ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Resolving unintended pregnancy crisis: Is adoption a viable option? A cross-sectional study in Kumasi, Ghana

Objectives: Unintended pregnancy presents a crisis situation with limited options for resolution. Abortion appears to be a commonly chosen option but is stigmatized in many societies including Ghana. Keeping a child from an unintended pregnancy is also unsuitable for many people. Carrying through with the pregnancy and placing the child up for adoption is a potential management option but there is scanty literature on how viable this option is to women globally including Ghana. The study sought to assess acceptability of this option and its barriers and facilitators in Ghana. Methods: This study was a part of a bigger analytical cross-sectional study on unintended pregnancy in Kumasi conducted in three centres from January to April 2014. Exit interviews were conducted for 461 consenting women to capture data on demography, reproductive profile and acceptability of giving up a child from an unintended pregnancy for adoption. Frequencies, proportions and means were computed and presented in tables. Results: Over 85% of respondents would not give up their children for adoption as a way to manage their unintended pregnancy, whereas about 6% were undecided. A need for the child to grow up in a two-parent home was considered more important than the financial security of the adoptive parents while disappointment from family and friends came up as marked barrier to adoption. Conclusions: Keeping a pregnancy and placing the child up for adoption is presently not ideal for managing an unintended pregnancy crisis. More education is needed to increase awareness of adoption as an option in resolving this crisis while continued efforts are made at primary prevention through using contraceptives. The complex adoption process must be made friendly for women with unintended pregnancies who neither desire parenting nor abortion

Source: UCC
Resolving unintended pregnancy crisis: Is adoption a viable option? A cross-sectional study in Kumasi, Ghana

Objectives: Unintended pregnancy presents a crisis situation with limited options for resolution. Abortion appears to be a commonly chosen option but is stigmatized in many societies including Ghana. Keeping a child from an unintended pregnancy is also unsuitable for many people. Carrying through with the pregnancy and placing the child up for adoption is a potential management option but there is scanty literature on how viable this option is to women globally including Ghana. The study sought to assess acceptability of this option and its barriers and facilitators in Ghana. Methods: This study was a part of a bigger analytical cross-sectional study on unintended pregnancy in Kumasi conducted in three centres from January to April 2014. Exit interviews were conducted for 461 consenting women to capture data on demography, reproductive profile and acceptability of giving up a child from an unintended pregnancy for adoption. Frequencies, proportions and means were computed and presented in tables. Results: Over 85% of respondents would not give up their children for adoption as a way to manage their unintended pregnancy, whereas about 6% were undecided. A need for the child to grow up in a two-parent home was considered more important than the financial security of the adoptive parents while disappointment from family and friends came up as marked barrier to adoption. Conclusions: Keeping a pregnancy and placing the child up for adoption is presently not ideal for managing an unintended pregnancy crisis. More education is needed to increase awareness of adoption as an option in resolving this crisis while continued efforts are made at primary prevention through using contraceptives. The complex adoption process must be made friendly for women with unintended pregnancies who neither desire parenting nor abortion.

Source: UCC
Resource Availability for Infection Prevention in Early Childhood Education Centres from Southern Ghana

Teachers in early childhood education centers are the epitome of care concerning infection prevention for young children in educational programmes. The objective was a comparative descriptive quantitative survey was used to assess the knowledge, practice and resources availability for infection prevention in early childhood education centres in the Suhum Municipality. Methods: One hundred and sixty (160) teachers from 52 randomly selected early childhood centres; cretches, nurseries, day cares and kindergartens were recruited for the study and assessed for resource availability for infection prevention. Results: The findings of the study revealed that both public and private teachers in early childhood education centres have a good knowledge about infection prevention measures and control. Knowledge level on infection prevention is comparable between the two categories of teachers (P=0.200). However, the high knowledge did not translate into practice due to non-availability of resources for the implementation of infection prevention. It was observed that most of the learning centres visited were overcrowded (exceeded GES recommended 28 children per a teacher ratio). There were also inadequate and inappropriate sanitary facilities in the studied early childhood education centres. The private schools were better resourced than the public schools (P=0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that caregivers in childhood education centres received adequate training on infection prevention before and during employment. The Ministry Of Education and Ghana Health Service must ensure there are adequate sanitary facilities before approval is given for the running of the programme and regular monitoring must be done to ensure their sustainability.

Source: UCC
Resource availability for infection prevention in early childhood education centres from Southern Ghana

Background: Teachers in early childhood education centers are the epitome of care concerning infection prevention for young children in educational programmes. The objective was a comparative descriptive quantitative survey was used to assess the knowledge, practice and resources availability for infection prevention in early childhood education centres in the Suhum Municipality. Methods: One hundred and sixty (160) teachers from 52 randomly selected early childhood centres; cretches, nurseries, day cares and kindergartens were recruited for the study and assessed for resource availability for infection prevention. Results: The findings of the study revealed that both public and private teachers in early childhood education centres have a good knowledge about infection prevention measures and control. Knowledge level on infection prevention is comparable between the two categories of teachers (P=0.200). However, the high knowledge did not translate into practice due to non-availability of resources for the implementation of infection prevention. It was observed that most of the learning centres visited were overcrowded (exceeded GES recommended 28 children per a teacher ratio). There were also inadequate and inappropriate sanitary facilities in the studied early childhood education centres. The private schools were better resourced than the public schools (P=0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that caregivers in childhood education centres received adequate training on infection prevention before and during employment. The Ministry Of Education and Ghana Health Service must ensure there are adequate sanitary facilities before approval is given for the running of the programme and regular monitoring must be done to ensure their sustainability.

Source: UCC
Resource sharing through library consortium: An assessment of the consortium of academic and research libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH)

The study provides on assessment of the operations and activities of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH) since its inception in 2004. It examines the viewpoints of members from the institutions that make up the consortium on issues such as knowledge about the activities of the consortium, governance and management of the consortium, information resource sharing especially the provision of e-resources to member libraries/institutions. The study also assessed member's views about the content or subject coverage and cost shoring models of the e-resources as well as the effects of CARLIGH e-resources on reaching, learning and research in the member institutions. It concludes with some recommendations on the way forward for the consortium.

Source: UCC
Resources Available for Teaching Mathematics in Senior High Schools in the Western Region of Ghana

The study investigated teaching and learning resources available for teaching mathematics at the Senior High School (SHS) level in the Western region of Ghana. Specifically, it tried to find out the available resources and if they differ among the school categories, the state of the available resources, teachers’ access to the available resources and the difference in the use of the resources across sex, academic qualification and school categories. The study used pragmatist paradigm approach mainly through Mixed-Methods Explanatory Sequential design. Eighty-four mathematics teachers and 16 store keepers were used for the study. A total of ten teachers were observed and interviewed in the qualitative phase. The study, however, found that the resources available for teaching mathematics in the Senior High Schools were mathematics syllabus, textbooks, library books, mathematical set for students, calculators, marker board drawing instruments, classrooms, furniture, and marker board. The extent to which the resources were available in the schools was low and there was no significant difference in their availability among the school categories. Further, the available resources were old and not all the parts were in good condition or working well. Although the result of the study indicated teachers acknowledged the positive effect of resource use on teaching of mathematics, yet they had little access to the available resources. Further, it was revealed that mathematics teachers do not use resources too often. A Kruskal Wallis test revealed that mathematics teachers differ in the use of resources in teaching mathematics across school categories, (H(3) = 26.82, p = 0.000).

Source: UCC
Respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms associated with pesticide management practices among farmers in Ghana’s most important vegetable hub

The data resented here are from the Offinso North District Farm Health Study (ONFAHS), a population-based cross-sectional study among vegetable farmers in Ghana. The paper addresses knowledge, pesticide handling practices, and protective measures related to pesticide use y self-reported symptoms for 310 adult farmers who completed a comprehensive questionnaire on pesticide management practices and health. In addition, an inventory was prepared using information supplied by pesticide sellers/dealers in this district. We report that cough and wheezing (but not breathlessness) are positively associated with stirring pesticide reparations with are hands/drinking water while mixing/applying pesticides, and stirring pesticide preparations with are hands/drinking water/smoking cigarettes while mixing/applying pesticides. There is a significant exposure-response association between the number of precautionary measures practiced while handling pesticides and cough and wheezing but not with breathlessness. We also found unsafe practices to be associated with sexual dysfunction, nervousness, and lack of concentration. The results also suggest a negative association between practice of any precautionary measure when mixing/applying pesticides and sexual dysfunction, nervousness, and lack of concentration. We found that in spite of the fact that farmers have adequate knowledge about the environment and health effects of pesticides, several unhygienic practices are in widespread use, indicating that knowledge is not necessarily always translated in action. Further action is necessary to promote the safe use of pesticides and to replace existing poor management practices among these and other farmers in Ghana

Source: UCC
Responding to the environmental crisis in Ghana: The role of humanist ethics

In the past, traditional Ghanaians were able to manage their environment effectively. Presently, there are many environmental problems facing Ghana, rendering Ghana as the seventh dirtiest nation and second in open defecation in the world. This paper argues that since Ghanaians, similar to their fellow Africans, are notoriously religious, there is the need for a philosophical school of thought that can balance the extreme religiosity that seems to be ineffective in environmental management in Ghana. Hence, the need to integrate Humanist ethics and what it can do together with the efforts of Ghanaian Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists and other stakeholders to respond effectively to the environmental crisis in Ghana

Source: UCC
Response of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) to Climate Data and Possible Adaptation Strategies for improving Yields in Burkina Faso

The objective of this study was to study the effect of some climatic parameters on sorghum production and to explore a wide range of possible sorghum crop management adaptation strategies that could enhance its production and contribute to food security. The study was conducted in the Central region of Burkina Faso in 2014. Three experiments were carried out under three climatic conditions: two dry experiments were conducted during the hot (March) and the cold (October) seasons respectively, while the rainfed experiment was conducted early in July. These experiments used a split-plot design. The two dry season experiments were subjected to two watering regimes (well-watered and water stress) and the entire experiments were subjected to two nitrogen levels (0 and 60 kg ha-1 of urea) and two sorghum genotypes (local, Kapelga and improved, Sariaso 14). These factors were evaluated for genotypic performance on root growth, reproductive cycle, yield and yield components, and nitrogen and water use efficiencies. The result showed that the variations in the climatic parameters decreased the long term sorghum yield in Saria. It was also observed that the growth conditions mostly affected sorghum production followed by watering regimes, genotypes performance and nitrogen levels. The third growth condition (dry cold experiment) was found to be the most productive. Genotype Sariaso 14 was highly productive in irrigated experiments. It was also found that WUE and NUE were the two factors limiting sorghum production. This knowledge is expected to be of tremendous benefit to fanners as rainfed agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Source: UCC
Response-based selection of barley cultivars and legume species for complementarity: Root morphology and exudation in relation to nutrient source

Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) use efficiency may be improved through increased biodiversity in agroecosystems. Phenotypic variation in plants’ response to nutrient deficiency may influence positive complementarity in intercropping systems. A multicomponent screening approach was used to assess the influence of P supply and N source on the phenotypic plasticity of nutrient foraging traits in barley (H. vulgare L.) and legume species. Root morphology and exudation were determined in six plant nutrient treatments. A clear divergence in the response of barley and legumes to the nutrient treatments were observed. Root morphology varied most among legumes, whereas exudate citrate and phytase activity were most variable in barley. Changes in root morphology were minimized in plants provided with ammonium in comparison to nitrate but increased under P deficiency. Exudate phytaseactivity and pH varied with legume species, whereas citrate efflux, specific root length, and root diameter lengths were more variable among barley cultivars. Three legume species and four barley cultivars were identified as the most responsive to P deficiency and the most contrasting of the cultivars and species tested. Phenotypic response to nutrient availability may be a promising approach for the selection of plant combinations for minimal input cropping systems

Source: UCC
Responsible Leadership and Workplace Safety in the Downstream Oil and Gas Sector in Ghana: The Role of Safety Motivation and Safety Culture

The influence of Responsible leadership on workplace safety in the downstream oil and gas sector formed the crux of this study, employing safety motivation and safety culture as mediating agents. The study employed quota and convenience sampling techniques to draw 226 fuel service station attendants from the Government and private sectors in the Greater Accra Metropolitan City of Ghana employing a self-administered structured survey for the process of data gathering. The positivism philosophy guided the study; hence, a quantitative approach and an exploratory design shaped the process. A quantitative method was adopted for analysis using the IBM SPSS (version 26) and WarpPLS (version 7.0). Inferential statistics through Partial least Squares Structural Equation Modelling was employed to test the hypothesis of the study. The study‘s results revealed that Responsible Leadership had a positive statistical significant relationship with Workplace Safety, Safety Culture (SC), and Safety Motivation. Findings were also that, Safety Motivation (SM) did not have any positive statistical relationship with Workplace Safety; however, both Safety Motivation and Safety Culture mediated Responsible Leadership and Workplace Safety. The study advocates the need to hire responsible leaders and the need for leaders to demonstrate responsibility to maximise workplace safety in the downstream sector. The study offered a pioneer model to explain how Responsible Leadership could promote Workplace Safety.

Source: UCC
Restructuring Vocational and Technical Education in Ghana: The Role of Leadership Development

Vocational technical education and training in Ghana is currently undergoing restructuring. Many reforms are in place to improve the quality of provision and learning outcomes to make it more accessible and attractive to all, and to ensure it is relevant and connected to the world of work. The potential success of these reforms will depend largely on the administrators and managers who are responsible for generating ideas and formulating policies ,as well as those responsible for transforming policies into practice. In this regard, effective leadership becomes an important variable that must be considered in the new vocational education environment. There is the need for Ghana to pay attention to providing leadership programs and guidance to current leaders and new and aspiring administrators and managers of vocational technical education. Such leadership development programs should attempt to cultivate in individuals key attributes and characteristics that can predispose successful leadership performance. The availability of leadership development programs and the possibility of being able to acquire certain leadership behaviours and enhance and use certain leadership attributes holds great promise for those participating in and leading vocational educational programs, reform efforts, and the change process in the country.

Source: UCC
Result or conclusion? students' differentiation between experimental results and conclusions

Science curricula often require students to collect, record, and describe experimental observations and results, as well as to draw conclusions. The first purpose of this study is to document and analyze students' performance regarding the differentiation between results and conclusions, while they are engaged in scientific investigations within biology classrooms. The second purpose is to describe and analyze teachers' thinking regarding this issue. The findings show that while learning biology in school, students often have difficulties in differentiating between experimental results and conclusions. Although teachers were highly aware of their students' difficulties, and held a rich set of ideas about the sources of those difficulties, the instructional means they used were insufficient. Two hypotheses are suggested as the source of students' difficulties. Further research is needed to investigate those hypotheses and to formulate recommendations for improved instructional means.

Source: UCC
Result – based management and organisational performance: A case of Cape Coast Metropolitan assembly

The study's overall purpose was to investigate at the factors that influence Result- Based Management (RBM) and how RBM affects the performance of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly. For the study, a quantitative research approach was used, as well as descriptive and explanatory research designs. The study was crosssectional, with data collected over a set period of time being analyzed. Using a table of random numbers, 140 samples were selected from a total of 215 population. The data was collected via a questionnaire, which was subsequently coded using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling, the research objectives were examined. The study discovered that goal-setting processes and a performance-based personnel performance system were generally favourable. According to the findings, however, resource allocation and accountability were found lacking. Accountability was negatively connected with result-based management. The study revealed that the assembly is capable of advancing social growth, conducting initiatives, and assuring the municipality's safety and public security. All but goal setting was found to have a detrimental impact on organizational performance in the study. The study discovered that when these factors are combined, they result is significant and moderately beneficial to organizational performance. The study concluded that allocating resources, monitoring and evaluation, goal setting, and result-based personnel performance management are the most important determinants of RBM that management of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly should continue to practice. The accountability practiced at the assembly is insufficient, so it was recommended that appropriate actions must be taken.

Source: UCC
Resurgence of multi-party rule in Ghana, 1990-2004 a historical review

Ghana's political history since independence was full of "cases of alternations between authoritarianism and democracy"1. Democratic experiments in 1969 and 1979 were truncated by military takeovers making Ghana's political history a chequered one. It was against this background that many people were apprehensive about the re-introduction of democratic rule in 1992. But as things turned out the Fourth Republic of Ghana stood out clearly as a true democratic transition in Ghana. For one thing, it marked a remarkable departure from the incidence of coups and counter coups that punctuated the political history of Ghana in the immediate post- independence period. It was also significant because it marked the transition from a long period of military rule and dictatorship to democracy. Most significantly, the period witnessed a historic transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another. In the light of this some people refer fondly to the Fourth Republic as the 'second independence of Ghana This paper takes a historical view of Ghana's transition to multi-party democracy from 1990 to 2004.

Source: UCC