ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Key factors leading to reduced recruitment and retention of health professionals in remote areas of Ghana: a qualitative study and proposed policy solutions

Abstract Background The ability of many countries to achieve national health goals such as the Millennium Development Goals remains hindered by inadequate and poorly distributed health personnel, including doctors. The distribution of doctors in Ghana is highly skewed, with a majority serving in two major metropolitan areas (Accra and Kumasi), and inadequate numbers in remote and rural districts. Recent policies increasing health worker salaries have reduced migration of doctors out of Ghana, but made little difference to distribution within the country. This qualitative study was undertaken to understand how practicing doctors and medical leaders in Ghana describe the key factors reducing recruitment and retention of health professionals into remote areas, and to document their proposed policy solutions. Methods In-depth interviews were carried out with 84 doctors and medical leaders, including 17 regional medical directors and deputy directors from across Ghana, and 67 doctors currently practicing in 3 regions (Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo, and Upper West); these 3 regions were chosen to represent progressively more remote distances from the capital of Accra. Results and discussion All participants felt that rural postings must have special career or monetary incentives given the loss of locum (i.e. moonlighting income), the higher workload, and professional isolation of remote assignments. Career 'death' and prolonged rural appointments were a common fear, and proposed policy solutions focused considerably on career incentives, such as guaranteed promotion or a study opportunity after some fixed term of service in a remote or hardship area. There was considerable stress placed on the need for rural doctors to have periodic contact with mentors through rural rotation of specialists, or remote learning centers, and reliable terms of appointment with fixed end-points. Also raised, but given less emphasis, were concerns about the adequacy of clinical equipment in remote facilities, and remote accommodations. Conclusions In-depth discussions with doctors suggest that while salary is important, it is career development priorities that are keeping doctors in urban centers. Short-term service in rural areas would be more appealing if it were linked to special mentoring and/or training, and led to career advancement.

Source: UG
Key factors leading to reduced recruitment and retention of health professionals in remote areas of Ghana: A qualitative study and proposed policy solutions.

Background: The ability of many countries to achieve national health goals such as the Millennium Development Goals remains hindered by inadequate and poorly distributed health personnel, including doctors. The distribution of doctors in Ghana is highly skewed, with a majority serving in two major metropolitan areas (Accra and Kumasi), and inadequate numbers in remote and rural districts. Recent policies increasing health worker salaries have reduced migration of doctors out of Ghana, but made little difference to distribution within the country. This qualitative study was undertaken to understand how practicing doctors and medical leaders in Ghana describe the key factors reducing recruitment and retention of health professionals into remote areas, and to document their proposed policy solutions.Methods: In-depth interviews were carried out with 84 doctors and medical leaders, including 17 regional medical directors and deputy directors from across Ghana, and 67 doctors currently practicing in 3 regions (Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo, and Upper West); these 3 regions were chosen to represent progressively more remote distances from the capital of Accra.Results and discussion: All participants felt that rural postings must have special career or monetary incentives given the loss of locum (i.e. moonlighting income), the higher workload, and professional isolation of remote assignments. Career 'death' and prolonged rural appointments were a common fear, and proposed policy solutions focused considerably on career incentives, such as guaranteed promotion or a study opportunity after some fixed term of service in a remote or hardship area. There was considerable stress placed on the need for rural doctors to have periodic contact with mentors through rural rotation of specialists, or remote learning centers, and reliable terms of appointment with fixed end-points. Also raised, but given less emphasis, were concerns about the adequacy of clinical equipment in remote facilities, and remote accommodations.Conclusions: In-depth discussions with doctors suggest that while salary is important, it is career development priorities that are keeping doctors in urban centers. Short-term service in rural areas would be more appealing if it were linked to special mentoring and/or training, and led to career advancement. © 2011 Snow et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Source: UG
Key genetic variants associated with variation of milk oligosaccharides from diverse human populations

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), the third most abundant component of human milk, are thought to be important contributors to infant health. Studies have provided evidence that geography, stage of lactation, and Lewis and secretor blood groups are associated with HMO profile. However, little is known about how variation across the genome may influence HMO composition among women in various populations. In this study, we performed genome-wide association analyses of 395 women from 8 countries to identify genetic regions associated with 19 different HMO. Our data support FUT2 as the most significantly associated (P < 4.23−9 to P < 4.5−70) gene with seven HMO and provide evidence of balancing selection for FUT2. Although polymorphisms in FUT3 were also associated with variation in lacto-N-fucopentaose II and difucosyllacto-N-tetrose, we found little evidence of selection on FUT3. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of genome-wide association analyses on HMO.

Source: UG
Key Motivations for Bank Patronage in Ghana

Purpose – Banking in Ghana is now an intensely competitive proposition. In a competitive environment, it becomes imperative not just to attract customers, but also to design strategies aimed at maintaining these customers. Drawing on data from over 2,000 retail bank customers in Ghana, this study aims at understanding the key motivations for maintaining accounts with banks in respect of Ghanaian bank customers. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from customers of 22 retail banks in Ghana. A two-stage sampling technique was adopted in obtaining the sample. First, for each of the banks, two branches were randomly selected from the list of all functionally operating branches. In the second stage, customers of the selected branches were randomly intercepted in the banking halls and the survey instrument administered to them. A total of 2,000 respondents were attracted. Logistic regression modeling was employed in analyzing the data. Findings – Overall bank customers view proximity/accessibility as the most important factor in the opening and maintenance of accounts with banks in Ghana. Recommendations by friends appear to be the least important factor in Ghanaian bank consumers’ decision to open and maintain a bank account in Ghana. The findings were strange to the extent that word-of mouth marketing has been lauded as one of the most potent marketing communications tools in services marketing but the empirical findings from the study did not support this. Practical implications – To the extent that proximity is a key factor in the opening and maintenance of bank relationships in Ghana, distribution management must be given a more strategic imperative in bank management in Ghana. Bank branches must be sited in catchment areas with the highest propensity to attract and maintain an existing profitable bank clientele.

Source: UG
Key populations and human rights in the context of HIV services rendition in Ghana

Background: In line with its half century old penal code, Ghana currently criminalizes and penalizes behaviors of some key populations - populations deemed to be at higher risk of acquiring or transmitting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Men who have sex with men (MSM), and sex workers (SWs) fit into this categorization. This paper provides an analysis of how enactment and implementation of rights-limiting laws not only limit rights, but also amplify risk and vulnerability to HIV in key and general populations. The paper derives from a project that assessed the ethics sensitivity of key documents guiding Ghana's response to its HIV epidemic. Assessment was guided by leading frameworks from public health ethics, and relevant articles from the international bill of rights. Discussion: Ghana's response to her HIV epidemic does not adequately address the rights and needs of key populations. Even though the national response has achieved some public health successes, palpable efforts to address rights issues remain nascent. Ghana's guiding documents for HIV response include no advocacy for decriminalization, depenalization or harm reduction approaches for these key populations. The impact of rights-restricting codes on the nation's HIV epidemic is real: criminalization impedes key populations' access to HIV prevention and treatment services. Given that they are bridging populations, whatever affects the Ghanaian key populations directly, affects the general population indirectly. Summary: The right to the highest attainable standard of health, without qualification, is generally acknowledged as a fundamental human right. Unfortunately, this right currently eludes the Ghanaian SW and MSM. The paper endorses decriminalization as a means of promoting this right. In the face of opposition to decriminalization, the paper proposes specific harm reduction strategies as approaches to promote health and uplift the diminished rights of key populations. Thus the authors call on Ghana to remove impediments to public health services provision to these populations. Doing so will require political will and sufficient planning toward prioritizing HIV prevention, care and treatment programming for key populations. © 2017 The Author(s).

Source: UG
Khat-related liver disease in sub-Saharan Africa: neglected, yet important – Authors' reply

We thank Stian Orlien and colleagues for raising attention to the issue of khat use as a recreational drug in sub-Saharan Africa in response to our Comment.1 Although we mentioned the fact that traditional herbal medicine could contribute to the burden of cirrhosis in this region, as the use of khat is associated with a substantial increase in liver fibrosis,2 we do not think that the available evidence shows that khat is a major contributor to chronic liver disease. Khat is used in parts of east Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, and Madagascar. Apart from its long-standing popularity as a recreational drug, it can be used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, malaria, influenza, vomiting, and headache.3 The Central African Republic, Gabon, and Côte d'Ivoire were in the top 10% of countries for cirrhosis-related deaths in 2010 but khat use is uncommon in west or central Africa.4

Source: UG
Kibi (A Local Survey)

Through the pages of this long essay, I invite you to the study of a state, starting from the sociological rudiments of a great family which has within a few hundred years, passed through the successive stages of a leading clan among the Akan race, a tribal kingdom, a conquering and co-lonising tribe, and finally to that of a stable tribal state. From this essay can be gained a better knowledge of Kibi and its people.

Source: UG
Killing to Protect? Land guards, State Subordination and Human Rights in Ghana.

Since the return to constitutional rule, Ghana has intensified efforts to promote human rights. However there are several challenges with the promotion of property rights, especially with regard to land ownership. This challenge ,borne out of the tensions between the modern and the traditional state is exacerbated by the plural legal systems in place as well as the challenges of rapid urbanisation and a high unemployment rate, particularly in Greater Accra Region. The liberal market system promoted by Ghana’s return to constitutional rule led to increased investment in land and demands for greater security in land title. This led to efforts aimed at land reform. These notwithstanding, the inability of the state to enforce its rules and elicit compliance have meant that the land market remains a minefield. The consequence has been the emergence of private security service providers who employ illegal means of enforcement to protect land and landed property. Popularly known as land guards, these security providers are the nightmare of land owners in Greater Accra region. Using primary and secondary sources, this paper examines the rationale behind the demand and supply of land guard services and the implications of such services on property rights in Ghana. We conclude that the weak law enforcement capabilities of the state and rampant corruption in the land management institutions facilitate conflicts in land markets and encourage people to resort to individual security mechanisms. We argue that as long as such illicit security measures are employed, the state’s authority and monopoly over the use of force will remain irrelevant in the land sector.

Source: UG
Kinetic analysis of the thermal degradation of printed wiring boards

The non-isothermal pyrolysis of printed wiring boards (PWBs) was investigated by simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) in the temperature range of 300-1200 K. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out on PWBs samples at three different heating rates of 10, 20, and 30°C/min. In this study, the kinetic parameters of PWBs pyrolysis have been estimated using model free and model fitted methods.

Source: UG
Kinetics of antibody responses to pfrh5-complex antigens in ghanaian children with plasmodium falciparum malaria

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
Kinetics of B cell responses to plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 in ghanaian women naturally exposed to malaria parasites

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
Kinetics of Carbon Mineralization and Sequestration of Sole and/or Co-amended Biochar and Cattle Manure in a Sandy Soil

The interactive effect of biochar, cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the dynamics of carbon (C) mineralization and stabilization was investigated in a sandy soil amended with three sole biochar (0, 20 or 40 t ha−1) or manure (0, 13 or 26 t ha−1) and four combined biochar-manure levels (20 or 40 t ha−1 biochar plus 13 or 26 t ha−1 manure) with or without N fertilizer (0 or 90 kg ha−1) and CO2-C evolution measured over 54-d incubation period. Biochar application, solely or combined with manure resulted in lower applied C mineralized (ACM), indicating C sequestration in the soils. Negative attributable effect (AE) of co-application of biochar and manure on C mineralization was observed relative to the sole treatments. Both ACM and AE were negatively correlated with C/N ratio and mineral N content of the soil-mixtures (r ≥ – 0.573; p ≤ 0.01), indicating microbial N limitation. The double first-order exponential model described CO2-C efflux very well and indicated that ≥94% of C applied was apportioned to stable C pools with slower mineralization rate constant and longer half-life. Cumulative C mineralized and modeled C pools were positively correlated with each other (r ≥ 0.853; p ≤ 0.001) and with readily oxidizable C of soil-amendment mixtures (r ≥ 0.861; p ≤ 0.001). The results suggested that co-application of biochar and manure can promote initial rapid mineralization to release plant nutrients but sequester larger amounts of applied C in refractive C pool, resulting in larger C sequestration in sandy soils.

Source: UG
Kinetics of β-Carotene Breakdown and Moisture Sorption Behavior of Yellow Cassava Flour during Storage

β-Carotene is an important plant pigment with high vitamin A activity. The kinetics of β-carotene degradation and moisture sorption behavior of yellow cassava flour produced by different drying techniques was investigated during storage. The β carotene degradation kinetics were described using a first-order kinetic model, while the moisture adsorption data was fitted to five mathematical equations using nonlinear regression. During storage, the reaction rate constant for β-carotene degradation, which increased with increasing temperature, ranged from 0.0045 to 0.0396, 0.0029 to 0.0309, and 0.0025 to 0.0349 per month for flour produced by solar drying, hot air oven drying, and drum drying, respectively. Flour produced by solar drying had the highest activation energy of 124.2 kJ/mol, whereas drum drying had the lowest activation energy of 85.8 kJ/mol. All the yellow cassava flours showed a type II sigmoidal sorption curve in which the equilibrium moisture content increased with increasing water activity. The GAB model was the best for describing the moisture sorption behavior of the product, with a predicted monolayer moisture ranging from 2.8 (for drum drying) to 8.0 g water/100 g of flour (for solar drying). Findings from this study are vital for establishing the packaging and storage requirements of yellow cassava flour.

Source: UG
Kinship and Intimate Partner Violence Against Married Women in Ghana: A Qualitative Exploration

In African societies, kinship ties determine how women are socialized, their access to power and wealth, as well as custody of children, often considered important factors in married women’s experience of intimate partner violence (IPV). Yet studies that examine how kinship norms influence IPV are scant. Using in-depth interviews collected from women identifying with both matrilineal and patrilineal descent systems, we explored differences in Ghanaian women’s experiences of IPV in both kin groups. Results show that while IPV occurs across matrilineal and patrilineal societies, all women in patrilineal societies narrated continuous pattern of emotional, physical, and sexual assault, and their retaliation to any type of violence almost always culminated in more experience of violent attacks and abandonment. In matrilineal societies, however, more than half of the women recounted frequent experiences of emotional violence, and physical violence occurred as isolated events resulting from common couple disagreements. Sexual violence against matrilineal women occurred as consented but unwanted sexual acts, but patrilineal women narrated experiencing violent emotional and physical attack with aggressive unconsented sexual intercourse. Contextualizing these findings within existing literature on IPV against women suggests that policies aimed at addressing widespread IPV in Ghanaian communities should appreciate the dynamics of kinship norms. © 2016, The Author(s) 2016.

Source: UG
“Kirim Tatarina Karsi Duzme vatana ihanet suglaamri”. [The false charges of treason against the Crimean Tatars]

This article examines the charge of mass treason made by the soviet government against the Crimean Tatars in May, 1944. It also examines the soviet decision making process regarding the wholesale deportation of the Crimean Tatars to Utbekistan and the Vrals on 18-20th May, 1944. It concludes that the Soviet government first decided to deport the Crimean Tatar and then made the charges of treason without any substantial evidence.

Source: UG
Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 harboring blaNDM-1, multidrug resistance and hypervirulence plasmids

The spread of hypervirulent (hv) and carbapenem-/multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is an emerging problem in healthcare settings. The New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (blaNDM-1) is found in Enterobacteriaceae including K. pneumo niae. The blaNDM-1 is capable of hydrolyzing β-lactam antibiotics which are used for treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. This is associated with the unacceptably high mortality rate in immunocompromised burn injury patients. This study reports on the characterization of blaNDM-1 gene and virulence factors in hv carbapenem-/multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae ST147 in the burns unit of a tertiary teaching hospital during routine surveillance. Two K. pneumoniae strains were obtained from wounds of burn-infected patients from May 2020 to July 2021. The hypervirulence genes and genetic context of the blaNDM-1 gene and mobile genetic elements potentially involved in the transposition of the gene were analyzed. We identified a conserved genetic background and an IS26 and open reading frame flanking the blaNDM-1 gene that could suggest its involvement in the mobilization of the gene. The plasmid harbored additional antibiotic resistance predicted regions that were responsible for resistance to almost all the routinely used antibiotics. To ensure the identification of potential outbreak strains during routine surveillance, investigations on resistance genes and their environment in relation to evolution are necessary for molecular epidemiology.

Source: UG
Knowing your HIV/AIDS response: A pilot test of a new service mapping toolkit in Ghana

Background “Knowing” an HIV response in a country is a complex undertaking. This requires knowing what actions key implementers in all sectors (government, non-government, public, and private) are deploying; what populations they serve; what the reach of these programs are, amongst others. Aim We aimed to pilot test a set of newly developed data collection tools referred to as the Know Your Response (KYR) toolkit in Ghana. The KYR toolkit addresses three key concepts that are critical for an improved understanding of the HIV-prevention response in terms of location, scale, and needs. Materials and methods Data were collected on HIV programming being undertaken in each of the 16 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Analysis and dissemination of data includes the generation of univariate and bivariate tabulations as well as production of maps of HIV services using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Results The toolkit was successful in collecting a great deal of data that describe, at the district level, who is working in HIV prevention, what interventions they are providing, where these interventions are being provided, and to whom the interventions are being targeted. The data generated allows for mapping and understanding of the scope and scale of the HIV-prevention response at the district level. It also identifies challenges and opportunities for scaling the exercise nationally. Conclusions The study provides information needed to guide prioritization, and/or adjustment of the national HIV-prevention programs and interventions being carried out in the Greater Accra region. © 2016 Polish AIDS Research Society

Source: UG