ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS OF CONSISTENT CONDOM USE AMONG FEMALE COMMERCIAL SEX WORKERS IN GHANA

This study investigated the social and behavioral predictors of consistent condom use among female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) in Ghana. Four hundred fifty street commercial sex workers were interviewed in Accra, Kumasi and Techiman. The level of condom education was very low (14%); however consistent condom use (all the time) with clients was relatively high (49.6%). Two hundred seventy-seven of the participants did not use condoms all the time. Significant predictive factors associated with consistency of condom use among FCSWs in a multivariate analysis were age, level of education, religion, and number of customers. Some of the major obstacles identified in this study to consistent condom use were refusal by clients, lack of availability of free condoms, and the lack of empowerment to negotiate safer sex with clients. In summary, this study points to an urgent need for reestablishing effective prevention intervention and some insights of what is required of such program in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Social and economic conditions of head porters in Accra metropolis

The purpose of the study was to investigate the social and economic conditions of head porters (Kayayei) in the Accra Metropolis. This led to the formulation of five research questions: what healthcare options are available to Kayayei?; under what sanitary situations do Kayayei live?; which accommodation options are available to Kayayei?; how much do Kayayei earn from their economic activities?; and how do Kayayei manage their finances? The design for the study was the survey research design. In all 401 Kayayei from four main clusters in the metropolis were selected for the study. Two main instruments were used. These were the questionnaire and a semistructured interview schedule. The study revealed that the ‘Kayayei’ are exposed to health hazards and acute sanitary conditions not to mention the poor accommodation problems which the ‘Kayayei’ face. The study further brought out the financial hardship to the ‘Kayayei’ in terms of their daily earnings and how they manage their finances to support their daily needs and even save for future use and investment. Some of the recommendations include the extension of micro financial services, establishment of small scale industries for the processing of shea butter and other agricultural produce, provision of adequate infrastructure in the rural areas and long term policies for rural development will enable livelihood activities and stem the tide of the migration of ‘Kayayei’.

Source: UCC
Social and Policy Context of Tuberculosis Control in Ghana

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to exert significant influence on the disease profile of countries, especially in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Recent evidence shows that timely chemotherapy and proactive community response can avert deaths associated with TB. This thesis explores TB control in Ghana from 1900 to 2010. Data were collected from four major sources: archival materials from the national archives of Ghana and United Kingdom, the 2008 Ghana Demographic Health Survey, TB surveillance data between 1997 and 2010, and in-depth interviews with some stakeholders in TB and HIV control in the country. The study revealed that the presence of TB on the epidemiological profile of the country predates independence and the anecdotal evidence suggests that the disease originated from contact with Europeans and Arabian traders who came through the coastal south and the northern regions respectively. Following the initial introduction, mining, urbanisation, and the opening up of hinterlands through improved transportation fuelled its internal spread. It was also observed that over the years, there have been significant improvements in completion of dosage and cure and reduction in default and fatality. These positive outcomes could be attributed to better case management, through fixed-dose combination, advances in diagnosis, community treatment care, and incentives for demand generation and public-private partnership. It is envisaged that an inclusive approach involving well coordinated TB and HIV services, as well as public-private partnership, could result in better TB control in the country.

Source: UCC
Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Inclusion of Assin Fosu Cooperatives

The study explored Social and solidarity economy and social inclusion of the Assin Fosu Cooperatives. A mixed-method approach was adopted for the study. A sample of 175 members was sampled from six cooperatives. An interview schedule was used to collect data from the cooperative members. A focus group discussion guide was used for the leaders of cooperatives, and an interview guide was used to elicit information from the key informant. Analytical tools such as descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. It was found that members of cocoa-based cooperatives had high social inclusion, while access to formal education, household size, being divorced, and years of membership in the cooperatives explain low social inclusion. Collective resource mobilisation related directly to well-being, while years of membership in the cooperatives and collective resource utilisation led to low well-being. Being single, or divorced increased high collective resource mobilisation, while membership in Assin Akropong rice growers and marketing society increased collective resource mobilisation and utilisation. Based on the findings, it is recommended that cooperative members and their leadership as well as the Municipality should collaborate to intensify the positive gains from cooperation.

Source: UCC
Social and Spill-Over Benefits as Motivating Factors to Investment in Formal Education in Africa: A Reflection around Ghanaian, Kenyan And Rwandan Contexts

This study examined the social and spill-over benefits as motivating factors to investment in formal education in selected countries in Africa. The paper had three objectives, namely) to profile the key statistics of formal schooling; ii) examine the formal education and iii) link national goals of education with expectations in Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda. The major contention of the paper is that investment in education is not a matter of random choice but rather an imperative led by the fact that education holds returns and externalities to the largest society. Authors reviewed theory of human capital, local and international publications on social and spill over benefits of education focusing on Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda. The analysis of government policies and other publications from these three African nations have shown that education is considered as a key sector in these developing nations. Nevertheless, the researchers found out that mostly only primary and secondary education are distinctively accorded considerable public financial resources which might be associated with the countries limited financial ability, competitive needs, national and global trends. However, the fact that Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda strive to become democratic, self-reliant and middle income nations by conquering long terms set visions in which caliber manpower, welfare, self-employment, reduced social inequalities, increase in average income, knowledge based society, ICT driven and sustainable economy are key characteristics; it is imperative to invest substantially in TVET and higher education. It is also recommended that Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda put in place strong institutions that objectively, effectively and rationally ensure the efficient use of all available resources towards maximum educational outputs (265 words).

Source: UCC
Social assistance and rural poverty reduction in the Upper West region, Ghana

The study assessed the effects of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) social assistance programme on rural poverty reduction. A mixed methods research approach was used while the after only design constituted the study design. The sample size was 302 respondents selected using stratified random sampling. Data was collected using interview schedule, observation guide and interview guide. Analysis of data involved the application of descriptive statistics, chi-square test, hypothesis test for two independent proportions, Mann-Whitney U test and thematic analysis. The study found that beneficiaries largely used the LEAP cash grant in consumption of basic needs while few invested in farm and non-farm enterprises. In addition, LEAP led to the reduction in poverty as acceptable food consumption, income levels, savings, access to healthcare and school attendance improved; yet, there were insufficient and weak exit strategies. The major challenges confronting LEAP were: travelling to collect cash grant, inadequate means of transport, limited meeting of scheme implementers and inadequate complementary services. However, the study concludes that LEAP contributes to poverty reduction despite its challenges. It is therefore, recommended that the Department of Social Welfare should base the targeting of LEAP beneficiaries on the Ghana National Household Registry data to reduce the inclusion errors that lead to wastage of state resources and collaborate with partners like the National Health Insurance Authority in order to improve on the provision of complementary services. Furthermore, beneficiaries of LEAP should invest part of their grant in farm activities to earn extra income to enable them to meet their basic needs and develop self-sufficiency.

Source: UCC
Social Capital and Human Resource Development Practice of Sawmill Firms in the Ashanti and Western Regions In Ghana

The main objective of the study was to examine the contribution of social capital to HRD practice in the sawmill industry in Ghana. The study adopted the positivist and interpretive philosophies, thereby blending the complementary strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative data were gathered using survey questionnaires and interview schedules and were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data were also collected through an interview guide and were analysed using the thematic data analysis technique. The major findings of the study were: most of the HRD practices in the sawmill industry were either informal or sub-standard as a result of constant interferences of Chief Executive Officers in the operation of the ER professionals; besides organising annual social events, most of the steps taken by top management to promote social capital in the ERD practice of firms in the industry were effectively carried out; and social capital has contributed irnn1ensely to ERD practice in areas, such as flow of information, resource exchange and combination, as well as support among staff in the sawmill indushy in Ghana. It is recommended that, in order to leverage the potential contribution of social capital in the sawmill industry in Ghana, there is the need to shift from the traditional ERD practice that focused on developing the specific skills, knowledge, and abilities of individual employees towards a more integrative HRD practice, capable of transforming the traditional workplace into conducive learning environment through social, networks, collaboration, support and knowledge sharing.

Source: UCC
Social Capital And Organizational Performance At Cummins Ghana

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of social capital on organizational performance at Cummins Ghana. The research followed a quantitative approach and utilized an explanatory research design. The population consisted of 160 employees. The study used the census technique to select the study participants. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics (such as frequency and percentages) and inferential statistics (including Pearson's correlation and multiple regression) were employed to address the research objectives. The findings revealed that social capital, when controlling for other factors, accounted for a significant 13.4 percent of the variance in Cummins Ghana's performance. The dimensions of social capital, namely structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions, were identified as significant positive contributors to enhancing organizational performance. Consequently, the study recommended that energy companies in Ghana should focus on strengthening social capital, particularly by fostering networks and trust among employees, as this would ultimately lead to improved performance.

Source: UCC
Social capital and SME performance: the moderating role of emotional intelligence

Purpose – Lack of extant studies on the moderating role of emotional intelligence on the relationship between social capital and firm performance necessitated this study. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between social capital and small and medium-scaled enterprises’ (SMEs’) performance. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 1,532 SMEs were selected through simple random sampling technique from a population of 5,009 SMEs. Structural equation modelling using AMOS was used to analyse the relationship between the variables. Findings – The results revealed that social capital has a positive and significant relationship with emotional intelligence. Moreover, the study also showed that emotional intelligence has a positive and significant relationship with SME performance. Finally, the study found that emotional intelligence enhances the relationship between social capital and SME performance. Practical implications – SME owner/managers are advised to enact policies that encourage the establishment of meaningful social networks and also help employees understand their emotions while creating social capital as both would help improve the performance of their firms. Originality/value – This paper breaks new ground by identifying emotional intelligence as an enabler of SMEs performance where there is adequate social capital.

Source: UCC
Social Customer Relationship Management Practices, Customer Empowerment And Loyalty Of Customers Of Hotels In The Central Region Of Ghana

ABSTRACT In today's fast-evolving digital landscape, hotel businesses in Ghana are adopting social CRM practices to connect with customers and cultivate loyalty. This research, concentrating on the Ghanaian hotel sector, seeks to examine the influence of SCRM practices on CL, particularly focusing on the role of CE. The relationship theory and empowerment theory, positivism philosophy, quantitative research method, and explanatory research design were employed. A group of 370 hotel guests from central region of Ghana took active role in the study. The researcher employed IBM SPSS V27 to prepare the data and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM v4) for data analysis. The findings showed that effectively implemented SCRM practices can significantly improve customer loyalty through customer empowerment. Moreover, the results discovered that CK had a negative effect on both CE and CL which rejected H1a. However, improvements in customer service quality, increased social media/online community usage, utilizing integrated marketing channels, and offering value-added services had a constructive effect on both CE and CL. Interestingly, despite the positive effect of online communities on loyalty its effect was non-significantly within the context. It was, therefore, recommended that hotel firms should foster customer empowerment by encouraging various psychological attachments, because the results revealed that market advantage favours the nimblest hotels that pawn the ever-changing market conditions and integrate real-time customer empowerment and SCRM practices.

Source: UCC
Social Death: The case of HIV/AIDS Stigmatisation in the Central Regional Hospital of Ghana

The purpose of this study was to identify the causes and effects of stigmatisation on HIV and AIDS patients in the Central Region of Ghana. Some theoretical perspectives have been used to explain stigmatisation. They were the attribution theory and the exchange theory. These theories were found to be suitable for the explanation of stigmatisation in HIV and AIDS. In conducting the study, a sample size of 120 was used in addition to 5 case studies. Two non-probability sampling techniques were used. Purposive and convenient/accidental sampling techniques were used. Both primary data and secondary information were used. Interview guides and case studies were used for the study. The findings of the study included the fact that most people stigmatized people living with HIV and AIDS because of the correct and incorrect knowledge they have about HIV and its mode of transmission. Again, people stigmatized HIV and AIDS patients because of the myths surrounding AIDS and also, based on their socio-cultural background and orientation about its mode of transmission. These stigmatising and discriminatory behaviours from people towards People Living with HIV and AIDS have serious health, social and psychological effects on patients in particular and the society at large. Based on the results of the study it was recommended that to reduce stigmatisation there should be an intensification of education of people about AIDS through the media to reduce the rate of misconception and fear among people.

Source: UCC
Social exclusion of the deaf in corporate television advertising in Ghana: A pilot study

Communication barrier is one of the problems for deaf persons with regard to social integration. This paper was conducted to determine the degree to which the deaf community understands corporate television adverts in Ghana and whether inclusion of sign language would improve and enhance their understanding. Using a pretest-posttest design, with a purposively selected sample of 30 deaf students (N=30) and utilised the theory of active viewing, the researchers found that the inclusion of sign language improves understanding of advertisement. Participants were more likely to identify the product being advertised, the corporate body running the advertisement, understand message communicated, and the use of the product advertised when sign language interpreters were embedded in them. The findings provide insight into some exclusion issues in television advertising communication that disadvantages deaf people in society. Embedding sign language interpreters in television advertisement broadens the scope of message clarity and understanding of deaf people

Source: UCC
Social inclusion via conditional cash transfer in Ghana: an investigation into the livelihood empowerment against poverty programme in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

The term social exclusion has been employed to explain a culmination of negative processes of social relations shaped by gender, spatial, economic, political, socio economic, environmental and cultural circumstances and ideologies. Despite the economic gains Ghana has made since the fourth Republic, spatial and social segments of the Ghanaian society have not benefited from the trickledown effect of growth and could be classified as socially excluded. This research sets out to assess the contribution of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), a conditional cash transfer policy intervention against social exclusion in the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana. The data source involved primary data collection by way of in-depth interview of 40 beneficiaries in 8 out of the 14 beneficiary communities. Key informants involved in the management of the intervention were interviewed. The primary data was complemented with secondary data and information on the LEAP programme. The research revealed that the LEAP programme has been contributing fairly substantially to alleviating the plight of the vulnerable and the excluded. It was however observed that the programme requires some reforms with regard to increasing the amount of money involved in the cash transfer and effective organisational capacity building for proper monitoring and evaluation of the conditionalities attached to the cash transfer. Further research into how conditional cash transfer could be used as an avenue for micro investment and wealth creation is recommended

Source: UCC
Social Learning Environment And Students‘ Academic Performance At Our Lady Of Apostles And Holy Child Colleges Of Education

The study examines social learning environment on students‘ academic performance at OLA and Holy Child College of Education. The study explored an explanatory research design, in the light of the quantitative research approach, was employed. With respect to sampling method, proportionate random sampling techniques were employed to select the 295 participants from the accessible population. The main tool used for primary data collection for this study was the structure questionnaire containing closed-ended questions. The data extracted were analysed using descriptive. Specifically, descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, were used to analyse the study objectives. The study found that the Overall, both OLA Colleges of education (OCE) and Holy Child College of education (HCCE) students have a generally positive perception of their learning environments. The findings revealed that OCE and HCCE students recognize various factors influencing their learning outcomes. The study found that both OCE and HCCE students have a strong belief in the positive impact of various factors on their academic performance. The study also recommends that both institutions should prioritize efforts to address socio-economic factors that may impact student academic performance.

Source: UCC
Social Media Advertising and Marketing Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tema Metropolis, Ghana

The study was carried out to assess the effect of social media advertising on the marketing performance of small and medium sized enterprises [SMEs]. The study was conducted in the Tema metropolis, in the Greater Region of Ghana. Explanatory research designed backed by quantitative research approach was applied in the context of the study. The target population included 15000 registered SMEs that were at the time of the study were operating in the metropolis. Stratified sampling technique was used to select the 248 SMEs. Owners and managers of SMEs served as proxies in the context of the primary data collection. Structured questionnaires were used for the primary data collection. Cronbach’s Alpha and principal component techniques were used to test the reliability of the primary data and the validity respectively. The regression analysis showed that changes in social media advertising accounted for a statistically significant positive and substantial variance in marketing performance of SMEs in Tema metropolis. Entertainment, advertising value and arousal were made some statistically significant positive contributions to predicting the change in marketing performance. Social media advertising had greater significant positive effect on the marketing performance of medium enterprises compared to small enterprises. SMEs are encouraged to adopt social media advertising to support their traditional media outlets in order to improve their marketing performance

Source: UCC