ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Women in educational management in the South Tongu district of the Volta region

The objective of the research was to examine the factors that contributed to the few number of women leaders in educational management in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region. The research was a descriptive survey and data was gathered by means of questionnaires and documentary sources. The population from which the sample was taken was made up of the entire population of teachers and educational administrators in the District. A total of 150 respondents were drawn from Primary, Junior High, Senior High schools and the District Education Office. This included 60 primary school teachers and heads, 45 Junior Secondary School teachers and heads, 30 Senior Secondary School teachers and school heads and 15 respondents from the District Education Directorate. For the purpose of data analysis, simple percentages and descriptive analysis were used. The study revealed that the low level of education among women contributes significantly to their low representation in the management positions in the Ghana Education Service in the District. This was due to the situation that females are generally under-represented at the tertiary levels of education. This consequently affected the number of qualified women for leadership positions in education in the District. It was recommended that the Girl child Education Unit of the District should embark on a more vigorous campaign to organize regular seminars and workshops to educate parents on the need to send the girl child to school.

Source: UCC
Women in physics in Ghana: Our story

The status of women physicists in academia and industry has improved over the last decade in Ghana but not without challenges. It will take some time before women are well represented, especially at the professorial level. Organizations such as the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) are striving hard to minimize professional gaps between women and men. The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, through its efforts to encourage women in physics and science in general has elected its second woman in 58years as president, and GAEC is also encouraging and appointing women to managerial positions

Source: UCC
Women in Traditional Leadership: the Status and Roles of Female Chiefs and Queenmothers in the Asebu Traditional Area

This research seeks to comparatively investigate the status and roles of female chiefs and queen mothers in the Asebu Traditional Area. To this end, the succession norms, roles, achievements, and challenges of female chiefs and queen mothers are analysed from the perspective of the political life of women in governance. The role of women in traditional leadership has changed from the pre-colonial period through the colonial period and to the period after independence. Usually, female chiefs carry the accolade of queen mother, and they are considered so. The explanation is that they complement the role of chiefs. However, the context for which the term female chief is used here and throughout this thesis is whereby a female occupies a male stool and perform the appropriate roles associated with the stool. These women do not hold chieftaincy positions as queen mothers but as/are chiefs in their own right. Thus, they play roles that are reserved for male chiefs. In the collection of data, this research will adopt a qualitative method. Interviews and participant observations will be used to collect primary data. Based on the study results, the paper concludes that, although both the female chief and the queen mother are women, their varying roles assigned to the positions they occupy affect their succession norms, roles, achievements and challenges. As a result, the female chief is expected to perform masculine duties while the queen mother is expected to perform feminine duties. Finally, it maintains that the selection of a female as chief is circumstantial. The traditional rulers should make the necessary efforts to institutionalise the female chief’s position in Ghana since their current position is circumstantial.

Source: UCC
Women's Autonomy, Maternal Child Healthcare Practices And Child Mortality In The Upper East Region Of Ghana

Eight years to the deadline for the 2030 SDGs, child survival remains high and a major health challenge in Ghana and much of the sub-Saharan region. Child's survival is greatly dependent on household circumstances and the mother's healthcare choices before, during, and after birth. In Ghana, several policies and programmes have been implemented to facilitate women's empowerment in all aspects of life. However, there is a paucity of literature on how this translates to improved child health in impoverished and maledominated' settings. Guided by a critical realist's paradigm, the study 'used mixed research methods to examine the effects and context of women's autonomy on maternal child healthcare practices and child mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. It found that women's autonomy was not a strong predictor of antenatal care attendance and facility delivery. However, women's autonomy was positively associated with the initiation of breastfeeding but negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding and age-appropriate vaccination. Also, women's autonomy was not protective of child mortality. Narratives by mothers and mother/father-in-laws revealed that women's autonomy is a fluid concept and needs to be interpreted in context, because of the socially embedded context of family life and the role of significant others in child health in the study setting. The study concludes that the relationship between women's autonomy and maternal healthcare practices and child mortality is inconsistent. It recommends the empowerment of women through formal education and small-scale livelihood enterprises alongside efforts to increase utilization of essential early childhood interventions towards the attainment ofSGD 3& 5 in the Upper East region of Ghana and similar settings.

Source: UCC
Women's empowerment in the context of millennium development goal 3: A case study of married women in Ghana

This paper assesses women's empowerment in Ghana in the light of the Millennium Development Goal 3. Data for the study were drawn from the 2008 Ghana Demographic Health Survey with an analytic sample of 1,876 married women aged 15-49. Using binary logistic regression in determining the factors that influence women empowerment, this paper examines the relationship between wealth and women's involvement in household decision-making in the context of healthcare, large household purchases, daily house hold purchases and mobility. The findings show that wealthier married women were significantly more likely to be involved in decision-making on their own healthcare (OR = 2.14, p < 0.001). Also, age, tertiary education and employment significantly shaped the involvement of married women in household decision-making in Ghana. Surprisingly, married women in the Upper East region (the second poorest) were significantly more likely to be involved in three measures of decision-making except for decisions on large household purchases relative to those in the Greater Accra region (the capital). Policies oriented towards an increase in accessibility to tertiary education, employment equity and the creation of income generating activities for women would enhance women's empowerment in Ghana

Source: UCC
Women, Livelihood and Oil and Gas Discovery in Ghana: An exploratory Study of Cape Three Points and Surrounding Communities

The role of oil and gas exploration and other natural resources in the economic development of a country cannot be over emphasized. Unfortunately, in most oil producing countries women have not benefited from oil and gas exploration. This study therefore seeks to explore the effects of the oil find in Ghana on the livelihood of women in the catchment area of Cape Three Points. Purposive sampling was used to select two hundred and forty respondents who were interviewed in two communities at Cape Three Points about their anticipated challenges and prospects in the wake of the oil find. Results indicate that more than half of the respondents perceive a decrease in fish catch, loss of jobs for husbands and reduction in income levels. It is recommended that in order for women to take advantage of the oil find, there is the need to create alternative livelihoods such as access to finance; capacity building; training and development; and technical services for women in the catchment area

Source: UCC
Women’s Autonomy, Maternal child healthcare Practices and Child Mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Eight years to the deadline for the 2030 SDGs, child survival remains high and a major health challenge in Ghana and much of the sub-Saharan region. Child’s survival is greatly dependent on household circumstances and the mother’s healthcare choices before, during, and after birth. In Ghana, several policies and programmes have been implemented to facilitate women’s empowerment in all aspects of life. However, there is a paucity of literature on how this translates to improved child health in impoverished and male-dominated settings. Guided by a critical realist’s paradigm, the study used mixed research methods to examine the effects and context of women’s autonomy on maternal child healthcare practices and child mortality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. It found that women’s autonomy was not a strong predictor of antenatal care attendance and facility delivery. However, women’s autonomy was positively associated with the initiation of breastfeeding but negatively associated with exclusive breastfeeding and age-appropriate vaccination. Also, women’s autonomy was not protective of child mortality. Narratives by mothers and mother/father-in-laws revealed that women’s autonomy is a fluid concept and needs to be interpreted in context, because of the socially embedded context of family life and the role of significant others in child health in the study setting. The study concludes that the relationship between women’s autonomy and maternal healthcare practices and child mortality is inconsistent. It recommends the empowerment of women through formal education and small-scale livelihood enterprises alongside efforts to increase utilization of essential early childhood interventions towards the attainment of SGD 3& 5 in the Upper East region of Ghana and similar settings.

Source: UCC
Women’s bigger burden: disparities in outcomes of large scale land acquisition in Sierra Leone

Women farmers make up a majority of small-scale food producers in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite their important role in the food and livelihood security of their households and communities, women continue to face substantial challenges in their rights of and access to land resources in the region. In a number of countries such as Sierra Leone where large-scale land acquisition is ongoing, we posit that women’s predicament may further deteriorate. Using data drawn from a survey of household and livelihood activities, focus groups and interviews we examine the outcomes of large-scale land acquisitions on women at the local level in two districts in Sierra Leone. We found that frst, women depend more on land-based natural resources that directly affect the day-to-day welfare of households (such asfirewood and medicinal plants) than men. Second, land acquisitions have led to a significant fall in the incomes of women and men. The effects of the fall of women’s income have more direct and profound consequences on household wellbeing compared with men. Third, men tend to rank the effects of land acquisitions on women lower than women do. We conclude that current social and cultural norms and women’s role in rural societies is complex and predisposes women to negative livelihood processes and outcomes associated with large-scale land acquisitions. Policy interventions designed to address local and national challenges to socio economic and cultural development should recognize the crucial role played by women and be responsive to their special needs

Source: UCC
Women’s empowerment, child-feeding practices and childhood anaemia in Ghana

This study examined the associative effect of women’s empowerment (decision making and violence justification attitudes) and child feeding practices (iron rich foods and Vitamin A supplements) on childhood anaemia in Ghana. Specifically, it explored if these factors account for any of the observed variation in childhood anaemia at the household, community and district levels as well as whether the association between child feeding and childhood anaemia is dependent on women’s empowerment. Pooled data from three rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys – 2003, 2008 and 2014 – was analyzed to explore the conceptualized associations by employing multilevel logistic regression methods. The findings showed that childhood anaemia is highly prevalent in Ghana. Among the empowerment indicators, only violence justification was significantly associated with the condition. For children whose mothers disapproved violence, the odds of being anaemic was lower (OR-0.74, 95%CI: 0.71-0.77). This however became insignificant after accounting for maternal education. Children’s consumption of iron rich foods was significantly associated with childhood anaemia (OR-1.23, 95%CI: 1.03- 1.47) but intake of Vitamin A supplements was not. Women’s empowerment and child feeding did not account for any substantial amount of the observed variation in childhood anaemia at the household (3.6%), community (0%), and district levels (0%). The associative effect of child feeding practices on childhood anaemia was not dependent on women’s empowerment. Interventions that address childhood anaemia should be attentive to identifying and targeting hotspot areas while strengthening advocacy for female education and programs that empower women against violence supportive attitudes.

Source: UCC
Women’s health decision-making autonomy and skilled birth attendance in Ghana

Delivering in health facility under the supervision of skilled birth attendant is an important way of mitigating impacts of delivery complications. Empirical evidence suggests that decision-making autonomy is aligned with holistic wellbeing especially in the aspect of maternal and child health. The objective of this paper was to examine the relationship between women's health decision-making autonomy and place of delivery in Ghana. We extracted data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and logistic regression techniques were applied. The results indicated that women with health decision-making autonomy have higher tendency of health facility delivery as compared to those who are not autonomous [OR = 1.27, CI = 1.09-1.48]. However, those who have final say on household large purchases [OR = 0.71, CI = 0.59-0.84] and those having final say on visits [OR = 0.86, CI = 0.73-1.01] were less probable to deliver in health facility than those without such decision-making autonomy. Consistent with existing evidence, wealthier, urban, and highly educated women had higher inclination of health facility delivery. This study has stressed the need for interventions aimed at enhancing health facility delivery to target women without health decision-making autonomy and women with low education and wealth status, as this can play essential role in enhancing health facility delivery.

Source: UCC
Women’s participation in ecotourism development within the Kakum conservation Area, Ghana: implications for community planning

The paper assessed the level of participation of women in the management of the Kakum Conservation Area in Ghana focusing on selected communities. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 169 women were selected. Questionnaire was the main research instrument relied on whilst inferential statistical tools such as independent sample t-test, and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed. The paper revealed that although to some extent the participation of women was spontaneous but induced and coercive levels of participation were also found operating simultaneously in the study area. This limits the effective operation of spontaneous participation which supports bottom-up planning, and active and direct participation of women in ecotourism development activities in the area. It is therefore recommended that District Assemblies in the study area and environmental related organisations should make concerted efforts to empower women through effective communication or education (workshops, fora and radio programmes) on ecotourism development activities

Source: UCC
Women’s participation in ecotourism development within the Kakum conservation area,Ghana: Implications for community planning

The paper assessed the level of participation of women in the management of the Kakum Conservation Area in Ghana focusing on selected communities. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 169 women were selected. Questionnaire was the main research instrument relied on whilst inferential statistical tools such as independent sample t-test, and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed. The paper revealed that although to some extent the participation of women was spontaneous but induced and coercive levels of participation were also found operating simultaneously in the study area. This limits the effective operation of spontaneous participation which supports bottom-up planning, and active and direct participation of women in ecotourism development activities in the area. It is therefore recommended that District Assemblies in the study area and environmental related organisations should make concerted efforts to empower women through effective communication or education (workshops, fora and radio programmes) on ecotourism development activities

Source: UCC
Women’s participation in local governance in the new Juaben Municipality

A very important role of local government is enabling local community members to take part in decision-making process in matters that affect their lives and also enhancing citizen’s participation. This formed the basis of this study. Women’s understanding of local governance and factors that affect women’s participation in local governance were sought. Qualitative approach was adopted with interview guide being the instrument used to elicit information from the participants of the study. Purposive sampling procedure was used to draw the thirty influential respondents including men and women respondents for the study. The analyses were done qualitatively using narratives and themes. The study revealed that, women exhibited awareness of local governance even though their level of participation in their various communities was low. Women expressed concerns of their low participation and discussed issues such as low level of education, financial constraints, and intimidations among others that hinder them from participating fully or as expected of them in their communities. The study therefore concluded that, women’s unequal status in terms of decision making in the community are as a result of structures and through the choices made by these women. Therefore, to raise women’s level of participation in decision making in their communities, it is incumbent on the women themselves, programme implementers, civil societies and the government to create the enabling environment for their participation. Digitized

Source: UCC
Word-of-mouth and customers’ purchasing decisions: a case study of GOTV Ghana limited in the Cape Coast Metropolis

The main purpose of the study was to examine the role of word-of-mouth communication in the purchasing decision of customers of digital decoders or set boxes in Ghana using the customers of GoTV service providers of the Cape Coast Metropolis as a case study. The mixed method strategy was used to allow for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the issue. The structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis. The inferential tools were non-parametric test such chi-square, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The qualitative responses were analysis using content analysis based on four themes. The results indicated that both traditional face-to-face and the electronic word-of-mouth are actively used in the digital television market to share information about digital TV decoders in the study area. The outcome suggested that the face-to-face word-of-mouth dominates the electronic wordof- mouth in the market. It was further observed that word-of-mouth, both face-to-face and electronic, have positive effect on purchasing decisions of digital TV decoders in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Face-to-face communication had strong effects on purchasing decisions than electronic word-of-mouth in the study area. The study recommends that marketing department must encourage the customer service department to ensure good customer service since it is complementary to their work. Also, the technical team must improve upon the signal quality and also train more installers to ensure proper installations to generate positive word-of-mouth.

Source: UCC
Work Attitude of Ghanaian Nurses for Quality Health Care Service Delivery: Application of Individual and Organizational Centered (IOC) Interventions

Among all the health professions in Ghana, it is arguable but lucid that nurses have by far the most patient or clientele contact. It is banal that nurses are the most lambasted in respect of their treatment of patients or clients in Ghana. The present paper elaborates on these sentiments as exemplified across Ghana and attempts to provide answers to why the nurses hold unfavorable attitude toward the patients as well as how they form the generally unhealthy attitude at their work-settings. Underpinned by the concept of emotionology (with reference to local cultural patterns and nurses level of experience/exposure to patients’ pain) and high patient-nurse ratio, nurses’ odious attitude from Ghanaian patients’ perspective, is expounded. The authors thus provide an Individual and Organizational-Centered (IOC) intervention strategy from organizational development perspective as a viable and effective route to negate patients’ sentiments while addressing Ghanaian nurses’ attitude toward quality health-care delivery.

Source: UCC
Work environment and employee performance: evidence of University of Health and Allied Sciences, Volta Region, Ghana

Employee welfare at the work place has become an important topic for discussion in human resource development literature. There is a teaming effort by both public and private organisations to improve the quality of their work environment. However, literature and a cursory observation of general work environment shows a state of poor work environment which cause constant employee agitations. Consequently, this study sought to investigate the effectiveness of work environment practices and the extent to which they influence job performance of employees. The first objective examined the effectiveness of work enironment practices. The second objective examined the extent work environment practices affect performance of employees at University of Health and Allied Sciences. The study employed a quantitative survey design and a semi-structured questionnaire as a primary data collection instrument. A simple random sampling technique was used to sample 210 junior and senior staff for the study. The study result showed a significant relationship between work environment and performance of employees at the university. The study recommends that staff must ensure a moderated level of noise, avoid tribal and ethical comments in order to ensure cordial work environment. Supervisors, management and leadership of the university must ensure that employee roles are clearly defined, provide them job descriptions and provide feedback on their performance.

Source: UCC