ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Socio-economic and demographic disparities in ownership and use of insecticide-treated bed nets for preventing malaria among rural reproductive-aged women in northern Ghana

Background Malaria continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) is one of the cost-effective interventions for preventing malaria in endemic settings. Ghana has made tremendous efforts to ensure widespread ownership and use of ITNs. However, national coverage statistics can mask important inequities that demand targeted attention. This study assesses the disparities in ownership and utilization of ITNs among reproductive-aged women in a rural impoverished setting of Ghana. Methods Population-based cross-sectional data of 3,993 women between the age of 15 and 49 years were collected in seven districts of the Upper East region of Ghana using a two-stage cluster sampling approach. Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to assess the social, economic and demographic disparities in ownership and utilization of ITN and to compare utilization rates among women in households owning at least one ITN. Results As high as 79% of respondents were found to own ITN while 62% of ITN owners used them the night preceding the survey. We identified disparities in both ownership and utilization of ITNs in wealth index, occupational status, religion, and district of residence. Respondents in the relative richest wealth quintile were 74% more likely to own ITNs compared to those in the poorest quintile (p-value< 0.001, CI = 1.29–2.34) however, they were 33% less likely to use ITNs compared to the poorest (p-value = 0.01, CI = 0.50–0.91). Conclusion Interventions aimed at preventing and controlling malaria through the use of bed nets in rural Ghana and other similar settings should give more attention to disadvantage populations such as the poor and unemployed. Tailored massages and educational campaigns are required to ensure consistent use of treated bed nets.

Source: UG
Socio-economic and technological aspects of mental health of older persons: the role of strong and weak ties in Ghana

Research indicates that social capital can influence the extent to which socio-economic status (SES) and information and communications technology (ICT) affect mental health. This study uses empirical data to examine the veracity of this claim by examining the effect of SES and ICT use on the mental health of older persons in Ghana, as well as the moderating role of bonding (i.e. strong ties) and bridging (i.e. weak ties) social capital in these associations. Data were drawn from 409 older persons from four regions in Ghana as part of of a broader cross-sectional survey. Ordinal logistic regression analyses showed that SES and ICT use had positive associations with mental health after adjusting for other socio-demographic factors. Bridging social capital modified the association between SES and mental health positively. Bonding social capital also moderated the relations between ICT use affects mental health positively. We argue that the prevalent nature of resources embedded in strong ties and the diversity of support that emerges from weak ties for the difference in their influence observed in this study. Thus, while advances in socioeconomic and technological conditions can enhance older persons’ mental health, equal attention must be paid to the characteristics of their strong and weak ties, as they possess the resources to make socio-technological policies even more meaningful.

Source: UG
The socio-economic contribution of african migrants to their home and host countries: The case of ghanaian residents in flanders, belgium.

The issue of South–North migration, especially Africa–European Union (EU) migration, has moved to the center stage of international development debate. Unfortunately, however, interests and arguments by policy-makers, development agencies, and citizens of the EU mainly focus on the consequences of migration on the “receiving” societies. The real causes of migration from Africa and migrants’ contribution to the social and economic development of both the “sending” and “receiving” countries have not been objectively discussed. Provision of labor to EU member countries, remittances, and financial transfers to and investments made by African migrants in their respective home countries are essential elements in the African–EU migration and development cooperation debate. It is estimated that South–North migrants’ remittances to developing countries increased from US$2 billion in 1970 to US$71 billion in 2001. Moreover, financial flows emanating from African migrants in the developed countries significantly contribute to the development of the continent. In order to concretize and objectify the discussion, a socio-economic survey was conducted on a representative sample of Ghanaian migrants and their families in the Flemish Community in Belgium. Extensive literature review on migration, administration of questionnaires to Ghanaians resident in Flanders, Belgium, and consultations with African and international experts on migration and international development cooperation were the methods used for this investigation. The paper identifies and analyzes the factors that “push” and “pull” Ghanaians to migrate to Belgium, the EU, and the developed countries in general. The socio-economic situation of Ghanaian migrants in Flanders and their contribution to the sustainable development of Belgium, the EU, and Ghana are rigorously analyzed. Furthermore, the challenges posed by South–North migration are identified and appropriate and effective win-win mitigation strategies proposed for redressing the problematic in a sustainable way.

Source: UG
The socio-economic contribution of african migrants to their home and host countries: The case of ghanaian residents in flanders, belgium.

The issue of South–North migration, especially Africa–European Union (EU) migration, has moved to the center stage of international development debate. Unfortunately, however, interests and arguments by policy-makers, development agencies, and citizens of the EU mainly focus on the consequences of migration on the “receiving” societies. The real causes of migration from Africa and migrants’ contribution to the social and economic development of both the “sending” and “receiving” countries have not been objectively discussed. Provision of labor to EU member countries, remittances, and financial transfers to and investments made by African migrants in their respective home countries are essential elements in the African–EU migration and development cooperation debate. It is estimated that South–North migrants’ remittances to developing countries increased from US2billionin1970toUS71 billion in 2001. Moreover, financial flows emanating from African migrants in the developed countries significantly contribute to the development of the continent. In order to concretize and objectify the discussion, a socio-economic survey was conducted on a representative sample of Ghanaian migrants and their families in the Flemish Community in Belgium. Extensive literature review on migration, administration of questionnaires to Ghanaians resident in Flanders, Belgium, and consultations with African and international experts on migration and international development cooperation were the methods used for this investigation. The paper identifies and analyzes the factors that “push” and “pull” Ghanaians to migrate to Belgium, the EU, and the developed countries in general. The socio-economic situation of Ghanaian migrants in Flanders and their contribution to the sustainable development of Belgium, the EU, and Ghana are rigorously analyzed. Furthermore, the challenges posed by South–North migration are identified and appropriate and effective win-win mitigation strategies proposed for redressing the problematic in a sustainable way.

Source: UG
Socio-economic determinants are not major risk factors for severe malaria in Gambian children.

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
The socio-economic determinants of maternal health care utilization in Ghana

Purpose: The study aims to examine the socio-economic determinants of maternal health services utilization in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: Probit and ordered probit models are employed in this study. Findings: The results generally indicate that most women in Ghana undertake the required visits for antenatal services and also take both doses of the tetanus toxoid vaccine as required by World Health Organization. However, the results show low levels of usage in terms of the other maternal health care services (i.e. prenatal care, delivery at a health facility, and postnatal care). There is clearly an urgent need to develop innovative strategies that will help upscale intervention especially for improvement in the use of these services by women in Ghana. The regression results reveal that utilization of maternal health services and intensity of use of antenatal services are influenced by age of mother, type of birth, education of mother, ethnicity, economic status, geographic location, residence, and religious affiliation. Obviously, this suggests that more than medical factors are responsible for the differences in the use of maternal health services by women in Ghana as well as the decision on the number of visits to undertake with respect to antenatal visits. Originality/value: The findings of this study have important implications for health policy formulation targeted at improving maternal health care service utilization. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
Socio-economic determinants of maternal health care utilization in Kailahun District, Sierra Leone, 2020

Background: Ascertaining the key determinants of maternal healthcare service utilization and their relative importance is critical to priority setting in policy development. Sierra Leone has one of the world’s highest maternal death ratios in the context of a weak health system. The objectives of this study were to determine; the level of utilization of Antenatal Care (ANC), Skilled Delivery Attendants (SDA), Postnatal Care (PNC) services, and factors that influence the utilization of these services. Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study involving 554 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) who had at least one delivery in the last 3 years and lived in the Kailahun District, Sierra Leone from November 2019 to October 2020. Data were analysed using analysed using bivariate, multivariate and multinomial logistic regression models. Results: The median age of respondents was 25 years (Q1 = 17 years, Q3 = 30 years). Eighty-nine percent (89%) had 4 or more ANC visits. Only 35.9% of women were delivered by SDA. Women residing in urban areas had over six-fold increased odds of utilizing SDA as compared to women residing in rural areas (AOR = 6.20, 95% CI = 3.61–10.63). Women whose husbands had a primary level of education had 2.38 times increased odds of utilizing SDA than women whose husbands had no education (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.30–4.35). Women that walked longer distances (30–60 min) to seek healthcare had 2.98 times increased odds of utilizing SBA than those that walked shorter distances (< 30 min) (AOR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.67–5.33). Women who had a secondary/vocational level of education had 2.35 times increased odds of utilizing the standard PNC category as compared to those with no education (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.19–4.63). Conclusion: The majority of women had 4 or more ANC visits yet the use of skilled birth attendants was low. Urban residence and education were significantly associated with the use of the standard PNC category. To improve the utilization of maternal health care services, national healthcare policies should target the advancement of education, train skilled Maternal Healthcare (MHC) attendants, rural infrastructure, and the empowerment of women.

Source: UG
Socio-economic differences in cost of pregnancy-related health services in the peri-urban Accra, Ghana

Background Financial and physical barriers are known to limit access to maternal health services in developing countries. These limitations are often compounded by the low socio-economic status of women. This study examined socio-economic differences in health services cost incurred by pregnant women. Methods A cross-sectional cost survey of 300 women who had delivered a live birth in the last 12 months was undertaken. Results Majority of the women were aged between 20 and 39 years. About 63% of the women claimed they were registrants of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). However, only 64% of them provided valid NHIS identification cards. There were relatively more insured women in the rich quintiles (44%) compared with insured women in the poor quintiles (33%). Generally, women who were in the rich quintile incurred the highest average medical and non-medical costs, spent the highest time prior to service provision and lost the highest average incomes. Conclusions Women socio-economic differences play a critical role in access to health services. We recommend that awareness campaigns on the NHIS must be intensified. The Ghana Health Services through its Community-based Health Planning Service should carefully structure its home visits to cover education on pregnancy-related health services. © Crown copyright 2014.

Source: UG
Socio-economic differences in cost of pregnancy-related health services in the peri-urban Accra, Ghana

Background Financial and physical barriers are known to limit access to maternal health services in developing countries. These limitations are often compounded by the low socio-economic status of women. This study examined socio-economic differences in health services costs incurred by pregnant women. Methods A cross-sectional cost survey of 300 women who had delivered a live birth in the last 12 months was undertaken. Results Majority of the women were aged between 20 and 39 years. About 63% of the women claimed they were registrants of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). However, only 64% of them provided valid NHIS identification cards. There were relatively more insured women in the rich quintiles (44%) compared with insured women in the poor quintiles (33%). Generally, women who were in the rich quintile incurred the highest average medical and non-medical costs, spent the highest time before service provision, and lost the highest average incomes. Conclusions Women's socio-economic differences play a critical role in access to health services. We recommend that awareness campaigns on the NHIS must be intensified. The Ghana Health Services through its Community-based Health Planning Service should carefully structure its home visits to cover education on pregnancy-related health services.

Source: UG
Socio-Economic Impact of Counterfeit Medicine/Fake Drugs On Ghana Under SDG 3

The existence of counterfeit medicines in our world is a known fact to anyone with keen interest. Sadly, the exponential increase in fake drugs’ trade is highly rampant in developing countries. In the sub-Saharan, there is a high possibility of finding ten original medicines out of ten. Unfortunately, the drugs that suffer much from this menace are malaria and over the counter pain relievers as these are normally the first point of call in an attempt to manage or relieve pains. Many attribute high levels of poverty, porous borders, weak local and international institutions, inadequate regulatory laws and measures, and illiteracy, among others, to the widespread of counterfeit drugs. This study argued that the overwhelming presence of fake drugs in Ghana is real, and it bears adverse health effects and retards Ghana’s socio-economic development. These effects plunge Ghanaians into severe poverty, aside from the many lives lost to fake drugs. To adequately assess the problem and proffer a solution, the study deployed the health security theory. This theory enables the research to evaluate the effectiveness of the nation’s measures vis-à-vis the proliferation of counterfeit medicines and health threats and the other resulting consequences. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research design to enable its use of primary and secondary data using random sampling. To enrich its primary data, it used questionnaires and structured interviews. It randomly selected about fifty respondents in Accra and Tema metropolis and interviewed the representatives of two regulatory agencies and two manufacturing industries. The study also used the Frequency tables, graphs and charts to analyse the data. The study found that the nation had chalked some success in the measures to decrease fake medicines on the market, such as international-local institutional partnerships, FDA’s post-market surveillance, improved FDA’s Medical Regulatory System, and modern technologies. The study also noted some challenges including inadequate officers for post-market surveillance, and low compliance with the FDA’s guidance on GDP.

Source: UG
Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana’s economy: challenges and prospects

Purpose – The world’s economies are on their knees following the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic over the past 8 months. Growing number of researches has been conducted on the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on developed countries with little attention on developing countries, who are still grappling with the negative impact of the coronavirus. The rationale for this study is to assess the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana’s economy and government response to the pandemic as well as policy options to revive the ailing economy. Design/methodology/approach – This study explored the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus on Ghana’s economy using a discourse analysis with data from various secondary sources to analyze the impact of the pandemic from the Ghanaian perspective. Findings – The findings from the discourse analysis revealed that the coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted on the socio-economic situation of the citizens of Ghana. Whiles an estimated 42,000 people lost their jobs in the first two months of the pandemic in Ghana, tourist attraction sector of the country alone lost $171 million dollars in the past three months due to the partial lockdown and closure of tourism and hospitality centers in the country. The study revealed that Ghana’s healthcare system has been overwhelmed by the number of increasing cases in the country to extent of making use of temporary structures as isolation and treatment centers of the pandemic. The study revealed that Ghana may convert these challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic into prospects and opportunities by investing massively in the health sector and creating support for the SMEs which creates massive employment for many Ghanaians. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 on Ghana’s economy and how the pandemic has negatively affected the country. The study is an exploratory study that makes use of secondary data. However, conducting a study with primary data sources from specific communities or regions in the country may not produce the same results. The results from the primary level or community level may be different from the general results obtained from the study. In future it is expected that the study focuses specifically on the extent of the coronavirus pandemic on Ghana’s fiscal deficit which seems to have ballooned in recent times. Originality/value – The study is the first of its kind to extensively explore the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Ghanaian economy. The novelty of this paper is that it recognizes governments response to the pandemic and proposes three practical measures adopted to put the country’s economy back on its feet through survive, revive and ensuring growth in all sectors of the economy.

Source: UG
Socio-economic risk factors for malaria in a peri-urban area of the Gambia.

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
SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION IN GHANA: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF APPROACHES TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE NKRUMAH AND RAWLINGS YEARS

Like many countries that attained independence during the cold war era, Ghana‟s internal politics, as well as its socio-economic transformation discourse, have been shaped by divisions between right-wing elites who espouse market-led approaches and their left-wing counterparts who favour state-led approaches to development. The two approaches were experimented in Ghana during the eras of former presidents Kwame Nkrumah and Jerry John Rawlings. Kwame Nkrumah‟s era witnessed the adoption of state-led approaches that used the instruments and power of the state to engineer socio-economic transformation. The Rawlings‟ era, on the other hand, was marked by the introduction of market-led approaches to social and economic transformation in a way that dismantled public enterprises and social provisioning established under Nkrumah. The use of two opposing approaches by these two influential leaders in Ghana is puzzling because both of them were deeply associated with the Ghanaian left, and shared a common vision of developing Ghanaian society on basis of socialist principles. This paper provides a comparative analysis of the trajectories of development under these two Ghanaian leaders with close attention to the factors that shaped their approaches, choices, policy instruments, and their associated legacies. Among others, the paper shows that approaches to development implemented by Nkrumah and Rawlings were shaped by differences in personal idiosyncrasies, geo-politics, domestic policy challenges, and the internal control mechanism of their respective governments

Source: UG
Socio-economics of fisheries dependent communities in the Volta Basin of Ghana

The Volta basin of Ghana forms 70% of the total area of the country and 45% of the nation's land surface. The population is primarily into agriculture, just like many parts of rural Ghana. Most of the inhabitants are into farming, livestock rearing and fishing. Communities along the Volta Lake and the other major rivers found in the Volta Basin are generally referred to as fisheries dependent communities because fishing and fish processing activities are their primary source of livelihood. The paper reveals that over-dependence on fishing as a source of livelihood is fast depleting the natural resource and deepening poverty. Also the fishing communities in the Volta Basin are severely disadvantaged with respect to social and physical infrastructure such as health care facilities. © International Scientific Publications, New Delhi.

Source: UG