ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Attitudes of medical doctors towards suicide and criminalization of attempted suicide in Ghana

Attitudes affect willingness to provide help for suicidal persons. Consequently, attitudes of key health professionals such as nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians have been examined. Although physicians are a key group in the management of suicide attempters, to the best of our knowledge, no study has examined their attitudes towards suicide. This study therefore examined 15 (10 males,5 females) medical doctors' attitudes towards suicidal person, what they perceive as risk factors for suicide and their views on the law that condemns attempted suicide. The methodology was qualitative and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results showed that the majority expressed empathic attitudes towards suicidal person (with only 5 condemning the act on the basis of religious values). Further the medics ' perceptions of the risk factors for suicidal behaviour fell within the biopsychosocial model (depression, loneliness, relationship distress, joblessness etc) more than the biomedical. Consistent with their empathic attitudes toward suicide, the majority of medics (11 out of 15) supported a repeal of the criminal code predicated on a "sick view" of the suicidal person as someone who needs help more than "a criminal "who must be prosecuted. The implications of the findings towards decriminalizing suicide in Ghana are addressed.

Source: UG
Attitudes of men towards family planning in mbeya region, tanzania: A rural-urban comparison of qualitative data

Family planning programmes in Tanzania date back to the 1950s. By the early 1990s, however, only 5-10% of women of childbearing age used contraceptives in the country. Low contraceptive prevalence in Tanzania is reportedly attributable to men's opposition to family planning. This paper employs focus groups to explore the role of Tanzanian men in family planning. More specifically, it presents a rural-urban comparison of the attitudes of men in Mbeya region, Tanzania, to family size preference, sex composition, partners' communication on family planning matters and contraceptive behavior. Findings indicate that men express positive attitudes towards fertility-regulating methods. There is, moreover, little rural-urban variation in male attitudes towards family planning in the study area. Possible reasons for this normative convergence (including structural similarities and rural-urban migration between the two communities) are discussed. PIP: This study explored the attitudes of rural and urban men toward family planning (FP) in Tanzania. Data were obtained from focus groups conducted among a sample of men aged 16-50 years living in both urban (Mabatini, Ruanda, and Sisimba) and rural (Iwindi, Mapogoro, and Tembela) districts of Mbeya region in the southern highlands in 1994. The total fertility rate was 7.4 children/woman in the region. Focus group discussions addressed four themes: attitudes toward family size, sex composition, communication about FP, and contraceptive use. Findings indicate that male attitudes toward FP did not vary between urban and rural areas. The similarities are attributed to pervasive cultural norms and little structural variation between areas. Men preferred more sons and believed that larger families cost more. Men in urban areas were more aware of the cost of large families. Men considered it their responsibility to allow women to use FP. Men were suspicious of modern methods, doubted their safety, and feared that women would be unfaithful if allowed to use contraception. Men believed that condoms were useful for prevention of HIV/AIDS with prostitutes and did not associate use with FP. Men believed that FP was directed to women and not sufficiently directed to men, and that women knew more about FP. The family size desired ranged from 4-6 children in rural areas, to 2-4 children in urban areas, which suggests unmet need. Negative attitudes of men towards FP should be addressed in IEC campaigns.

Source: UG
Attitudes of psychologists and nurses toward suicide and suicide prevention in Ghana: A qualitative study

Background: One way of preventing suicide has been increasing awareness among health care professionals of their own attitudes and taboos toward suicide and its prevention. Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the attitudes of health professionals toward suicidal behavior and its prevention in Ghana. Methods: A total of 17 informants (9 clinical psychologists and 8 emergency ward nurses) in an urban center were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the data. Results: We found that the attitudes of these health workers toward suicide and suicide prevention seemed to be transiting between morality and mental health. The psychologists generally saw suicide as a mental health issue, emphasized a caring and empathic view of suicidal persons and approached suicide prevention from a health-service point of view. Mental health education and improvements in primary health care were reported as practical approaches toward suicide prevention. The nurses on the other hand, held a moralistic attitude toward suicide as a crime, viewed suicide persons as blameworthy and approached suicide prevention from a proscriptive perspective. Informal approaches such as talking to people, strengthening the legal code against suicide and threatening suicidal persons with the religious consequences of the act were also indicated as practical approaches to suicide prevention. Educational level, clinical experience with suicidal persons, and religious values, are discussed as influencing the differences in attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention between psychologists and nurses. Conclusion: Health workers in Ghana need training in suicidology to improve both knowledge and skills relevant for suicide prevention. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Source: UG
Attitudes to malaria, traditional practices and bednets (mosquito nets) as vector control measures: A comparative study in five West African countries

Five West African communities were visited to assess the knowledge of the cause of malaria and to document traditional ways of treating and preventing the infection. Knowledge of the cause of malaria was low in the five communities visited. People were more concerned about mosquitoes being a nuisance than a cause of the infection. Various herbs were used as mosquito repellents. Malaria was treated by a number of traditional practices, including herbal remedies. Bednets were used to a varying extent, from 44% Ghana to 86% Gambia, in each community to protect against mosquito bites but also for other purposes such as privacy, decoration and protection from roof debris dropping on the bed. PIP: A previous study among Gambian children aged 1-4 years found that overall mortality was reduced by 63% after use of insecticide-treated bednets. In this study, the aim was to determine the degree to which bednets were used and the factors affecting their use in Farafenni, The Gambia; Navrongo in eastern Ghana; suburban Bandim outside Bissau Town, Guinea-Bissau; Niakhar in Senegal; and a rural village around Bo in Sierra Leone. Bednets were known and used to protect children from mosquito bites in the 5 West African countries; bednets were also used for privacy and to protect from falling roof debris. A structured questionnaire was administered. Background information had been collected prior to the survey administration on local terminology for symptoms of malaria, the extent of health education campaigns, availability of Western and traditional treatment regimens, use of bednets, and constraints to use. Each of the study areas was described in terms of the social and demographic characteristics of the population. The findings indicated that about 50% of people in Ghana Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone were aware that mosquitoes caused malaria. Only about 25% were aware in The Gambia. Heavy rains and the cold weather that followed were also linked with malaria causes in Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Stepping in goat urine was viewed as a cause of malaria in Senegal. In The Gambia, other causes indicated were eating of seasonally foods excessively, and an act of God. Fever was the most common symptom associated with malaria. Some differentiated in subtle ways between malaria fever and other fevers. Treatment was viewed in all countries as herbal, which was available from markets or traditional healers. About 50% of the 996 Ghana respondents used some form of traditional treatment for malaria. 86% used bednets in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Only about 33% used them in Senegal, and very few used bednets in Sierra Leone and Ghana. Most were concerned about the irritation to sleep from mosquitoes. In all countries, cost of bednets was a constraint to use. Public health programs should stress the cost effectiveness and advantages of insecticide treated bednets, and information on malaria causes. Where Ghanians sleep on roofs, a new bednet design is needed.

Source: UG
Attitudes toward the insanity defense: Examination of the factor structure of Insanity Defense Attitude-Revised (IDA-R) Scale in Ghana.

Decades of research have revealed the potential of individuals to be partial toward defendants pleading insanity at the time of offense. This study examines the internal structure of the Insanity Defense Attitude-Revised (IDA-R) scale as well as predictors of insanity defense attitude in a Ghanaian sample (N D 253). Using principal component analysis, we identified three distinct latent factors, two (i.e., strict liability, unprofessional behavior and safety concerns) of which corroborate the findings of previous studies, and a unique factor- expression of sympathy. Participants who were highly involved in religious activities were more likely to be sympathetic. Views regarding the causes and treatability of mental illness did not significantly predict insanity defense attitudes.

Source: UG
Attitudes towards abortion and decision-making capacity of pregnant adolescents: perspectives of medicine, midwifery and law students in Accra, Ghana

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
Attitudes towards accounting and intention to major in accounting: a logistic regression analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the attitude of business students towards the accounting profession and investigate the relationship between students’ attitude and their intention to pursue a degree in accounting. Design/methodology/approach A self-administered survey was used to collect data from students from the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS). A total of 457 questionnaires were used in the empirical analysis. A binary logistic regression analysis technique was employed to analyse the data. Findings The logistic regression analysis demonstrates that intrinsic interest in the accounting discipline, prior exposure to accounting at the senior high level and the desire to pursue professional accounting qualification in future are good predictors of students’ intention to major in accounting. The results also indicate family members, course instructors and other referent group play a crucial role in influencing students’ intention to pursue a career in accounting. Practical implications The findings of this study have important implications for the professional accountancy body and business educators interested in addressing the skill shortage in the accounting profession. Originality/value This study does not only examine students’ attitude towards the accounting discipline but also investigates how such attitudes influence intentions to major in accounting.

Source: UG
Attitudes towards Mobile Phones among Adolescents/Young Adults in Second and Third Cycle Schools in Oman

Mobile phone ownership has experienced a rapid growth in the adult populatin of Oman since GSM technology was introduced in the country over a decade ago. However, due partly to the ever-decreasing cost of handsets and installation costs, coupled with the multiplicity of functions and features on mobile phones, the youth in Oman have embraced mobile phone technology in an unprecedented way compared to the ownership of fixed phones. There is a predominance of adolescents and young adults in Oman’s population structure, and this has resulted in a monumental growth of mobile phone ownership. Research conducted in different parts of the world has shown that youngsters are tredsetters in the mobile phone revolution and what it entails. Previous studies have documented and acknowledged the deep penetration of mobile phones in the region. However, there is a dearth of studies that have employed the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) paradigm, which is useful in soliciting psychosocial variables that could have a direct impact on marketing vis-à-vis understanding in the present context. The principal aim of this investigation, therefore, was to determine the demographic correlates of mobile owners among adolescents and young adults in schools and colleges/universities in Oman. The main findings were that the majority of students owned a phone, that most were on pre-paid accounts, and that there was a strong preference for utilizing the SMS function, the alarm clock and the translator. The latest brand of handset was deemed essential. Unlike studies from elsewhere, however, there was no indication of any detrimental effects of mobile phones among the target population in Oman. The family was also found to be central as far as destinations of the calls made by adolescents and young adults in the country. The family was found to be a moderating factor in some of the deviancy often associated with mobile phone use elsewhere.

Source: UG
Atypical memory B cell frequency correlates with antibody breadth and function in malaria immune adults

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Au nom de bonnes bêtes: Réflexions sur l’inscription des animaux dans la littérature africaine francophone”

The recourse to animal images with the set aim of entertaining, informing and educating society is a universal phenomenon. African literature, colonial or post-colonial, resorts to representations of animals to stress the degeneration and dysfunction of human society. Using the titles, narrative worlds, themes and decors of animal-centred works as reference points, this article seeks to investigate the ever-increasing depictions of animals in Francophone African literature.

Source: UG
Audience Expectations of Advertising during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence from an Approach–Avoidance Theory Study in Ghana

Covid-19 (an acronym for the coronavirus disease of 2019) has revised how businesses the world over act, including how they engage their targets. As audiences battle the barrage of COVID-19 information already fighting for their attention, the boundaries of the already complex task of catching and retaining their attention are being re-defined. A cursory observation would show that, during the pandemic, brand advertising has evolved. Promotional messages deployed during the pandemic, particularly at its onset and during peak times, often include references to the pandemic either by way of providing education or solidarising with consumers. How well is this strategy in advertising messaging fitted to audience desires and to what extent does it dis/encourage audience engagement? This article reports on a study that was informed by approach-avoidance theory and explored audience expectations of and responses to advertising messages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data from a sample of advertising audiences in Ghana served as the basis of the exploration. It found that the audience deemed it appropriate for brands to include pandemic information in their advertising and were unreceptive to advertisements (hereafter ads) that have a self-serving (i.e. focused only on the brand) ethos. There were, however, nuances to preference levels towards different themes of pandemic message infusions. These, along with their theoretical implications are discussed in the article.

Source: UG
Audit and accountability in the government of Ghana: A records management perspective

The exponential growth of and reliance on Internet services, and the waning level of public confidence in public and private organisations across all sectors of society using such services are creating a crisis of trust. Cloud computing is defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as 'a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or services provider interaction'. Laws are jurisdictional municipal, regional, national, or multinational and their influence is defined and restricted by borders between cities, provinces or states, countries or groups of countries. The procedural and authority controls on reliability typically exercised over the creation of traditional records and data can no longer be assumed in the online environment. The object of trust must be identified before the requirements and obligations of the trust relationship can be articulated.

Source: UG
Audit of Antenatal Steroid Use in Mothers of Preterms Admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Ghana

Background Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are established as an effective method of reducing preterm morbidity and mortality. At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), a tertiary referral centre in Ghana, it is recommended that a course of ACS should be given to mothers before delivery between 24 weeks to 34 weeks gestation. Objectives The study was performed primarily to determine the level of adherence to guidelines on administration of ACS. Methods All babies with gestational ages up to 34 weeks admitted to the neonatal unit (NICU) during the period of the study were eligible for inclusion. Results There were 214 eligible admissions during the study period, of which 93 babies (43%) were studied due to poor access to medical records. Dexamethasone was the only steroid used, and mothers of 65 (70%) of the 93 babies received at least one dose; 17 (18%) received only one dose, 35 (38%) - 2 doses, 9 (10%) - 3 doses, and 4 (4%) - 4 doses. Conclusions This study has shown a low uptake of antenatal corticosteroids, similar to other low-income and middle-income countries. To improve preterm survival and morbidity, there is an urgent need to increase the use of corticosteroids before preterm deliveries in Ghana and other low-income and middle-income countries.

Source: UG
Auditing the AUDIT: A systematic review of cut-off scores for the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in low- and middle-income countries

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization's (WHO) Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is used extensively across the world, with cut-off scores recommended by the WHO. We reviewed the use and validity of AUDIT cut-off scores in low- and middle-income countries as cultural contexts are expected to influence the detection of alcohol use disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The systematic review was guided by an a priori defined protocol consistent with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. We searched Cochrane library, Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Indmed, LILACS, and AJOL databases using appropriate search terms. We conducted a narrative synthesis of the data. RESULTS: We identified 54 distinct studies that used AUDIT cut-off scores which were not in alignment with those recommended by the WHO. India (n = 10), Nigeria (n = 9), and Brazil (n = 9) produced most of these included studies. Most of the studies (n = 42) did not conduct psychometric evaluations of AUDIT cut-off scores. Of the twelve studies which did report psychometric results, a wide range of cut-off scores performed well. In these studies the cut-off scores to detect hazardous drinking ranged from >3 to >5, for harmful drinking from >5 to >16, and for dependent drinking from >7 to >24. DISCUSSION: AUDIT is being widely used in LMICs and non-recommended cut-off scores are considered to be appropriate in these countries. It is important to systematically evaluate the psychometric properties of those cut-off scores to ensure the internal validity of the studies in which they are used

Source: UG
Auditors’ Perceptions about Internal Controls in the Public Sector: A Case Study of Nkwanta South

This research focuses on auditors’ perceptions about internal controls in the public sector, how it affects the work of auditors in terms of audit reviews and the extent to which reliance is placed on internal controls. The qualitative case study approach was employed in order to gain a deeper understanding auditors’ construct of internal controls within the public sector context. Furthermore, purposive sampling technique was applied in this study and thematic analysis was used to analyze the responses from the semi-structured interviews conducted. The study revealed that auditors had convergence views about internal controls as a structure with human agents responsible for its establishment. This was analyzed using Giddens’ Structuration Theory as a lens. Also, the study found out that internal controls were assessed by auditors in order to know whether to increase the workload by way of engaging substantive procedures during the audit or to reduce the workload in terms of testing and review. Finally, the study found out that most of the auditors interviewed placed their reliance upon internal controls based on the components of the COSO framework such as a control environment, risk assessment, control activities and monitoring. In terms of research, this study offers several potential contributions to the understanding of how both internal and external auditors construct their perceptions about internal control systems of public sector organisations particularly, that of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) such as Nkwanta South in Ghana. Also, in terms of practice, this study stands to unearth the effectiveness or deficiencies in the internal control systems of some public sector organisations in Ghana. Finally, in terms of policy, the Auditor General can adopt the recommendations of this research and suggest policies and measures that will strengthen internal controls within public sector organisations in Ghana as a whole.

Source: UG
Augmented NRF2 activation protects adult sickle mice from lethal acute chest syndrome

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD) rises sharply in young adult patients and mechanism-based prophylaxis is lacking. In SCD, haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) declines with age and ACS is associated with low HO-1. To test if enhanced HO-1 can reduce ACS mortality, young SCD mice were treated with D3T (3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione), an activator of nuclear-factor erythroid 2 like 2, which controls HO-1 expression, for 3 months. Following haem-induced ACS, all vehicle-treated mice succumbed to severe lung injury, while D3T-treated mice had significantly improved survival. Blocking HO-1 activity abrogated the D3T effect. Thus HO-1 may be targeted to reduce ACS severity in adult patients.

Source: UG