ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Understanding spiritual journey to hajj: Ghana and Uzbekistan perspectives

Purpose: This study aims to explore the country-specific understanding of Hajj, its experience and challenges between the pilgrims of Ghana and Uzbekistan. Design/methodology/approach – Anchored on the theory of constructivism, this study explored and used the purposive sampling method in the context of qualitative research to select 97 Muslim pilgrims from Ghana and Uzbekistan of varying demographics for in-depth interviews. Findings: Findings show that the philosophy of Hajj as the fifth pillar obligation set by Allah was common among the Muslim pilgrims of these two countries, which support earlier literature. Interestingly, this study uncovered some distinctions in the construction of the understanding of Hajj; that is, Ghanaian pilgrims have attached social status, respect and titles to Hajj in their societies. While Uzbekistan pilgrims are seen in their communities as spiritual role models that inspire others to live meaningful lives in society. Research limitations and implications: The conclusion and the outcome of this study cannot be generalized as to represent the whole population of Ghana and Uzbekistan due to qualitative approach. Practical implications: This study revealed country-specific understanding and experience of Hajj that can be used by policymakers and marketers to create better travel package. Originality/value – The outcome of this study advanced a cross-cultural Hajj understanding, which is It is important to policymakers, businesses and spiritual tourism practitioners to have a better insight into Hajj in contexts.

Source: UG
Understanding Teachers’ Usage Of YouTube As A Pedagogical Tool: A Qualitative Case Study Of Basic School Teachers In Ghana

YouTube has been widely considered as a pedagogical tool over the last few decades. Recent findings from research portray YouTube videos as an instructional part of learning that contributes to best practices in teaching. Much of the studies have focused on usage by teachers and students at the tertiary level without much attention given to basic school teachers. Using an exploratory Using a qualitative case study design and the ICT Pedagogical Beliefs Classification framework, we explored teachers’ usage of YouTube as a pedagogical tool. We drew on the experiences of 18 teachers in 3 private schools in Ghana to find out how Youtube was used in instruction. Four dominant ways of usage were identified. YouTube was used as a teaching tool, a means of enhancing specific topics, a means of learning new and varied ways of teaching, and as a means of developing teachers’ professional competence. Findings showed that whilst some of the ways of usage align with constructivist methods of teaching others still fall within traditional and teacher-centered approaches to teaching. We argue that for teachers to enact meaningful pedagogies with technology through a more student-centred model, their knowledge and skills need to be developed alongside the reshaping of their motives and reasons and subsequently, the ways in which they use technology for teaching. We recommend the planning and reinforcement of innovative instructional design. technological integration for teachers through informed policy and the use of training interventionsto build new skills geared towards constructive and creative teaching suited to developing a net generation of students.

Source: UG
Understanding the causes of breast cancer treatment delays at a teaching hospital in Ghana

Poor outcomes for breast cancer in Ghana have been attributed to late presentation of symptoms at biomedical facilities. This study explored factors accounting for delays in initiation of breast cancer treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Focus group discussions were conducted with 20 women with breast cancer. A theory-driven thematic analysis identified three multilevel factors influencing treatment seeking delays: (1) patient (e.g. misinterpretation of symptoms, fear), (2) healthcare provider (e.g. negative attitudes) and (3) health systems (e.g. shortage of medicines). Addressing treatment delays will require multilevel interventions, including culturally congruent education, psychosocial counselling/support and strengthening health systems.

Source: UG
Understanding the Continuum of Maternal Morbidity in Accra, Ghana

The objective was to determine the levels of maternal morbidity from no complications to near miss and describe factors associated with different levels of morbidity. We conducted an observational study of all women delivering at a tertiary hospital in Accra, Ghana between October 2010 and March 2011. We examined the factors associated with the continuum of maternal outcomes in terms of severity using multinomial logistic regression. Data were extracted from women's maternal care files with the main outcome measures of no complications, non-life threatening complications, potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC), and near miss as defined by World Health Organization. Our study includes 1,586 women with no complications, 1,205 women with non-life threatening complications, 516 women with PLTC, and 94 near-miss cases. All of the factors associated with PLTC and near-miss cases were similar. None of the socio-demographic variables remained significant in the multivariate analysis comparing different levels of severe morbidity with no complications. Women with no complications shared similar characteristics with women who experienced non-life threatening complications. As compared to women who had no complications, women who had severe morbidity were significantly more likely to have had no antenatal care. Our results underline the concept that morbidity is a continuum and indicate that if the underlying causes of poor maternal health outcomes are addressed, it is likely that changes such as better access to antenatal care will improve health outcomes across the continuum of morbidity. However, by only monitoring near-miss cases and mortality, we underestimate the impact on women who will live with non-life threatening, yet serious maternal morbidities.

Source: UG
Understanding the determinants of household cooking fuel choice in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from Nigeria

Overreliance on traditional cooking fuels by agricultural households poses a signifcant obstacle to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030 in Nigeria. Despite the emerging recognition of remittances as a crucial factor infuencing cooking-fuel choices in the energy-transition literature, there is a paucity of studies examining this infuence in Nigeria. Using data from 4400 agricultural households sourced from the fourth wave of the Nigerian Living Standard Measurement Survey data sets, this study examined the infuence of remittances on cooking-fuel choices, among other factors in Nigeria. Employing descriptive stat istics and the multinomial logit regression model, the analysis reveals that traditional cooking fuels, including wood, crop residue and animal dung, continue to dominate the cooking-fuel landscape. The empirical result of the multinomial logit model showed that households that receive remittances are more likely to use modern cooking fuels. Furthermore, wealthier, more educated house holds with access to electricity are more likely to use modern and transitional cooking fuels than traditional cooking fuels. Based on the fndings, the study suggests the incentivization of remittances into the country through the reduction in associated transaction costs and accelerated public infrastructural investment in affordable electricity and good road networks to connect rural areas to gas-supply networks to drive the transition to modern cooking energy. Additionally, educational and awareness campaigns about the health risks associated with traditional cooking energy, particularly indoor air pollution, should be encouraged, especially in rural areas.

Source: UG
Understanding the determinants of infant and under-five mortality rates: a multivariate decomposition analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys in Ghana, 2003, 2008 and 2014

Introduction Despite the decline in infant and underfive mortality rates since the last decade, Ghana did not meet the millennium development goal (MDG) 4 target. To implement effective interventions that could fast-track progress towards achieving the sustainable development goal 3 in 2030, factors contributing to the decline in child mortality throughout the MDG period and which factor(s) has/have been consistent in affecting child survival in the last decade need to be understood. Methods This study used Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 2003, 2008 and 2014 and data from World Bank Development Indicators (2000–2018). We employed modified Poisson with robust SE and multivariate decomposition approach to assess risk factors of child mortality using DHS data from 2003, 2008 and 2014. Penalised regression was used assess the effect of 25 country-level contextual factors on child survival. Results The risk of infant mortality is approximately five times higher among mothers who had multiple births compared with mothers who had single birth over the last decade (adjusted relative risk 4.6, 95% CI 3.2 to 6.6, p<0.001). An increase in the annual percentage of female labour force participation (FLFP) is associated with the reduction of approximately 10 and 18 infant and under-five annual deaths per 1000 live births, respectively. Conclusions This study found that multiple births and shorter birth spacing are associated with increased risk of infant and under-five deaths over the last decade. Increased in FLFP, and the proportion of children sleeping under bed-net are associated with reduced risk of both infants and under-five deaths.

Source: UG
Understanding the drivers of student loan decision-making and its impact on graduation rates in Ghanaian public universities

Higher education in countries like Ghana faces significant challenges, including financial barriers, which usually hinder students’ educational progress and graduation rates. While some students usually rely on family support and personal savings, these resources are generally insufficient for covering all educational expenses. Although student loans have emerged as a beacon of hope to address these challenges, research on this topic, particularly in developing countries, has remained underexplored. This study, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, investigates the psychological factors influencing Ghanaian students’ decisions to utilize student loans and the impact on graduation rates. Data is gathered from 114 Ghanaian students using a purposive sampling technique. The analysis reveals a positive correlation between favourable attitudes toward student loans and intentions to use them. Subjective norms significantly influence loan decisions, while perceived behavioural control has no significant impact. Also, loan decisions positively correlate with graduation rates, suggesting loans can enhance academic persistence. These findings highlight the need for responsible loan programs to improve graduation outcomes and socioeconomic development.

Source: UG
Understanding the dynamics of good neighbourliness under Rawlings and Kufuor

It is widely recognised that leadership influences relations between neighbouring states in international affairs. This article seeks to further illuminate the relationship between leadership idiosyncrasies and the nature of Ghana’s neighbour relations under Presidents Rawlings and Kufuor. The argument is that, while political institutionalisation and the international environment may influence neighbour relations to some degree, leader idiosyncrasy is an important intervening variable. Indeed, based on the findings, the international environment may have had less influence on Ghana’s neighbour relations in the period under study (1981–2008) than conventional wisdom suggests.

Source: UG
Understanding the Effect of Emotional Exhaustion on Tellers’ Job Satisfaction in Teller-Task Activity in Ghanaian Retail Banks

This study explored the influencing dynamics of tellers’ emotional exhaustion on their job satisfaction necessitated by the increased customer demand of direct teller service in the banking halls, as against the usage of automated teller machines in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design, quantitative data was collected from five banks with similar institutional arrangements for teller work. Results from factor analysis identified seven factors that are indicative of the tellers’ emotional exhaustion, and four factors that are indicative of their job satisfaction. Results from correlation and regression analyses showed that a rise in the tellers’ emotional exhaustion reduces their satisfaction with the teller job. It is concluded that tellers become emotionally exhausted and dissatisfied with their jobs due to the absence of human resources management mechanisms that could have enabled the efficient design of the teller task and work environments that are conducive with bonded relationships between tellers’ and their supervisors. © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019.

Source: UG
Understanding the effect of side groups in ionic liquids on carbon-capture properties: a combined experimental and theoretical effort.

Ionic liquids are an emerging class of materials with applications in a variety of fields. Steady progress has been made in the creation of ionic liquids tailored to specific applications. However, the understanding of the underlying structure-property relationships has been slower to develop. As a step in the effort to alleviate this deficiency, the influence of side groups on ionic liquid properties has been studied through an integrated approach utilizing synthesis, experimental determination of properties, and simulation techniques. To achieve this goal, a classical force field in the framework of OPLS/Amber force fields has been developed to predict ionic liquid properties accurately. Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry was employed to synthesize triazolium-based ionic liquids with diverse side groups. Values of densities were predicted within 3% of experimental values, whereas self-diffusion coefficients were underestimated by about an order of magnitude though the trends were in excellent agreement, the activation energy calculated in simulation correlates well with experimental values. The predicted Henry coefficient for CO(2) solubility reproduced the experimentally observed trends. This study highlights the importance of integrating experimental and computational approaches in property prediction and materials development, which is not only useful in the development of ionic liquids for CO(2) capture but has application in many technological fields.

Source: UG
Understanding the effects of techno-stress on the performance of banking staff

The technological revolution has undoubtedly brought about many changes in the modern workplace. Although it has allowed work to be carried out faster and more efficiently, many employees are not comfortable with its implementation since it involves change and uncertainty. As a result, users experience technological stress (techno-stress), which may have negative consequences on work places like commercial banks. This paper aims at investigating the effects of techno-stress on employees in the banking sector. A survey methodology that involves self-administered questionnaires to solicit data from 400 banking staff of commercial banks was employed. The employees revealed that ICTs create mental pressure, sense of anxiety and pessimism, as they have to keep up with the fast advancing pace of the new ICTs. Our study reveals that techno-stress has a negative impact on employee performance. It is recommended that the management of commercial banks, and IT professionals provide a better environment, alternative power supply and adequate training programs.

Source: UG
Understanding the gap between access and use: a qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to insecticide‑treated net use in Ghana

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Understanding the influence of environmental production practices on firm performance: a proactive versus reactive approach

Purpose – Exploring ways to sustain competitive positions as well as improve firm performance through environmental production initiatives has been a major preoccupying topic for mostly practitioners and researchers. Despite several studies on the influence of environmental initiatives on firm performance, many questions remain unanswered as to how to further extract more gains from environmental production initiatives. This study, thus, explores environmental production practices impact on firm performance from proactive and reactive perspectives. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a survey research design, a quantitative approach and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique in making data analysis and interpretations due to its suitability for predictive research models. Findings – The results indicated that proactive environmental production practices positively related with process and environmental performances but negatively associated with financial performance. Although the findings contrast with majority of past findings, they gain the support of other scholars in establishing that early adoption stages of proactive environmental production initiatives strain financial capabilities and thus present a negative relationship. Reactive environmental production practices are positively and significantly related with process, environmental and financial performances. Originality/value – The study is among the first to expose environmental production practices from a proactive and a reactive perspective and in the context of a developing country. As such, the study provides guidance to relevant authorities in further promoting sustainable production practices to preserve the environment by manufacturing safer consumer products through efficient sustainable production processes and practices.

Source: UG
Understanding the motivations and roles of national development experts in Ghana: ‘We do all the donkey work and they take the glory’

National development experts (NDEs) play unique roles as knowledge brokers, translators and gatekeepers between governments, intended beneficiaries and donors on various development policies and practices. Due to their local contextual knowledge, they influence development activities at national levels by engaging in formulation and implementation of development policies. However, discussion of their motivations and roles has been particularly limited in the existing development literature. Drawing on 25 semi-structured interviews with the local staff of donor agencies and non-governmental organisations, independent consultants, civil servants and academics in Ghana, this article presents findings on their motivations and roles within Ghana’s development landscape. We argue that while the motivations and roles of NDEs are similar in many ways to those of Western development experts, except their contextual understanding of national development issues, their contributions to development are so far excluded within the development literature. This article contributes to the emerging aid ethnography literature by providing a more comprehensive perspective on NDEs and deepens the scholarship by asking whether the exclusion of this group is a deliberate choice or unintended mistake. The article further highlights the perspectives of NDEs on their engagement with foreign experts and its implications for national development and future research.

Source: UG
Understanding the nexus between traditional and modern political orders in Ghana.

There is some consensus among academics, policy analysts, institutionalists, and traditional rulers that the interest of Ghana will be better served if traditional and modern political orders are harmonized. The harmonization has become critical in view of the fact that modern political order has come to stay while traditional political orders have proved very resilient. Using new institutionalism as a theoretical base of the analysis, the paper identified that traditional political orders suffered some turbulence during colonialism largely as a result of the decision of colonial authorities to subsume the traditional political orders under their preferred system of government. The study revealed that attempts at state building, formation of alliances among states and between states and colonial powers to enhance their survival and independence from overbearing neighbors, ensured that colonial authorities had preponderance of influence over traditional orders. Also the decision of post-colonial governments to reward or punish traditional rulers for their roles in colonialism posed a big challenge to the traditional political orders in Ghana. The 1992 Constitution does not enhance the role of traditional orders at all; at best it only places those orders in a subservient position. The paper recommends that in view of the loyalty traditional political orders enjoy and their potential contribution to national development, efforts must be made to craft an enduring relationship between them and modern political orders beyond the symbolic arrangement contained in the 1992 Constitution.

Source: UG
Understanding the Nurse-Patient Interaction at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The Patients' Perspectives and Experiences

The nurse–patient interaction, a core of professional nursing practice, shows the relationship that exists between nurses and their patients in the care encounter. This study set out to explore and understand the experiences patients go through during their interactions with nurses and to find ways of enhancing nurse-patient interactions. The study took place at the maternity, adult medical and surgical wards of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. The target population for this study was all patients who were admitted for a week or more and had come for review after discharge at the time of the study. A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted and purposive sampling technique was used to select the desired sample. A semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit information from 12 patients. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The key findings were: nurses were found to be poor communicators, nurses discriminated among patients based on patients‘ social status and ability to pay for services rendered which led to deliberate neglect of patients. Nurses‘ poor attitudes were found to have a negative influence on the nurse/patient interaction. Many nurses had little or no respect for the rights of patients. Supervision was found to be poor leading to patients‘ ill-treatment, especially on night shifts. A few nurses were however described as good, supportive and caring. The inclusion of interpersonal skills, especially communication skills in nursing curricula, in-service training and workshops was recommended to improve the quality nursing care delivery at KATH.

Source: UG