ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDS) Among Adolescents In Second Cycle Institutions In Accra, Ghana: Trends In Sexual Behaviors

Adolescents and youth form the vast majority of sexually active individuals. Many of these young people are at risk with the consequences of unexpected pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI). The objective of this study was to assess the sexual behaviors of adolescents. Questionnaires were used to obtain data from 250 adolescents between the ages of 15-25 years in a second cycle institution in Accra. As much as 92.1% of the respondents’ have had sex education before. About 49.2% have had sex between the ages of 13 and 18. Also 38.1% were led into having sex because they fell in love. 42.1% of respondents had more than one sexual partner. 35.7% of those who had sex said they used condom to protect themselves, 15.9% used vaginal foaming tablet and 41.3% used condom sometimes during sex. Fifty nine respondents who have had sex education had sex between ages of thirteen and eighteen and only one had sex below 12 years. Forty five percent of respondents who have had sex education protected themselves with condoms when having sex. 78.6% of respondents were aware they can get a sexually transmitted disease from having sex unprotected sex and 77.8% knew that sexually transmitted diseases can lead to infertility. In conclusion, sex education does not really have an effect on adolescent sexual behaviours. Knowledge on of sexually transmitted diseases did not reflect on how and when adolescents get involved in sex.

Source: UCC
Shoreline change analysis using end point rate and net shoreline movement statistics: an application to Elmina, Cape Coast and Moree Section of Ghana’s Coast

Most coastlines in the world are under the threat of erosion. As such many developed nations have instituted long-term measures to control the rate of change. However, along most developing nation coastlines, little attention is given to coastal erosion management. Ghana like most developing countries has little commitment to ensure the effective monitoring and management of coastal erosion. Consequently, many of its coastal communities and important historical monuments are now under severe risk to sea erosion. This study focuses on the shoreline evolution that occurred along the Elmina, Cape Coast and Moree coast of Ghana during a thirty-eight year period using available datasets that allowed the authors to discern what happened between 1974 and 2005, and in the most recent years, between 2005 and 2012. Shoreline data from 1974, 2005 and 2012 were incorporated in Geographic Information System (GIS) using ArcGIS for analysis. The net shoreline movement and end point rate statistics were generated by ArcGIS together with Digital Shoreline Analysis System software extension. The study identified that in all the three epochs considered, there were a general erosion trend in the shoreline changes. This study has provided valuable and comprehensive baseline information on the state of the coastline in the Elmina, Cape Coast and Moree area which can serve as a guide for coastal engineers, coastal managers and policy makers in Ghana to manage the risk

Source: UCC
Short-term prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and risk of preterm birth - A population-based cohort study in Finland

Background: Previous studies have provided evidence that prenatal exposure to low-level air pollution increases the risk of preterm birth (PTB), but the findings of the effects of short-term exposure have been inconclusive. Moreover, there is little knowledge on potential synergistic effects of different combinations of air pollutants. Objectives: To assess independent and joint effects of prenatal exposure to air pollutants during the week prior to the delivery on the risk of PTB. Methods: The study population included 2568 members of the Espoo Cohort Study, living in the City of Espoo, Finland, born between 1984 and 1990. We assessed individual-level prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants of interest based on maternal residential addresses, while taking into account their residential mobility. We used both regional-to-city-scale dispersion modelling and land-use regression–based method to estimates the pollu- tant concentrations. We contrasted the risk of PTB in the highest quartile (Q4) of exposure to the lower exposure quartiles (Q1-Q3) during the specific periods of pregnancy. We applied Poisson regression analysis to estimate the adjusted risk ratios (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for season of birth, maternal age, sex of the baby, family's socioeconomic status, maternal smoking, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during pregnancy, single parenthood, and exposure to other air pollutants (this in multi-pollutant models). Results: The risk of PTB was related to exposures to PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 during the week prior to the delivery with adjusted RRs of 1.67 (95%CI: 1.14, 2.46), 1.60 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.34) and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.37), from three-pollutant models respectively. There were no significant joint effects for these different air pollutants (during the week prior to the delivery). Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that exposure to fairly low-level air pollution may trigger PTB, but synergistic effects of different pollutants are not likely.

Source: UCC
Shylock vs. Antonio: informal money lending in rural communities in the Jaman North District, Ghana

This paper examines lending and borrowing in a rural setting, and the implications for microfinance schemes in the Jaman North District of Ghana. Using a qualitative research methodology, the study purposively selected two lenders and eight borrowers from two rural communities in the District. It was found that rural farmers borrow at an interest rate of 100% per annum, and in default lose their cocoa farms (one of their major livelihood asset). Meanwhile, respondents are aware of the existence of bank loans at lower interest rates, but are not willing to access it due to perceived complexities. However, none of the respondents had a bank account, or is aware of micro-finance department/unit of rural banks in the District. It is recommended that rural banks in the District should engage in diversified sensitization approach which seeks to demystify the perceived complexities and enhance behavioural change and hence improve the sustainability of the livelihoods of rural dwellers

Source: UCC
SICKLE CELL DISEASE: REAPPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF FOETAL HAEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN THE FREQUENCY OF VASO-OCCLUSIVE CRISIS

Background: Foetal haemoglobin has been implicated in the modulation of sickle cell crisis. Its level is generally inversely proportional to the severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) for a given sickle cell phenotypes. The main aim of therapy for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), which is the hallmark of SCD, is to reduce the chances of sickling through the prevention of polymerization of HbS. One way of preventing this polymerization is by increasing foetal haemoglobin levels.

Source: UCC
SICKLE CELL DISEASE: REAPPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF FOETAL HAEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN THE FREQUENCY OF VASO-OCCLUSIVE CRISIS

Background: Foetal haemoglobin has been implicated in the modulation of sickle cell crisis. Its level is generally inversely proportional to the severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) for a given sickle cell phenotypes. The main aim of therapy for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), which is the hallmark of SCD, is to reduce the chances of sickling through the prevention of polymerization of HbS. One way of preventing this polymerization is by increasing foetal haemoglobin levels. Objectives: To determine the relationship between HbF levels and the frequency of crisis in SCD patients in Ghana. Method: A longitudinal retrospective survey covering a period of 30 months was carried out on adult SCD patients at the Sickle Cell Clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Results: Eighty-three adults aged 15 to 65 years made up of 40 males and 43 femalea were studied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) gave significant results in Hb and HbF levels. Higher HbF levels were positively related to less frequent crisis and were significantly high in SCD patients than in controls. HbF effects on the clinical manifestations on SCD were variable. Conclusion: Threshold values of HbF play a role in reducing the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis in SCD patients and this finding contributes to the body of available literature on SCD severity. However our work does not give the apparent threshold level of helpful HBF Level in SCD.

Source: UCC
Sidewalk accessibility and pedestrian safety among students with physical disability in the University of Cape Coast

In pursuance of the UN’s Convention on the Right of Persons with Disability and Ghana’s disability act, the University of Cape Coast has equally instituted a string of interventions to ensure equitable access to its facilities to all students regardless of one’s disability. Emphasis on this has however focused on the modification and inclusion of disability accessories in the construction of new facilities as well as the enactment of disability inclined policies related to admission, residential status and others aspect of campus life. One key area that has not received much attention has been the nature of campus walking environment and how it promotes easy mobility among all students’ groups. To assess the nature of campus walking environment, the study employed the use of an accessibility auditing scheme and also engaged 30 visually impaired and one wheelchair user who were reached through snowballing. An in-depth interview guide was used as the primary data collection instrument for the qualitative study. The study found that the absence of walkway in some high pedestrian traffic areas, discontinuity of sidewalk and path obstructing objects were key factors that reduced the ease with which students with disability use sidewalk on campus. The study recommends an overhauling of the current walking environment as well as enforcement of state and international policy regarding the development of an inclusive environment

Source: UCC
Sign Language Acquisition among Preschool Children who are Deaf in Ghana: A Process of Language Reorientation within the School Ecology

The purpose of this study was to explore how the school setting facilitates sign language acquisition during the early years of children who are deaf in order to theorise the process of sign language development among children who are deaf in Ghana. In line with the purpose, the constructivist grounded theory design was adopted to gather qualitative data using observations and interviews. Both purposive and theoretical sampling procedures were employed to select parents, teachers and head teachers from two homes and six schools for the deaf respectively across Ghana for the study. Constant comparative analysis was used to analyse data during the initial, focused and theoretical coding procedures. The core categories that emerged from the data were language disorientation, language facilitation, language adjustment and language replacement leading to a substantive theory termed as “theory of language reorientation”. The theory explains that children who are deaf who come from hearing families and therefore do not acquire sign language from home become language disorientated as they grapple with education at school. Subsequently, teachers, peers and deaf role-models within the school environment facilitate deaf pupils’ sign language acquisition through classroom teaching and learning activities, school deaf culture and peer interactions. The study concluded that the schools for the deaf serve as places of last resort to sign language development of children who are deaf. It is therefore recommended that Ghana Education Service in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare should embark upon public campaign to give parents education on the need to, as a matter of expedience, send their children who are deaf to the schools for the deaf as early as possible.

Source: UCC
SIGNIFICANCE AND DELIVERY TEACHING PRACTICE: PERCEPTION OF DISTANCE EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST, GHANA

The purpose of this study was to find out the perceptions of distance education teacher trainees of the University of Cape Coast Ghana regarding the significance and mode of delivery of teaching practice at the institution. The study had three fold objectives; i) to find out the perception of distance education teacher trainees on the concept of teaching practice, ii)ascertain the perception of teacher trainees on the importance of teaching practice, and iii)examine the challenges facing distance education trainees in their teaching practice sessions. The study was premised on the theory of Learning propounded by Edward Thorndike in 1920 which provides insight into what makes people learn more effectively. The study used a descriptive research design. The accessible population comprised of the entire 1,764 final year Diploma in Education and post Diploma in Basic Education teacher trainees who completed their centre teaching practice during the 2012/2013 academic year. Stratified random sampling was used to select 25.28 percent of the population based on the sector (Northern or Southern) , region, centre and type of programme. A structured 4 –point Likert sale questionnaire was used to collect primary data from respondents. The quantitative data was analyzed using the computer package for social sciences (SPSS)-version 20.0 to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The major findings of the study were that majority of teacher trainees of the Centres for continuing education, University of Cape Coast perceive teaching practice to be an opportunity for them to practice what they ae taught and acquire practical experience on the job by equipping them with requisite skills, knowledge and abilities to teach effectively. However, majority also pointed out several challenges that impede the smooth conduct of the teaching practice exercise such as untimely visits by some supervisors, heavy workloads and failure of university authorities to inform heads of their schools about the exercise. It is recommended that teaching practice supervisors should be given adequate resources to do their work as expected since teaching practice is perceived as a worthwhile experience that develops prospective teachers professionally.338 words

Source: UCC
The significance of Cancer stem cell markers’ gene expression and Relevance for Survival Outcomes

Solid tumors display complex biology and most therapies including chemotherapy cannot prevent therapy resistance and relapse. Most therapeutics target cancer cells, but recent data suggest the presence of cancer stem cells as cells with self-renewal and tumorigenic abilities. Cancer stem cell markers have been suggested to have prognostic value and can be targeted during cancer treatment and in resistant disease. CSCs have been postulated to play significant contextual roles in tumor initiation, progression, therapy resistance and metastasis. CSCs have thus been targeted by new generation cancer drugs. The transcriptional expression of several CSC markers in different cancers was evaluated by searching publicly available The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. We report here new findings on expression and prognostic significance of CSC markers in several cancers by examining the expression of CSCs markers in tumor tissues versus the adjacent normal tissues. We found that CSC markers were mostly highly expressed various tumors such as colon, lung, pancreatic and esophageal cancers. No CSC marker is expressed in the same pattern in all cancers and individual CSC marker expression was not linked to patient survival. This analysis calls for continued research on CSCs and clinical evaluation of the CSC markers in relation to prognosis of cancers in large population samples. Novel cancer drugs ought to target CSCs, cancer cells and tumor microenvironment variations.

Source: UCC
Significantly elevated foetal haemoglobin levels in individuals with glucose 6- phosphate dehydrogenase disease and/or sickle cell trait: a cross-sectional study in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: Previously published data have demonstrated that sickle red blood cells produce twice as much reactive oxygen species (ROS) suggesting that co-inheritance of sickle cell disease (SCD) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzymopathy could lead to more severe anaemia during sickling crises. Elevated foetal haemoglobin (Hb F) levels have been shown to have positive modulatory effects on sickling crises and disease outcomes. This study sought to assess how inheritance of G6PD enzymopathy affects the level of Hb F and haemoglobin concentration in adults in steady state. Methods: This cross-sectional study selected 100 out-patients (41 males and 59 females) visiting the University of Cape Coast hospital, between January, 2016 and May, 2016. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis (pH 8.2–8.6), methaemoglobin reductase test, modified Betke alkaline denaturation methods were used to investigate haemoglobin variants, qualitative G6PD status, and %Hb F levels in venous blood samples drawn from these participants. Data was analysed with GraphPad Prism 6 and SPSS and significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Forty one percent of the participants demonstrated qualitative G6PD enzymopathy whereas only 10% demonstrated Hb AS type (Sickle cell trait, SCT). 5% of the participants co-inherited SCT and G6PD enzymopathy. %Hb F levels in G6PD deficient males was significantly higher than in G6PD deficient females [(p = 0.0003, 2.696% (males) vs 1.975% (females)], although the %Hb F levels was comparable in non-G6PD deficient individuals. %Hb F levels were significantly elevated in males with SCT only (p < 0.05), or G6PD enzymopathy only (p < 0.0001), or SCT + G6PD enzymopathy (p < 0.0001) compared to males with none of these pathologies even though their respective haemoglobin levels were comparable. Male participants with G6PD enzymopathy + SCT co-inheritance had significantly elevated %Hb F when compared to their counterparts with only G6PD enzymopathy (p < 0.001). Male gender [(p = 0.001, OR: 6.912 (2.277–20.984)] partial defective G6PD enzyme [(p = 0.00, OR: 7.567E8 (8.443E7–6. 782E9)] SCT [(p = 0.026, OR: 4.625 (1.196–17.881)] were factors associated with raised %Hb F levels ≥2.5. Conclusion: The inheritance of G6PD defect and/or SCT significantly elevate %Hb F levels in the steady state even though haemoglobin levels are not affected.

Source: UCC
Silybum marianum oil as a new potential non-edible feedstock for biodiesel: A comparison of its production using conventional and ultrasonic assisted method

Alkaline transesterifcation of Silybum marianum seed oil to biodiesel using methanol and ethanol was studied. The two methods used were conventional stirring (600 rpm) and ultrasonication (40 kHz). Oil was extracted from the seeds, followed by physico-chemical properties' determination and transesterifcation to biodiesel. The seeds contained 46% oil which had low free fatty acids (FFA) (0.68%). Linoleic acid (65.68%) was the main composition of the oil. Ultrasonication transesterifcation with methanol gave the highest yield (95.75%) after 20 min. Yields of methyl esters were higher than respective yields of ethyl esters. Using frst order reaction kinetics model, the reaction rate constants were 2.3 × 10−2 s −1 and 7.0 × 10−3 s −1 for ultrasonication using methanol and ethanol, respectively. With the exception of oxidative stability (2.1 h) and iodine values (132-methyl and 133-ethyl esters), properties out of range but can easily be improved, the remaining properties including cetane number,fash point and the cold fow ones of both methyl and ethyl esters were similar and comparable to Chinese, ASTM and European Union standards. The fndings of this study complement with the abundance of S. marianum oil at cultivation and silymarin industrial production as by-product indicates its potentially new non-edible feedstock for biodiesel

Source: UCC
A simple polarized-based diffused reflectance colour imaging system

A simple polarized-based diffuse reflectance imaging system has been developed. The system is designed for both in vivo and in vitro imaging of agricultural specimen in the visible region. The system uses a commercial web camera and a halogen lamp that makes it relatively simple and less expensive for diagnostic research and teaching. The system has been used to demonstrate the difference between a yellow colour of a diseased cassava leaf and that of a senescence cassava leaf qualitatively using diffused reflectance images. Predicting the area of the sample using a method of counting dark pixels is presented. This method avoids complex and more computational power required by edge detection algorithms. The performance of the suggested method can be seen for 50 samples of leaves. This suggest that polarized diffused reflectance image lends itself to extraction of physical information

Source: UCC
Simple questionnaire and urine reagent strips compared to microscopy for the diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium in a community in northern Ghana

objectives To evaluate the utility of a simple questionnaire and urine reagent strip testing for the rapid diagnosis of Schistosoma haematobium in rural northern Ghana. methods Cross-sectional parasitological and questionnaire survey in a community in northern Ghana. Participants provided two urine specimens that were examined under a microscope using a centrifu- gation method. The first urine sample was additionally subjected to reagent strip testing. A short questionnaire was administered to all participants. results Microscopy of urine samples obtained from 208 individuals aged 1–77 years revealed an S. haematobium prevalence of 6.8%. The presence of any blood or protein on a urine reagent strip was 100% and 42% sensitive, and 93% and 80% specific for S. haematobium diagnosis. Questionnaires were completed by 198 individuals. Self-reported haematuria showed a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 85%. A dichotomous two-question panel was helpful in S. haematobium diagnosis, with working and playing near the river significantly associated with S. haematobium infection (P < 0.001). conclusion The use of urine reagent strips, coupled with questions pertaining to water contact patterns, might be considered for point-of-contact diagnosis of S. haematobium where microscopy is unavailable.

Source: UCC
Simple reaction time: how it relates to body mass index (BMI), gender and handedness in Ghanaian students

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gender, handedness and body mass index (BMI) with simple reaction time. The study was conducted amongst 501 (232 females and 269 males) untrained University of Cape Coast students, Ghana whose ages ranged from 17-29 years. In this study it was found that males had faster reaction times than females, likewise the mean reaction time of the left hand was also faster than that of the right hand. There was however no significant difference in the mean reaction time across BMI classes In conclusion, simple reaction time is influenced by gender and handedness but appears not to be influence by BMI

Source: UCC
Simple reaction time: how it relates to body mass index (BMI), gender and handedness in Ghanaian students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gender, handedness and body mass index (BMI) with simple reaction time. The study was conducted amongst 501 (232 females and 269 males) untrained University of Cape Coast students, Ghana whose ages ranged from 17-29 years. In this study it was found that males had faster reaction times than females, likewise the mean reaction time of the left hand was also faster than that of the right hand. There was however no significant difference in the mean reaction time across BMI classes In conclusion, simple reaction time is influenced by gender and handedness but appears not to be influence by BMI

Source: UCC