ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Correction: Perceptions of commercialisation and value‑addition of non‑timber forest products in forest adjacent communities in Ghana

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Source: UG
Correction: Tick communities of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Background The majority of the African population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their liveli‑ hoods. To increase the productivity and sustainability of their farms, they need access to afordable yield-enhancing inputs of which parasite control is of paramount importance. We therefore determined the status of current tick species with the highest economic impact on cattle by sampling representative numbers of animals in each of seven sub-Saharan countries. Methods Data included tick species’ half-body counts from approximately 120 cattle at each of two districts per country, collected four times in approximately 1 year (to include seasonality). Study sites were chosen in each country to include high cattle density and tick burden. Results East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania) showed overall a higher diversity and prevalence in tick infesta‑ tions compared to West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria). In East Africa, Amblyomma var iegatum (vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium), Rhipicephalus microplus (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Anaplasma marginale), R. evertsi evertsi (A. marginale) and R. appendiculatus (Theileria parva) were the most prevalent tick species of economic importance. While the latter species was absent in West Africa, here both A. variegatum and R. microplus occurred in high numbers. Rhipicephalus microplus had spread to Uganda, infesting half of the cattle sampled. Rhipicepha lus microplus is known for its invasive behaviour and displacement of other blue tick species, as observed in other East and West African countries. Individual cattle with higher body weights, as well as males, were more likely to be infested. For six tick species, we found reduced infestation levels when hosts were treated with anti-parasiticides. Conclusions These baseline data allow the determination of possible changes in presence and prevalence of ticks in each of the countries targeted, which is of importance in the light of human-caused climate and habitat alterations or anthropogenic activities. As many of the ticks in this study are vectors of important pathogens, but also, as cattle may act as end hosts for ticks of importance to human health, our study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for tick infestation surveillance and prevention

Source: UG
Correlates of blood pressure and blood glucose screenings in Cameroon: insights from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey

Background: Hypertension and diabetes, two major risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases, are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Early detection through screening can initiate early treatment to reduce adverse outcomes. The current study sought to investigate the correlates of blood pressure and blood glucose screenings in Cameroon. Methods: We used secondary data from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey. Adjusting for a complex sample design, we performed multivariate prevalence ratio estimates of the blood pressure and blood glucose screenings. Results: Approximately 60% and 30% of Cameroonians had undergone blood pressure and blood glucose screenings, respectively. More females (68%) had undergone blood pressure screenings compared with their male counterparts (44.1%). In themultivariatemodel, gender, age, education, marital status, household wealth index and region of residence were significantly associated with both blood pressure and blood glucose screenings in the full sample. Previous blood pressure screening was associated with an increased likelihood of blood glucose screening and vice versa. A modification effect of gender was observed in the association between the correlates and both outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings uncovered individuals with a decreased likelihood for blood pressure and blood glucose screenings and this can inform policy decisions to ensure targeted screening aimed at early detection and management.

Source: UG
Correlates of Contraceptive use among Ghanaian women of Reproductive Age (15-49 Years)

Though fertility in Ghana has declined from an average of 8 children per woman over the past three decades to 4 per woman in recent times, the current rate of population growth is still unmatched by the requisite economic growth. Recent evidence suggests that the use of contraceptives have increased marginally despite the considerable decline in fertility rate. This paper revisits the determinants of contraceptive use among Ghanaian women, aged 15-49 using the 2008 GDHS. Empirically, the logistic and multinomial logistic regressions are used. Our results indicate that wealth status, level of education, ownership of health insurance, number of surviving children, marital status, location and geographical area of residence, religion and women autonomy are significant correlates of contraceptive use in Ghana. The finding reveals that, women who take health decisions jointly with their partners are more likely to use modern contraceptives as compared to women who take health decisions alone.

Source: UG
Correlates of Contraceptive use among Ghanaian women of Reproductive Age-Recent Evidence.

Though fertility in Ghana has declined from an average of 8 children per woman over the past three decades to 4 per woman in recent times, the current rate of population growth is still unmatched by the requisite economic growth. Recent evidence suggests that the use of contraceptives have increased marginally despite the considerable decline in fertility rate. This paper revisits the determinants of contraceptive use among Ghanaian women, aged 15-49 using the 2008 GDHS. Empirically, the logistic and multinomial logistic regressions are used. Our results indicate that wealth status, level of education, ownership of health insurance, number of surviving children, marital status, location and geographical area of residence, religion and women autonomy are significant correlates of contraceptive use in Ghana. The finding reveals that, women who take health decisions jointly with their partners are more likely to use modern contraceptives as compared to women who take health decisions alone.

Source: UG
Correlates of domestic waste management and related health outcomes in Sunyani, Ghana: A protocol towards enhancing policy

Background: Domestic waste generation has contributed significantly to hampering national waste management efforts. It poses serious threat to national development and requires proper treatment and management within and outside households. The problem of improper waste management has always been a challenge in Ghana, compelling several national surveys to report on the practice of waste management. However, little is known about how much waste is generated and managed within households and there is a serious dearth of information for national policy and planning. This paper seeks to document the handling and practice of waste management, including collection, storage, transportation and disposal along with the types and amount of waste generated by Households and their related health outcome. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and used a multi-stage sampling technique to sample 700 households. The study was planned and implemented from January to May 2015. It involved the use of structured questionnaires in the data collection over the period. Factors such as demographic characteristics, amount of waste generated, types of waste bins used within households, waste recycling, cost of disposing waste, and distance to dumpsite were all assessed. Results: The paper shows that each surveyed household generated 0.002 t of waste per day, of which 29% are both organic and inorganic. Though more than half of the respondents (53.6%) had positive attitude towards waste management, only 29.1% practiced waste management. The study reveals that there is no proper management of domestic waste except in few households that segregate waste. The study identified several elements as determinants of waste management practice. Female respondents were less likely to practice waste management (AOR 0.45; 95% Cl 0.29, 0.79), household size also determined respondents practice (AOR 0.26; Cl 0.09, 0.77). Practice of recycling (AOR 0.03; Cl 0.02, 0.08), distance to dumpsite (AOR 0.45; Cl 0.20, 0.99), were all significant predictors of waste management practice. Cholera which is a hygiene related disease was three times more likely to determine households' waste management practice (AOR 3.22; Cl 1.33, 7.84). Conclusion: Considering the low waste management practice among households, there is the need for improved policy and enhanced education on proper waste management practice among households.

Source: UG
Correlates of domestic waste management and related health outcomes in Sunyani, Ghana: A protocol towards enhancing policy

Background: Domestic waste generation has contributed significantly to hampering national waste management efforts. It poses serious threat to national development and requires proper treatment and management within and outside households. The problem of improper waste management has always been a challenge in Ghana, compelling several national surveys to report on the practice of waste management. However, little is known about how much waste is generated and managed within households and there is a serious dearth of information for national policy and planning. This paper seeks to document the handling and practice of waste management, including collection, storage, transportation and disposal along with the types and amount of waste generated by Households and their related health outcome. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and used a multi-stage sampling technique to sample 700 households. The study was planned and implemented from January to May 2015. It involved the use of structured questionnaires in the data collection over the period. Factors such as demographic characteristics, amount of waste generated, types of waste bins used within households, waste recycling, cost of disposing waste, and distance to dumpsite were all assessed. Results: The paper shows that each surveyed household generated 0.002 t of waste per day, of which 29% are both organic and inorganic. Though more than half of the respondents (53.6%) had positive attitude towards waste management, only 29.1% practiced waste management. The study reveals that there is no proper management of domestic waste except in few households that segregate waste. The study identified several elements as determinants of waste management practice. Female respondents were less likely to practice waste management (AOR 0.45; 95% Cl 0.29, 0.79), household size also determined respondents practice (AOR 0.26; Cl 0.09, 0.77). Practice of recycling (AOR 0.03; Cl 0.02, 0.08), distance to dumpsite (AOR 0.45; Cl 0.20, 0.99), were all significant predictors of waste management practice. Cholera which is a hygiene related disease was three times more likely to determine households' waste management practice (AOR 3.22; Cl 1.33, 7.84). Conclusion: Considering the low waste management practice among households, there is the need for improved policy and enhanced education on proper waste management practice among households. © 2017 The Author(s).

Source: UG
Correlates of Drug Use among Offenders in Some Prisons in Ghana

Among others, the study sought to find out whether being convicted of the possession of marijuana for personal use for the first time or multiple times, would predict marijuana, and other drug use within the past 30 days. Using a cross-sectional survey, two hundred and fifty three (253) male offenders were conveniently sampled from three prisons in Ghana. The average age of participants was 31.26 (SD = 10.19). It was established that those who had been convicted of the possession of marijuana for personal use for the first time were likely to have used marijuana within the past 30 days (OR = 4.15, 95% CI = 2.00, 8.58), and other drugs within the past 30 days (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.09, 5.47). Also, those who were recidivist robbers were likely to have used other drugs within the past 30 days (OR = 6.63, 95% CI = 2.55, 17.25). These, and other findings are discussed.

Source: UG
Correlates of hepatitis B testing in Ghana: The role of knowledge, stigma endorsement and knowing someone with hepatitis B

Hepatitis B testing is the gateway for prevention and care. However, previous studies document low hepatitis B testing uptake in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated knowledge, stigma endorsement and knowing someone with hepatitis B as correlates of hepatitis B testing behaviours among people in the Greater Accra and Northern regions of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was completed by 971 participants (Greater Accra = 503 and Northern region = 468) between October 2018 and January 2019. Approximately 54% of the participants reported having been tested for hepatitis B. The logistic regression analyses showed that having greater hepatitis B knowledge was positively associated with hepatitis B testing (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14–1.30). Higher hepatitis B stigma endorsement was negatively related to hepatitis B testing (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96–0.99). Also, participants who knew someone (i.e. parent, sibling, and/or friend) with hepatitis B were more likely to have tested compared to those who did not know someone with hepatitis B (OR = 7.15, 95% CI: 5.04– 10.14). This study demonstrates that knowing someone with hepatitis B increases the likelihood of testing, highlighting the need to create safe and non-judgmental contexts for people with hepatitis B (PWHB) to disclose if they want to. Also, given that greater hepatitis B knowledge increases testing and hepatitis B stigma endorsement impedes testing, interventions that increase knowledge and reduce stigma should be incorporated in efforts to promote testing in Ghana.

Source: UG
Correlates of HIV testing among women in Ghana: Some evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys

Ghana's strategic framework for controlling HIV/AIDS endorses voluntary HIV testing as an important strategy toward risk reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention. Yet, like other sub-Saharan African countries, utilization of testing services in Ghana is very low. Using the 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys and applying both complementary and negative log-log models, this study investigates the correlates of HIV testing among women aged 15-49. Two major dependent variables are considered, "ever tested for AIDS" and "wanting to test for AIDS." Results show that majority of Ghanaian women have not tested for HIV but say they want to do so. Having tested for HIV is strongly related to respondents' knowledge about someone dead of AIDS and other socio-economic and demographic variables such as education, region of residence, rural-urban residence, religion, and marital status. Majority of Ghanaian women do not know where to get an HIV test, although knowing where to get a test was significantly related to wanting to get the test done. To increase voluntary testing for HIV among women in Ghana it is recommended that testing services be made more accessible and visible especially to those residing in rural areas who may be economically disadvantaged. Interventions, including routine checking of HIV serostatus among patients seeking healthcare in clinics and home/work-based testing programs, must be encouraged as ways of expanding access among women in Ghana.

Source: UG
Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: A national multicenter study

Background: Prisons are known to be high-risk environments for the spread of bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Prison officers are considered to have an intermittent exposure potential to bloodborne infectious diseases on the job, however there has been no studies on the prevalence of these infections in prison officers in Ghana. Methods: A national multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken on correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in sample of prison inmates and officers from eight of ten regional central prisons in Ghana. A total of 1366 inmates and 445 officers were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects completed personal risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV and Treponema pallidum; and surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg). These data were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. Results: Almost 18% (1336) of 7652 eligible inmates and 21% (445) of 2139 eligible officers in eight study prisons took part. Median ages of inmates and officers were 36.5 years (range 16-84) and 38.1 years (range 25-59), respectively. Among inmates, HIV seroprevalence was 5.9%, syphilis seroprevalence was 16.5%, and 25.5% had HBsAg. Among officers tested, HIV seroprevalence was 4.9%, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7%, syphilis seroprevalence was 7.9%, and 11.7% had HBsAg. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV and syphilis infections among inmates were age between 17-46, being unmarried, being illiterate, female gender, being incarcerated for longer than median time served of 36 months, history of homosexuality, history of intravenous drug use, history of sharing syringes and drug paraphernalia, history of participation in paid sexual activity, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among officers were age between 25-46, fale gender, being unmarried, being employed in prison service for longer than median duration of employment of 10 years, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Conclusion: The comparably higher prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in prison inmates and officers in Ghana suggests probable occupational related transmission. The implementation of infection control practices and risk reduction programs targeted at prison inmates and officers in Ghana is urgently required to address this substantial exposure risk.

Source: UG
Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: a national multicenter study

Abstract Background Prisons are known to be high-risk environments for the spread of bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Prison officers are considered to have an intermittent exposure potential to bloodborne infectious diseases on the job, however there has been no studies on the prevalence of these infections in prison officers in Ghana. Methods A national multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken on correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in sample of prison inmates and officers from eight of ten regional central prisons in Ghana. A total of 1366 inmates and 445 officers were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects completed personal risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV and Treponema pallidum; and surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg). These data were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. Results Almost 18% (1336) of 7652 eligible inmates and 21% (445) of 2139 eligible officers in eight study prisons took part. Median ages of inmates and officers were 36.5 years (range 16&#8211;84) and 38.1 years (range 25&#8211;59), respectively. Among inmates, HIV seroprevalence was 5.9%, syphilis seroprevalence was 16.5%, and 25.5% had HBsAg. Among officers tested, HIV seroprevalence was 4.9%, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7%, syphilis seroprevalence was 7.9%, and 11.7% had HBsAg. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV and syphilis infections among inmates were age between 17&#8211;46, being unmarried, being illiterate, female gender, being incarcerated for longer than median time served of 36 months, history of homosexuality, history of intravenous drug use, history of sharing syringes and drug paraphernalia, history of participation in paid sexual activity, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among officers were age between 25&#8211;46, fale gender, being unmarried, being employed in prison service for longer than median duration of employment of 10 years, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Conclusion The comparably higher prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in prison inmates and officers in Ghana suggests probable occupational related transmission. The implementation of infection control practices and risk reduction programs targeted at prison inmates and officers in Ghana is urgently required to address this substantial exposure risk.

Source: UG
Correlates Of Maternal Health Services Utilization Among Adolescent Mothers In Ghana: Analysis Of Ghana Maternal Health Survey 2017.

Background The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is high in developing countries and poses a public health threat. This study aimed to assess the coverage and correlates of optimal ANC visits, early initiation of ANC visits, assisted delivery and health facility delivery among adolescent mothers. Methods We analysed data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS), using a sample of 567 (weighted) and 527 (unweighted) adolescent mothers with at least one live birth or stillbirth in the five (5) years preceding the survey. Results Most participants obtained four or more ANC visits, accessed health facility delivery and assisted delivery. Half (50%) of the participants initiated ANC visits in the first trimester. Less than half (39%) of the participants utilized all four maternal health services optimally. Utilization of maternal health services was associated with predisposing factors (age and parity) and enabling factors (wealth index, health insurance, permission to seek care). For instance, adolescent mothers aged 18–19 years (AOR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.01–2.70) had increased odds of early initiation compared to those aged 15–17 years. Adolescent mothers who were uninsured (AOR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.15–0.63) were less likely to obtain optimal ANC visits than insured mothers. Adolescent mothers in the middle wealth index (AOR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.06–3.63) were about twice more likely to utilize all the four maternal health services compared to those in the lowest wealth index. Conclusion This study has demonstrated that adolescent utilization of ANC visits, health facility delivery and skilled delivery were satisfactory. However, ANC initiation and optimal utilization of the recommended maternal health services were unsatisfactory. Utilization of the maternal health services was determined by predisposing factors such as age and parity as well as enabling factors including health insurance coverage, permission for treatment and wealth index.

Source: UG