum governance, which tends to shape public knowledge and policy landscape. Originality/value: As a novelty, the findings of the study advanced the sparse literature in the domain and at the same time, helped politicians and policymakers understand the need for a dedicated policy for slums

Source: UG
Understanding resilience of female adolescents towards teenage pregnancy: A cross-sectional survey in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Understanding Small Business International Strategic Change: The Influence of Internal Resource Capacity – Evidence from a Developing Country

With the advent of globalisation, it could be argued that internationalisation is a necessity for the proportion of SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. Most governments in sub-Saharan Africa have embraced this phenomenon. Currently, there are a number of on-going programmes designed by governments, international organisations and local associations to attract as many small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa to engage in the export business as possible because of the macro and micro benefits that is derived from the event. Yet, export involvement by small firms from this region of the world continues to be low, but it is argued that for SMEs, regardless of the amount of the macro programmes offered to them, their actual export success resides within the firm capacity. As a result, this study uses empirical data from Ghana, and employs logistic regression to predict the type of SME which will successfully change its strategy from being a wholly domestic business and becoming an international business firm, given a set of resource stocks. Based on the logit model, it is found that small firms with educated workforce, those with foreign ownership and those that possess large size will be more likely to change their strategy from being a wholly domestic business to an international business firms. Implications for future research, public policy and practice, based on the findings of the study are suggested.

Source: UG