ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Associations between Red Cell Polymorphisms and Plasmodium falciparum Infection in the Middle Belt of Ghana

Red blood cell (RBC) polymorphisms are common in malaria endemic regions and are known to protect against severe forms of the disease. Therefore, it is important to screen for these polymorphisms in drugs or vaccines efficacy trials. This study was undertaken to evaluate associations between clinical malaria and RBC polymorphisms to assess biological interactions that may be necessary for consideration when designing clinical trials. In a cross-sectional study of 341 febrile children less than five years of age, associations between clinical malaria and common RBC polymorphisms including the sickle cell gene and G6PD deficiency was evaluated between November 2008 and June 2009 in the middle belt of Ghana, Kintampo. G6PD deficiency was determined by quantitative methods whiles haemoglobin variants were determined by haemoglobin titan gel electrophoresis. Blood smears were stained with Giemsa and parasite densities were determined microscopically. The prevalence of clinical malarial among the enrolled children was 31.9%. The frequency of G6PD deficiency was 19.0% and that for the haemoglobin variants were 74.7%, 14.7%, 9.1%, 0.9% respectively for HbAA, HbAC, HbAS and HbSS. In multivariate regression analysis, children with the HbAS genotype had 79% lower risk of malaria infection compared to those with the HbAA genotypes (OR P 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06–0.73, p 5 0.01). HbAC genotype was not significantly associated with malaria infection relative to the HbAA genotype (OR P - 0.70, 95% CI: 0.35–1.42, p - 0.33). G6PD deficient subgroup had a marginally increased risk of malaria infection compared to the G6PD normal subgroup (OR 5 1.76, 95% C ; 0.98–3.16, p - 0.06). These results confirm previous findings showing a protective effect of sickle cell trait on clinical malaria infection. However, G6PD deficiency was associated with a marginal increase in susceptibility to clinical malaria compared to children without G6PD deficiency.

Source: UG
Associations between seasonal variations in day length (photoperiod), sleep timing, sleep quality and mood: A comparison between Ghana (5°) and Norway (69°)

The hypothesis of whether day length (photoperiod) is an important zeitgeber (time-giver) for keeping the circadian rhythm entrained to a 24-hour cycle was examined, as was its association with sleep patterns and mood problems. Data were collected prospectively from a site with very large differences in daylight duration across seasons (Tromsø in Norway, 69°39′N) and a site with very small seasonal differences in daylight duration (Ghana in Accra, 5°32′N). Two hundred subjects were recruited from both sites in January. At the follow-up in August, 180 and 150 subjects in Ghana and Norway participated, respectively. Use of a weekly sleep diary indicated low to moderately strong seasonal changes in rise- and bedtime, sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency only in the northern latitude. No seasonal changes in sleep duration or night awakenings were observed. The self-report measures indicated moderate to strong seasonal differences in insomnia and fatigue, and weaker differences in depressed mood in Norway, but small to non-existing seasonal differences in Ghana. Lack of daylight was related to phase-delayed rise- and bedtimes, increased problems falling asleep, daytime fatigue and depressive mood. However, total sleep duration and sleep quality appeared unaffected. © 2011 European Sleep Research Society.

Source: UG
Associations between the stringency of COVID-19 containment policies and health service disruptions in 10 countries

Background Disruptions in essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported in several countries. Yet, patterns in health service disruption according to country responses remain unclear. In this paper, we investigate associations between the stringency of COVID-19 containment policies and disruptions in 31 health ser‑ vices in 10 low- middle- and high-income countries in 2020. Methods Using routine health information systems and administrative data from 10 countries (Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, South Korea, and Thailand) we estimated health service disruptions for the period of April to December 2020 by dividing monthly service provision at national levels by the average service provision in the 15 months pre-COVID (January 2019-March 2020). We used the Oxford COVID 19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) index and multi-level linear regression analyses to assess associations between the stringency of restrictions and health service disruptions over nine months. We extended the analysis by examining associations between 11 individual containment or closure policies and health service disruptions. Models were adjusted for COVID caseload, health service category and country GDP and included robust standard errors. Findings Chronic disease care was among the most affected services. Regression analyses revealed that a 10% increase in the mean stringency index was associated with a 3.3 percentage-point (95% CI -3.9, -2.7) reduction in relative service volumes. Among individual policies, curfews, and the presence of a state of emergency, had the largest coefficients and were associated with 14.1 (95% CI -19.6, 8.7) and 10.7 (95% CI -12.7, -8.7) percentage-point lower relative service volumes, respectively. In contrast, number of COVID-19 cases in 2020 was not associated with health service disruptions in any model. Conclusions Although containment policies were crucial in reducing COVID-19 mortality in many contexts, it is important to consider the indirect effects of these restrictions. Strategies to improve the resilience of health systems should be designed to ensure that populations can continue accessing essential health care despite the presence of containment policies during future infectious disease outbreaks.

Source: UG
Associations do not survive here’: Inequality, Mistrust and Obstacles to Collective Action in Oil Palm Growing Communities in Ghana

Collective action through farmer-based organisations (FBOs) could potentially improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by opening up access to credit and inputs, overcoming market constraints, and reducing transaction costs. However, in the absence of strong or well-functioning farmer associations, the cost of market participation is likely to exacerbate economic hardships and inequalities among smallholders. Based on qualitative data from five oil palm growing communities in southwestern Ghana, we observe a general decline in associational life, driven by a breakdown of trust among farmers. The inability of poorer farmers to meet their collective obligations over time has weakened attempts at collective action and encouraged the emergence of highly individualised economic relations in the local agrarian economy. Under these circumstances, cooperation tends to be limited to small groups of better-off farmers who can afford the cost of cooperation. The result is a vicious cycle in which wealth disparities widen because the cost of participating in livelihood-enhancing collective schemes ends up excluding exactly those who need such schemes the most.

Source: UG
‘Associations do not survive here’: Inequality, Mistrust and Obstacles to Collective Action in Oil Palm Growing Communities in Ghana

Collective action through farmer-based organisations (FBOs) could potentially improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by opening up access to credit and inputs, overcoming market constraints, and reducing transaction costs. However, in the absence of strong or well-functioning farmer associations, the cost of Market participation is likely to exacerbate economic hardships and inequalities among smallholders. Based Based on qualitative data from five oil palm-growing communities in southwestern Ghana, we observe a general decline in associational life, driven by a breakdown of trust among farmers. The inability of poorer farmers to meet their collective obligations over time has weakened attempts at collective action and encouraged the emergence of highly individualised economic relations in the local agrarian economy. Under these circumstances, cooperation tends to be limited to small groups of better-off farmers who can afford the cost of cooperation. The result is a vicious cycle in which wealth disparities widen because the cost of participating in livelihood-enhancing collective schemes ends up excluding exactly those who need such schemes the most.

Source: UG
Associations of Circulating Estrogens and Estrogen Metabolites with Fecal and Oral Microbiome in Postmenopausal Women in the Ghana Breast Health Study

The human fecal and oral microbiome may play a role in the etiology of breast cancer through modulation of endogenous estrogen metabolism. This study aimed to investigate associations of circulating estrogens and estrogen metabolites with the fecal and oral microbiome in postmenopausal African women. A total of 117 women with fecal (N = 110) and oral (N = 114) microbiome data measured by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and estrogens and estrogen metabolites data measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry were included. The outcomes were measures of the microbiome and the independent variables were the estrogens and estrogen metabolites. Estrogens and estrogen metabolites were associated with the fecal microbial Shannon index (global P , 0.01). In particular, higher levels of estrone (b = 0.36, P = 0.03), 2-hydroxyestradiol (b = 0.30, P = 0.02), 4-methoxyestrone (b = 0.51, P = 0.01), and estriol (b = 0.36, P = 0.04) were associated with higher levels of the Shannon index, while 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (b = 20.57, P , 0.01) was inversely associated with the Shannon index as indicated by linear regression. Conjugated 2-methoxyestrone was associated with oral microbial unweighted UniFrac as indicated by MiRKAT (P , 0.01) and PERMANOVA, where conju gated 2-methoxyestrone explained 2.67% of the oral microbial variability, but no other estrogens or estrogen metabolites were associated with any other beta diversity meas ures. The presence and abundance of multiple fecal and oral genera, such as fecal gen era from families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, were associated with several estrogens and estrogen metabolites as indicated by zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Overall, we found several associations of specific estrogens and estrogen metabolites and the fecal and oral microbiome.

Source: UG
Associations of IL13 gene polymorphisms and immune factors with Schistosoma haematobium infection in schoolchildren in four schistosomiasis-endemic communities in Ghana

Schistosomiasis remains a major public health issue with over 90% of the prevalence rates recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, the relationships between different interleukin gene polymorphisms (IL-13-591A/G, IL-13-1055C/T, IL-13-1258A/G) and Schistosoma haematobium infection levels were evaluated; as well as the host plasma antibodies and cytokine profiles associated with schistosomiasis infection. A total of 469 school children aged 6 to 19 years from four schistosomiasis-endemic communities in Ghana were involved. Single urine and stool samples were obtained from each pupil, processed via sedimentation and Kato-Katz, and examined via microscopy for Schistosoma and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) eggs. Next, venous blood samples were drawn from 350 healthy pupils, and used to measure antibody and plasma cytokine levels by ELISA. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the IL-13 gene were genotyped on 71 selected blood samples using the Mass Array technique. Principal findings and conclusion The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 21.11%. Community-level preva lences were 17.12%, 32.11%, 20.80%, and 15.32% for Asempaneye, Barikumah, Eyan Akotoguah, and Apewosika respectively. Generally, higher S. haematobium infection preva lence and intensity were recorded for participants with genotypes bearing the IL13-1055C allele, the IL13-591A, and the IL13-1258A alleles. Also, higher S. haematobium infection prevalence was observed among participants in the 12-14-year age group with the IL13- 1055C, IL13-591A, and IL13-1258A alleles. Interestingly, higher STH prevalence was also observed among participants with the IL13-1055C, IL13-591A, and IL13-1258A alleles. Fur thermore, the age-associated trends of measured antibodies and cytokines of S. haemato bium-infected school-children depicted a more pro-inflammatory immune profile for pupils aged up to 1l years, and an increasingly anti-inflammatory profile for pupils aged 12 years and above. This work provides insight into the influence of IL-13 gene polymorphisms on S. haematobium, and STH infections, in school-aged children (SAC).

Source: UG
Assurance of environmental, social and governance disclosures in a developing country: perspectives of regulators and quasi-regulators

The paper explores the assurance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures in a developing country. Unlike other papers, this study focuses on regulators and quasi-regulators understanding of ESG assurance, their perception and preferences for assurance providers, and the considerations in choosing an assurance provider. Using qualitative research design, the Strong Structuration Theory was employed to draw meanings from data gathered through semi-structured interviews. Findings reveal that external factors such as the emerging nature of ESG in Ghana, the working fields of interviewees, the developing nature of the internal audit function, non-Big 4 audit firms, and the accounting profession were crucial to interviewees’ conceptualization of ESG assurance and their preferences for various assurance providers. Also, there is low preference for accountants, internal auditors, and non-Big 4 firms as ESG assurance providers, particularly for environmental and social disclosures. Regulators, however, received a high endorsement. It It was evident that expertise and regulatory oversight were the main factors interviewees considered in choosing assurance providers. Accountants, non-Big 4 audit firms, and internal auditors would need to improve stakeholders’ perception of their capacity and independence for ESG assurance. Moreover, considerations such as the value for expertise, independence, and reputation for regulators affect the choice of an ESG assurance provider. The findings have implications (outcomes) for regulators to consider their ESG assurance participation and its consequences.

Source: UG
Assuring health commodity security in resource-poor settings

Health planners charged with the task of building or at least maintaining the health of populations within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have to find ways of providing steady, predictable supplies of health commodities for unpredictable demands for healthcare and health. To address this issue, this paper emphasizes a focus on aggregate commodity security defined as the continuous interrupted supply of health commodities belonging to all therapeutic categories and not just a selected subset. Given this focus, the paper identifies logistics systems comprising of a set of logistics activities as the machinery for assuring aggregate commodity security. Steady reliable supplies of health commodities, whenever and wherever they are needed, however, means looking beyond logistics systems. Health planners must ask whether there is a healthy supplier base for the commodities needed. The paper notes that a secure supply of health commodities in any LMIC, will remain an illusion without functional logistics systems supported by a healthy supplier base.

Source: UG
Asthma in Africa

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

Source: UG
Asthma length of stay in hospitals in London 2001-2006: Demographic, diagnostic and temporal factors

Asthma is a condition of significant public health concern associated with morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilisation. This study identifies key determinants of length of stay (LOS) associated with asthma-related hospital admissions in London, and further explores their effects on individuals. Subjects were primarily diagnosed and admitted for asthma in London between 1 st January 2001 and 31 st December 2006. All repeated admissions were treated uniquely as independent cases. Negative binomial regression was used to model the effect(s) of demographic, temporal and diagnostic factors on the LOS, taking into account the cluster effect of each patient's hospital attendance in London. The median and mean asthma LOS over the period of study were 2 and 3 days respectively. Admissions increased over the years from 8,308 (2001) to 10,554 (2006), but LOS consistently declined within the same period. Younger individuals were more likely to be admitted than the elderly, but the latter significantly had higher LOS (p&lt;0.001). Respiratory related secondary diagnoses, age, and gender of the patient as well as day of the week and year of admission were important predictors of LOS. Asthma LOS can be predicted by socio-demographic factors, temporal and clinical factors using count models on hospital admission data. The procedure can be a useful tool for planning and resource allocation in health service provision.

Source: UG
Asthma length of stay in hospitals in London 2001-2006: demographic, diagnostic and temporal factors.

Asthma is a condition of significant public health concern associated with morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilisation. This study identifies key determinants of length of stay (LOS) associated with asthma-related hospital admissions in London, and further explores their effects on individuals. Subjects were primarily diagnosed and admitted for asthma in London between 1(st) January 2001 and 31(st) December 2006. All repeated admissions were treated uniquely as independent cases. Negative binomial regression was used to model the effect(s) of demographic, temporal and diagnostic factors on the LOS, taking into account the cluster effect of each patient's hospital attendance in London. The median and mean asthma LOS over the period of study were 2 and 3 days respectively. Admissions increased over the years from 8,308 (2001) to 10,554 (2006), but LOS consistently declined within the same period. Younger individuals were more likely to be admitted than the elderly, but the latter significantly had higher LOS (p<0.001). Respiratory related secondary diagnoses, age, and gender of the patient as well as day of the week and year of admission were important predictors of LOS. Asthma LOS can be predicted by socio-demographic factors, temporal and clinical factors using count models on hospital admission data. The procedure can be a useful tool for planning and resource allocation in health service provision.

Source: UG
Asymmetric effect of tax systems on poverty and inequality: Exploring the distributional impact of domestic resource mobilization systems in Ghana

Abstract: Earlier studies have assumed the effect of tax systems on poverty and inequality to be symmetric by imposing linear specifications. In this study, we account for possible asymmetries by re-examining the effect of tax systems on poverty and inequality in Ghana. We rely on the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) estimation technique and time-series data from 1983 to 2016. The findings revealed that, while the nexus between tax systems and poverty is asymmetric, the reverse holds for the relationship between tax systems and inequality. Specifically, we establish that, while positive (negative) shocks in direct taxes raise (reduce) the level of poverty, the shocks in indirect and overall tax systems produce negative results. Moreover, the symmetric evidence is observed only for indirect taxes and inequality in the long-run, and the relationship is positive. We recommend for a poverty reduction strategy that is centered on tax reduction at all levels. Equally important is a policy that has a firm foundation in the indirect tax system to bridge the inequality in Ghana.

Source: UG
Asymmetric Mean Reversion and Volatility in African Real Exchange Rates

This study seeks to examine the asymmetric mean reversion characteristics of the real exchange rate for Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. We apply a two-factor model to monthly time series data spanning the period 1972:1 to 2016:12. The empirical findings suggest that the five countries’ real exchange rate exhibit non-stationary behaviour following local currency depreciation but is strongly mean reverting following local currency appreciation. However, the mean reverting component more than offsets the non-stationary component. We also found that the time-varying conditional volatility is persistence and asymmetric in all the five countries. These findings have policy and investment implications. Knowledge of purchasing power parity may be used to forecast exchange rates, manage inflation, and implement monetary policy. Also, investors could base their investment strategies on different regimes to minimise exchange rate risk.

Source: UG
Asymmetric mean reversion and volatility in African real exchange rates

This study seeks to examine the asymmetric mean reversion characteristics of the real exchange rate for Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. We apply a two-factor model to monthly time series data spanning the period 1972:1 to 2016:12. The empirical findings suggest that the five countries’ real exchange rate exhibit non-stationary behaviour following local currency depreciation but is strongly mean reverting following local currency appreciation. However, the mean reverting component more than offsets the non-stationary component. We also found that the time-varying conditional volatility is persistence and asymmetric in all the five countries. These findings have policy and investment implications. Knowledge of purchasing power parity may be used to forecast exchange rates, manage inflation, and implement monetary policy. Also, investors could base their investment strategies on different regimes to minimise exchange rate risk. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Source: UG