ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effects of Assertiveness Training and Cognitive Restructuring on Low Self-Esteem and Depressive Disorders Among Students of Technical Universities in Southern Ghana

Self-esteem is connected to depression and a wide range of other clinical conditions such as learning disorders, social phobia and hyperactivity disorder. The study sought to ascertain the effects of assertiveness training and cognitive restructuring on low self-esteem and depression levels among technical university students in Ghana. The study was quasi-experimental study. The simple random sampling method was used to select 60 participants for the study. Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem (RSE) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Scales were used for the data collection. The Cronbach Alpha for the instruments were 0.77 and 0.72 for RSE and BDI respectively. The statistical tools used for data analysis were frequencies, percentages, one-way analysis of covariance (One-way ANCOVA) and two-way analysis of covariance (Twoway ANCOVA). The results showed that participants who were exposed to assertiveness training and cognitive restructuring recorded better scores in the post-test scores as compared to participants in the control group who were not exposed to any intervention. It was found that significant differences existed between the cognitive restructuring and assertiveness training groups, and the control group. It was concluded that the intervention programmes using cognitive restructuring and assertiveness training were effective in improving recommended that counsellors and lecturers of technical universities should be motivated and supported by management of the universities, governments, parents and the larger community to help organize assertiveness training, found to have low self-esteem and depressed.

Source: UCC
Effects of biochar and poultry manure on the composition of phosphorus solubilizing fungi and soil available phosphorus concentration in an oxisol

Introduction: The use of biochar to restore soil fertility is still in the exploratory stages in Ghana and there is paucity of information regarding the effect of biochar on soil biochemical properties. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar solely applied or in combination with poultry manure on the composition of soil phosphorus solubilizing fungi, available P concentration and selected properties of Oxisol in Ghana. Methods: Cocoa husk biochar (CHB), prepared using Lucia biomass pyrolytic stove at a temperature of 400°C was applied solely at 0, 39 and 65 t ha-1 and in combination with 10 t ha-1, poultry manure, to the soil. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Results: The population of phosphorus solubilizing fungi increased in amended soils significantly (P = .05) above that of the control. The increases in fungal biomass followed; control < biochar < biochar + poultry manure. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were dominant genera with few of the microbes in the genera Colletotrichum. The increase in phosphorus solubilizing fungi correlated positively (r = 0.96, P = .05) with increase in available phosphorus. Then again, biochar solely applied or in combination with poultry manure significantly (P = .05) increased pH, total organic carbon and cation exchange capacity. Mineral N however significantly (P = .05) increased only in combined biochar and poultry manure treatments. Conclusion: Biochar solely applied or in combination with poultry manure enhanced phosphorus solubilizing fungal biomass and availability of phosphorus in the soil with combined poultry manure and biochar having the highest influence

Source: UCC
Effects of biochar, waste water irrigation and fertilization on soil properties in West African urban agriculture

In large areas of sub-Saharan Africa crop production must cope with low soil fertility. To increase soil fertility, the application of biochar (charred biomass) has been suggested. In urban areas, untreated waste water is widely used for irrigation because it is a nutrient-rich year-round water source. Uncertainty exists regarding the interactions between soil properties, biochar, waste water and fertilization over time. The aims of this study were to determine these interactions in two typical sandy, soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient depleted soils under urban vegetable production in Tamale (Ghana) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) over two years. The addition of biochar at 2 kg m−2 made from rice husks and corn cobs initially doubled SOC stocks but SOC losses of 35% occurred thereafter. Both biochar types had no effect on soil pH, phosphorous availability and effective cation exchange capacity (CEC) but rice husk biochar retained nitrogen (N). Irrigation with domestic waste water increased soil pH and exchangeable sodium over time. Inorganic fertilization alone acidified soils, increased available phosphorous and decreased base saturation. Organic fertilization increased SOC, N and CEC. The results from both locations demonstrate that the effects of biochar and waste water were less pronounced than reported elsewhere

Source: UCC
Effects of board composition on performance of listed firms in Ghana

This study examines the effect of board composition on performance of listed firms in Ghana. It employed the explanatory research design. Criterion-based sampling technique was used to select eight (8) financial listed firms and twenty-two (22) non-financial listed firms in Ghana. Published annual reports of listed firms were the main secondary source of data for this study. The study specifically examined the impact of board size on performance of firms. It also ascertained the effect of gender diversity on performance of firms. It finally evaluated the effect of board independence on performance of firms listed on Ghana Stock Exchange using ROA, ROE and SMR as the measures of performance for the financial and non-financial listed firms. Using panel regression model, the study found that board size has positive influence on operational or accounting performance of the financial listed firms but has no influence on their stock market performance. It also indicates that both accounting and market performance of non-financial listed firms are not affected by the board size. It also found that board gender diversity has no influence on the performance of both financial and non-financial listed firms in Ghana. The study finally revealed that board independence has significant positive effect on accounting performance of both financial and non-financial listed firms but has no significant influence on stock market performance of both groups of firms in Ghana. The study recommends that shareholders and other stakeholders in the financial sector should consider having relatively large board size for effective monitoring of management’s activities. Stakeholders should ensure that boards of listed firms have high proportion of outside directors to improve performance in their operations

Source: UCC
Effects of Body Mass Index and Age on Prostate Specific Antigen: A Study on Men Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is useful in the diagnosis of prostate adenocarcinoma. Aims: Our study sought to establish possible effect of age and BMI on serum PSA levels in Ghanaian men with genitourinary complaints. Methods: In this non-randomized, cross-sectional study, we recruited 202 men from the Genitourology and pathology departments of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and MDS-Lancet Laboratories Ghana, between July 2011 and February 2012. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) calculated for each participant. Serum PSA levels were measured and prostate biopsies from each of the participants were examined histologically for diagnosis. Results: The mean PSA level was 200 ng/ml, mean age of 66.33±8.90 years, and a BMI 2 of 23 kg/m . The mean Gleason score of all participants was 3.38±3.58 years. There was a positive correlation between age and PSA levels (r=0.020; P=.78). A negative correlation was established between BMI and PSA (r=-0.068; P=.33). There was however a significant positive correlation (r=0.237; P=.001) between PSA levels and Gleason score. Linear regression analysis revealed no relationship between PSA and age (r=0.002; P=.98) and, PSA and BMI (r=-0.068, P=.36). Conclusion: Serum PSA levels correlate with age and BMI, however these factors do not have an effect on the levels of serum PSA at measurement. We suggest that PSA values be used in the context of the clinical scenario and other PSA altering factors.

Source: UCC
Effects of boiling time on the concentrations of vitamin c and beta-carotene in five selected green vegetables consumed in Ghana

This study was carried out to determine the effects of boiling on the nutritional composition of selected green vegetables consumed in Ghana. Five green vegetables Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Ayoyo (Corchorus olitorius), Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus), Abeduru (Solanum torvum) and Nkontomire (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) were selected. The samples were taken from farms around University of Cape Coast in the Cape Coast Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Equal weights of the vegetables were boiled at different boiling times (5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes). The boiled samples were then analyzed for the effect of boiling time on the vitamin C and beta-carotene concentration. The results of the study revealed that as the boiling time increased, the concentration of betacarotene and vitamin C in the vegetables decreased. Also the reduction in the vitamin C concentration was found to be greater in the vegetables than the reduction in the beta-carotene concentration. It is therefore suggested that boiling of vegetables should be done within the shortest possible time to retain most of these nutrients

Source: UCC
Effects of boiling time on the concentrations of vitamin c and beta-carotene in five selected green vegetables consumed in Ghana

This study was carried out to determine the effects of boiling on the nutritional composition of selected green vegetables consumed in Ghana. Five green vegetables Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Ayoyo (Corchorus olitorius), Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus), Abeduru (Solanum torvum) and Nkontomire (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) were selected. The samples were taken from farms around University of Cape Coast in the Cape Coast Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Equal weights of the vegetables were boiled at different boiling times (5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes). The boiled samples were then analyzed for the effect of boiling time on the vitamin C and beta-carotene concentration. The results of the study revealed that as the boiling time increased, the concentration of beta carotene and vitamin C in the vegetables decreased. Also the reduction in the vitamin C concentration was found to be greater in the vegetables than the reduction in the beta-carotene concentration. It is therefore suggested that boiling of vegetables should be done within the shortest possible time to retain most of these nutrients

Source: UCC
The effects of breed, season and parity on the reproductive performance of pigs reared under hot and humid environments

A research aimed at evaluating the reproductive performance of pigs as influenced by breed, season, and parity was carried out. Reproductive performance records of 1383 sows made up of 204 primiparous and 1179 multiparous large white (687) and Duroc × large white crosses (696) obtained over a 3-year period (2013 to 2016) were used. Data on reproductive performance taken were farrowing rate, litter size at birth and at weaning, piglet weight at birth and at weaning farrowing interval and pre-weaning mortality. To determine the effect of season, parity and breed on reproductive performance, the 4-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. A mixed model was fitted using the generalized linear model (GLM) procedure of the GenStat (Discovery Edition) to investigate the fixed effects of breed (two classes), season of birth (three classes) and parity (five classes) on the reproductive traits. Where differences in means were observed, the means were separated using the least significant difference at 5% level of significance. Results obtained indicated litter size at birth of 12.5 ± 0.3 and 14.2 ± 0.5 for the large white and the Duroc × large white respectively and farrowing rates of 90.0 ± 2.3 and 94.5 ± 2.5% for the large white and the Duroc × large white respectively. Litter size at birth and at weaning, farrowing rate and piglet weight at birth were all influenced by parity and season with increasing parity significantly reducing litter size at birth and at weaning. Reproductive traits of the sows were superior during the rainy season, an indication of the need to consider season of birth in making decision

Source: UCC
The effects of broken homes and absentee fathers on the adjustment of the adolescent girl in Clarion hostel, Cape Coast

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of broken homes and absentee fathers on the social adjustment of the adolescent girl in Clarion hostels. The study sought to find out if this girl had adjustment problems, what problems counsellors and educators may encounter when dealing with her and how best to help her to have a peaceful time in school as well as a smooth interaction with colleagues and teachers. To achieve this, the researcher conducted a non-experimental design using the descriptive survey with a sample size of 139. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for the study and respondents were fairly distributed throughout the Regions of Ghana. Furthermore, the researcher used descriptive statistics to analyze the demographic data. The findings were that out of every nine students selected at Clarion hostel, five of them will come from homes where the father is present, and four from homes where the father is absent. In terms of strength in numbers, the two groups of students may impact each other to the same degree. However, the absence of a statistically significant finding of the relationship between the attitude of girls with fathers present and those with fathers absent in the study could be attributed to a number of reasons, prevalent among them being the regimented nature of the hostel environment. It was recommended that future studies clearly delineate the length of time students have stayed in such an environment like Clarion Hostel. A student who has stayed in such an environment for a year is likely to manifest less positive attitudes from one who has stayed in the same environment for more than two years. Another reason could be the presence of strong female role models. Future studies could also be concentrated on larger sample sizes, as well as for students who did not live in a regimented environment.

Source: UCC
The effects of broken homes on academic performance of pupils of lower Manya Krobo district

In the wake of the 21st century, education has more than ever been the number one agenda on the minds of both developed and developing nations. In the developing world, there are a number of issues such as funds and access to quality education militating against quality education. There are these family and cultural issues which are also playing their subtle militating roles which have not been easy to tackle. This research focuses on the factors that contribute to the breakdown of homes, the influence and the ripple effect of the breakdown often have on children so far as their academic performance is concerned and how conditions like the socio-economic standings of parents contributed to the problem or otherwise. Opinion leaders, parents, teachers and pupils from the Lower Manya Krobo district were sampled for the collection of the data. It was established that there was a positive relationship between the performance of a child in school and the state of the family. Most children who excelled lived with both parents and well taken care of by their parents whereas children from broken homes performed badly. It is recommended that pre-marital counselling should be given to prospective couple by the key stakeholders in our societies and localities.

Source: UCC
The Effects of Bullying on Senior High School Students in Ghana

The main objective of the study was to examine the effects bullying has on the students in the senior high schools in Ghana. The descriptive research design was used for the study. A questionnaire was used to gather the data from a sample of 400 respondents selected through the snowball and purposive sampling system in four senior high schools in Ghana. The results of the data analysis showed that some students became dropouts, others developed low self-esteem, whereas others put up characters which could affect them in their future lives. The results revealed further that bullying had affected the academic performance of most of the students in the school who could have been bullied, have bullied or was a by-stander. Hence it was concluded that the Ghana Education Service and the schools should have a system or policy of stopping bullying in its entirety in the senior high school.

Source: UCC
Effects of Business Development Services on the Performance of Small and Medium Size Enterprises in Ellembelle District, Ghana

The study looked at the effects of business development services on performance of small and medium sized enterprises in Ellembelle District. A variety of factors inhibit the development of small and medium sized enterprises in African countries, which in turn affects entrepreneurship, job creation and economic transformation. Using cross-sectional data from 250 small and medium sized enterprises in Ellembelle District. The study found in most of the examined variables the positive relationship between the use of business support services and the performance of small and medium sized enterprises in Ellembelle District. However, contrary to expectations, building business linkages and mentoring programs recorded negative relationships with performance of small and medium sized enterprises. This is related to restricted capacities stemming from the size of small and medium sized enterprises compared to large companies and deficiencies in the content of mentoring programs. In addition, the discrepancy between business support services demand and supply as well as the low adoption rate of business support services are associated with the inadequate adaptation of business support services to the needs of small and medium sized enterprises, high service costs and a lack of qualified service providers. Thus, the researcher argue that the provision of business support services to small and medium sized enterprises should be demand-driven and that institutions should build on the pre-eminent characteristics of small and medium sized enterprises when designing business support programs.

Source: UCC
Effects of capping and uncapping of closed dam site 11 effects of capping and uncapping of closed tailings dam site on soil ph, free cyanide and some heavy metals: case study of a Ghanaian gold mine

Large scale gold mining in Ghana has intensified during the beginning of the 20th century. However, the development of environmental legislation and effective monitoring of the process to address environmental impacts of gold mining activities in the country has been slow. The use of cyanide compounds during gold processing was extensive. Consequently, mining operations and their waste disposal methods constitute major source of pollution by cyanide and other heavy metals in mining communities in Ghana. Tailings samples were taken from capped tailings sites, uncapped (solidified tailings) sites and a non-mined soil at depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm. The randomised complete block design with three replications was used. The pH (soil : water-1 : 2.5), free cyanide, water soluble and EDTA-extractable heavy metals were determined. The levels of Cu and Zn in capped and solidified tailings were within permissible levels, while the concentration of EDTA-extractable As was above internationally accepted maximum limit. The concentrations of EDTA-extractable As and also water soluble Pb and As, at the 0–15 cm depth, were in the following decreasing order: solidified tailings > capped tailings > non-mined soil (P < 0.05). The arsenate of the solidified tailings was possibly strongly adsorbed by Fe oxides of the laterite of the capped tailings. The capping of tailings led to significantly lower concentrations of free cyanide and EDTA-extractable As (0.4– 0.43 mg kg–1) compared to the solidified tailing (1.3 mg kg–1) at the 0–15 cm depth (P < 0.05). The lower free cyanide levels could be attributed to the formation of strong complexes of ferricyanide [Fe (CN) 63–] and ferrocyanide [Fe (CN) 64–]. Capping of mining waste with laterite could not reduce cyanide to levels per Canadian standards for agricultural land

Source: UCC
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION ON PREGNANCY AND BIRTH OUTCOMES IN GHANA

Ghana is a known endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, yet the consequences of HBV infection on pregnancy outcomes are unknown. This prospective cohort study was thus conducted among 512 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana, between January, 2011 and December, 2013 to determine the effects of hepatitis B during pregnancy on birth outcomes in Ghana. The HBsAg status of all pregnant women was determined by the latex agglutination test while a researcher administered semi-structured checklist was used to collect demographic/obstetric/medical data of respondents. We obtained 262 HBsAg positive and 250 HBsAg negative women most of whom were aged 20-29 (40%), classified themselves as low income earners (50%), and had attained primary education (42%). Logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who had chronic hepatitis B were more likely to develop PROM (p=0.008) and foul smelling liquor (p=0.024) at delivery. Moreover, neonatal consequences for chronic hepatitis B were; preterm babies (p=0.002), underweight (p<0.001), Apgar score lower than 7 (p<0.001), asphyxia at birth (p=0.006) and still birth (p=0.04). We conclude that babies born to mothers with positive HBsAg status have a higher risk for vertical transmission as well as adverse neonatal consequences.

Source: UCC
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION ON PREGNANCY AND BIRTH OUTCOMES IN GHANA

Ghana is a known endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, yet the consequences of HBV infection on pregnancy outcomes are unknown. This prospective cohort study was thus conducted among 512 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana, between January, 2011 and December, 2013 to determine the effects of hepatitis B during pregnancy on birth outcomes in Ghana. The HBsAg status of all pregnant women was determined by the latex agglutination test while a researcher administered semi-structured checklist was used to collect demographic/obstetric/medical data of respondents. We obtained 262 HBsAg positive and 250 HBsAg negative women most of whom were aged 20-29 (40%), classified themselves as low income earners (50%), and had attained primary education (42%). Logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who had chronic hepatitis B were more likely to develop PROM (p=0.008) and fou smelling liquor (p=0.024) at delivery. Moreover, neonatal consequences for chronic hepatitis B were; preterm babies (p=0.002), underweight (p<0.001), Apgar score lower than 7 (p<0.001), asphyxia at birth (p=0.006) and still birth (p=0.04). We conclude that babies born to mothers with positive HBsAg status have a higher risk for vertical transmission as well as adverse neonatal consequences.

Source: UCC