ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Communication Policies in Civilian and Military Regimes: The Case of Ghana

This is a critical evaluation of the media legislation in Ghana since independence. It reveals the chequered government-press relationship that perpetuated a timid press in Ghana, but which is tending to thaw under the weight the new media legislations promulgated by the reformed President Jerry Rawlings' government. The article gives an instructive glimpse into the press. It argues that the former president sought to use the media as a tool for propaganda and ideological indoctrination, which he wrongly believed was necessary not only for national and continental unity but also for Ghana's economic and political maturity. The author argues that the Pan-Africanist president engineered the enactment of media laws that were aimed at entrenching his monopolist economic policies as well as his endeavour to establish political monotheism and strong anti-imperialist stand in Ghana. The inevitable result was a complete strangulation of the press, culminating in the state emerging as the sole player in the industry. Freedom of expression became inconsistent with his "consciencism", therefore, was utterly denied. Human rights was indeed treated with contempt by the CPP government, if the harsh legislations are to go by. Surprisingly, the media in Ghana got their first states of pseudo- 31 freedom under a military junta, led by military strongman, Busia. This weak tolerance of press freedom and, by extension, civil liberties, was continued by Dr. HuUa Limann's government. The use of satellite dishes were allowed under this Third Reich for the time in Ghana. That notwithstanding, both the regimes failed to decriminalize libel and repeal draconian sedition laws, that negatively impacted on media operations. The paper also points out that the state monopoly of the airwaves remained intact. Likewise, the paper argues, any perceived press liberties in Ghana were impaired and contradicted by legal decrees like the Provision of Rumours Decree, which criminalized broadcasting or printing of anything seen to be against the National Liberation Council, the Police or the Armed Forces. This, the author says, created a widespread 'culture of silence' among media practitioners. The author recognizes the positive developments in the media industry by way of relatively friendly media bills, but, at the same time, regrets the lack of a clear policy to deal with the New Information World Order. He picks issues with the domination of the Ghanaian broadcast media by cheap, culturally imperialistic, alien programmes. The lackadaisical development of the rural press is lambasted while calling on the government to protect the poor's right to relevant information and their sources. The paper concludes by calling for the creation of a truly democratized legal infrastructure for the media to enable them to participate actively and fully in national development

Source: UG
Communication rehabilitation in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of speech and language therapists

Background: Workforce factors present a significant barrier to the development of rehabilitation services for people with communication disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Exploring how the work of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the region is organised and delivered can provide insight into existing services, areas for future workforce development and improved rehabilitation access for people with communication disability. Objectives: This paper describes the employment and service provision patterns and work roles of a sample of SLTs in SSA. Method: A broad, purpose-designed, mixed-methods survey was designed to collect data from SLTs living in Anglophone countries of SSA. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were undertaken. This paper reports on a subset of data from the wider survey. Results: A description of the employment and work roles of the 33 respondents to the survey and characteristics of their service users is presented. SLTs were commonly employed within private and not-for-profit sectors and frequently worked in temporary jobs. SLTs engaged in a range of work roles, including capacity building and training others. Services were provided by SLTs across age ranges, health conditions and settings, with paediatric, urban services commonly reported. Costs for service users and urban-centred services give indications of barriers to service access. Conclusion: Knowledge of the way in which speech and language therapy services are organised and provided has the potential to shape the development of communication disability rehabilitation in SSA. This research has identified a range of issues requiring consideration as the profession develops and grows.

Source: UG
Communicative action and interaction in Africa: Towards a broader picture

This article collection showcases recent empirical research on a range of pragmatic phe nomena in different parts of the African continent. It also aims at illustrating the diversity of approaches employed to study these phenomena, bringing together experts on various languages and from different backgrounds. In particular, the articles in this collection are focused on Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, and South Africa, examining language use in Yorùba, isiXhosa, English, French, and Nigerian Pidgin. The studies stem from different theoretical frameworks, adopt a variety of meth odologies, and deal with a range of communicative (inter)actions. Among the approaches adopted are speech act theory, politeness theory, conversation analysis, variational prag matics, and postcolonial pragmatics, and the data stem from ethnographic field notes, discourse completion tasks, dialogue production tasks, video recordings, large machine readable corpora, and multimedia recordings. The pragmatic phenomena analysed range from discourse markers, speech acts, and opening turns to the generic structure of traditional wedding ceremonies and multimodality in media interviews. This collection thus illustrates and advocates a broad understanding of pragmatics, theo retical and methodological pluralism, and the cooperation of experts on autochthonous languages and experts on former colonial languages in order to more adequately study the complexities of communicative (inter)action in Africa

Source: UG
Communiction challenges in implementing Ghana’s health sector decentralisation at district level: a study of health workers and stakeholder opinions from three district health administration

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to examine how internal communication of reform objectives to health workforces and stakeholders has influenced the implementation of Ghana's health sector decentralisation at district level. Design/methodology/approach: Data collection involved in-depth interviews with district public health officials, private health providers, local government officials and health-related non-government organisations which had been working in the district for at least two years. Findings: The study's findings showed that communication (the sharing of information) about reform objectives were centralised among the top hierarchy of the District Health Management Teams; and the process of transferring reform information to district health workforces and stakeholders was through a top-downward approach. This vertical style of communication resulted in limited information getting through to district health workforces tasked with the implementation. This impacted negatively on reform implementation. Originality/value: The paper reveals that there is a connection between the level of comprehension of the objectives for decentralisation reform both by the health workforce and stakeholders, particularly the expected new roles they are supposed to play. A lack of effective transfer of information affects commitment and ownership of the decentralisation reform at district level; contributing significantly to the poor implementation of the reform programme. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
‘Communities of Practice’: Prospects for Theory and Action in Participatory Development

‘The myth of community’ permeates both the understanding and the practice of participatory development. Yet the idea that communities exist as coherent units of people who inhabit bounded geographic spaces and are ready to be mobilised for development restricts the very agency that participation promises. This article offers an alternative model of community: one that is more compatible with the ideal of people-centred, participatory development. Using Etienne Wenger’s concept of ‘communities of practice’, and drawing on narrative theory and cognitive approaches to policy analysis, the article argues that community should be created and sustained around shared meanings.

Source: UG
‘Communities of practice’: prospects for theory and action in participatory development

'The myth of community' permeates both the understanding and the practice of participatory development. Yet the idea that communities exist as coherent units of people who inhabit bounded geographic spaces and are ready to be mobilised for development restricts the very agency that participation promises. This article offers an alternative model of community: one that is more compatible with the ideal of people-centred, participatory development. Using Etienne Wenger's concept of 'communities of practice', and drawing on narrative theory and cognitive approaches to policy analysis, the article argues that community should be created and sustained around shared meanings. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Source: UG
Communities of practice’: Prospects for theory and action in participatory development

‘The myth of community’ permeates both the understanding and the practice of participatory development. Yet the idea that communities exist as coherent units of people who inhabit bounded geographic spaces and are ready to be mobilized for development restricts the very agency that participation promises. This article offers an alternative model of community: one that is more compatible with the idea of people-centred, participatory development. Using Etienne Wenger’s concept of ‘communities of practice’, and drawing on narrative theory and cognitive approaches to policy analysis argues that community should be created and sustained around shared meanings.

Source: UG
Community acceptance of COVID-19 and demystifying stigma in a severely affected population in Ghana

Objective: We assessed the level of community acceptance of COVID-19, identified and implemented strategies to demystifying stigma in a severely affected population in Tema. Design and Setting: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess stigma among the Tema community, then iden tified and implemented interventions to demystify COVID-19 stigma. We interviewed positive cases, their contacts, contact tracers, case management team members, and community members who shared their first hand experiences and knowledge on the current pandemic. Intervention: Based on the information received, we came up with ways of reducing stigma and implemented them in their community. Main Outcome: Stigma demystified Results: Cases and contacts reported being avoided, discriminated against, insulted or had derogatory words used on them by family, friends, work colleagues or the community. Cases and their contacts stated that stigmatisation was fueled by the presence of COVID -19 branded vehicles and security officials at their homes or workplaces. Stakeholder engagement, education and extensive sensitisation of community members were implemented to reduce stigma. Conclusion: We observed deeply entrenched stigma to COVID - 19 positive patients and their contacts in the com munity. Health care response mechanisms such as the presence of security personnel with contact tracers and case managers and the use of COVID -19 branded vehicles fueled stigma. A multifaceted approach through the engagement of key stakeholders, training of health workers and extensive education and community sensitisation was essential in reducing stigma.

Source: UG
Community acquired urinary tract infections among adults in Accra, Ghana

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infectious diseases encountered in clinical practice, and accounts for significant morbidity and high medical costs. To reduce its public health burden, there is the need for local research data to address aspects of prevention and management of UTI. The aim of this study was to investigate community-acquired UTI among adults in Accra, Ghana, including the risk factors, etiological agents, and antibiotic resistance. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 307 patients clinically diagnosed with UTI at the Korle Bu and Mamprobi polyclinics in Accra. Urine specimens were collected from the study participants and analyzed by culture, microscopy, and dipstick. The bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods and tested against a spectrum of antibiotics by the Kirby Bauer method. Multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates were screened for Extended Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production by the double disc method, and isolates that tested positive were analyzed by Polymerase Chain Reaction for ESBL genes. Demographic information and clinical history of study participants were collected. Results: Based on the criteria for laboratory confirmed UTI, 31 (10.1%) of the 307 specimens were positive and the main risk factor of UTI among the study participants was pregnancy (P=0.02, OR=2.43). The most common uropathogen isolated was Escherichia coli (48.9%), followed by Klebseilla sp. (16.1%). Prevalence of resistance was highest for Piperacillin (87.1%) and Amoxicillin+Clavulanic Acid (87.1%) and lowest for Amikacin (12.9%). Prevalence of multidrug resistance among the uropathogens was 80.1% (25) and the most common ESBL gene detected was CTX-M-15. Conclusion: Pregnant women constitute the key risk population of UTI in Accra, while Amikacin remains a suitable drug for the treatment of febrile UTI. The high prevalence of multidrug resistance among the uropathogens highlights the need for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among these pathogens

Source: UG
Community and individual sense of trust and psychological distress among the urban poor in Accra, Ghana

Background Mental health disorders present significant health challenges in populations in sub Saharan Africa especially in deprived urban poor contexts. Some studies have suggested that in collectivistic societies such as most African societies people can draw on social capital to attenuate the effect of community stressors on their mental health. Global studies suggest the effect of social capital on mental disorders such as psychological distress is mixed, and emerging studies on the psychosocial characteristics of collectivistic societies suggest that mistrust and suspicion sometimes deprive people of the benefit of social capital. In this study, we argue that trust which is often measured as a component of social capital has a more direct effect on reducing community stressors in such deprived communities. Methods Data from the Urban Health and Poverty Survey (EDULINK Wave III) survey were used. The survey was conducted in 2013 in three urban poor communities in Accra: Agbogbloshie, James Town and Ussher Town. Psychological distress was measured with a symptomatic wellbeing scale. Participants’ perceptions of their neighbours’ willingness to trust, protect and assist others was used to measure community sense of trust. Participants’ willingness to ask for and receive help from neighbours was used to measure personal sense of trust. Demographic factors were controlled for. The data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate regressions. Results The mean level of psychological distress among the residents was 25.5 (SD 5.5). Personal sense of trust was 8.2 (SD 2.0), and that of community sense of trust was 7.5 (SD 2.8). While community level trust was not significant, personal sense of trust significantly reduced psychological distress (B = -.2016728, t = -2.59, p < 0.010). The other factors associated with psychological distress in this model were perceived economic standing, education and locality of residence. Conclusion This study presents evidence that more trusting individuals are significantly less likely to be psychologically distressed within deprived urban communities in Accra. Positive intra and inter individual level variables such as personal level trust and perceived relative economic standing significantly attenuated the effect of psychological distress in communities with high level neighbourhood disorder in Accra.

Source: UG
Community awareness of stroke in Accra, Ghana

Community awareness of stroke, especially the risk factors and warning signs is important in the control of the disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about community awareness of stroke though the brunt of stroke is currently borne in this region. The aim of the study was to evaluate stroke awareness in Accra (capital city of Ghana) particularly, the risk factors and warning signs. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study involving systematic sampling of 63 households in each of the 11 sub metropolitan areas of Accra. A structured questionnaire was used to collect stroke awareness data from respondents randomly sampled in the selected households. Logistic regression analyses were done to identify predictors of the main outcome variables including recognition of stroke risk factors, stroke warning signs and the organ affected by stroke. Results: Only 40% (n = 277) of the 693 respondents correctly identified the brain as the organ affected in stroke. Similarly, less than half of the respondents could recognize any of the established stroke risk factors as well as any of the established stroke warning signs. Over 70% (n > 485) of the respondents either believed that stroke is a preventable disease, or lifestyle alterations can be made to reduce the risk of stroke, or stroke requires emergency treatment. In multivariate analysis, predictors of stroke awareness were: age <50 years (OR = 0.56, CI = 0.35-0.92, p = 0.021), presence of a stroke risk factor (OR = 2.37, CI = 1.52-3.71, p < 0.001) and Christian Religion (OR = 14.86, CI = 1.37-161.01, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Though stroke is perceived as a serious and preventable disease in Accra, community awareness of the risk factors and warning signs is sub-optimal. This indicates that community-based education programs to increase public awareness of stroke could contribute to decreasing the risk of stroke and to increasing the speed of hospital presentation after stroke onset. © 2014 Donkor et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Source: UG
Community Based Multi-Disease Health Screening as an Opportunity for Early Detection of HIV Cases and Linking Them to Care

Most research activities involve the use of molecular methods such as regular PCR (PCR), quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), genomic sequence and analysis using different software, genetic engineering, probe hybridization techniques, biological and molecular cloning, evaluation of immune markers for laboratory diagnosis of infections, serological assays involving the use of rapid tests, ELISA-based evaluations and immunofluorescent assay techniques.

Source: UG
Community Beliefs And Practices About Diabetes And Their Implications For The Prevention And Management Of Diabetes In Southeast Ghana.

Background: Diabetes is a major public health issue, and over half a billion people are estimated to be living with diabetes, with 6.7 million deaths reported in 2021. The global diabetes burden has been recognised and included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a zero increase in diabetes cases and reduce one-third of premature diabetes deaths by 2030. However, local beliefs about the causes of diabetes have afected its prevention and management. This study examined community beliefs and practices about diabetes and how they affect the prevention and management of diabetes in the community. Methods: This study was carried out in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region of Ghana. We conducted 33 in-depth interviews with 18 patients with diabetes, 5 carers (caretakers of patients with diabetes), 3 traditional healers, 2 reli gious leaders, 3 community elders, and 2 assembly members who were purposefully selected from urban and rural areas across the municipality. The interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data using QRS NVivo 20. Results: Diabetes was described locally as sukli dɔ (sugar disease), which affects humans. Diabetes is believed to be caused by spiritual forces (juju, bewitchment, and punishment from gods) and physical factors (unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, eating fruits and vegetables sprayed with pesticides and insecticides, sugary and starchy foods, smoking, and abuse of alcohol). In terms of the management of diabetes, participants said traditional remedies are performed for spiritual interpretation, deliverance, fortification, and cleansing before biomedical and physical remedies are sought. Diabetes was likened to HIV/AIDS, and the sufferers were described as bringing the condition upon themselves as a result of their bad deeds. They were stigmatised, coupled with delays at the hospital, and pov erty has also affected the prevention and management of diabetes. Conclusion: The local belief that diabetes is caused by spiritual forces, likened to HIV/AIDS, delays at hospitals, and poverty, has affected the prevention and management of diabetes. Incorporating local beliefs and practices into the intervention design using culturally sensitive health education programmes and improving social determi nants of health may help improve the prevention and management of diabetes in communities.

Source: UG
Community concepts of poverty: An application to premium exemptions in Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme

Background: Poverty is multi dimensional. Beyond the quantitative and tangible issues related to inadequate income it also has equally important social, more intangible and difficult if not impossible to quantify dimensions. In 2009, we explored these social and relativist dimension of poverty in five communities in the South of Ghana with differing socio economic characteristics to inform the development and implementation of policies and programs to identify and target the poor for premium exemptions under Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme.Methods: We employed participatory wealth ranking (PWR) a qualitative tool for the exploration of community concepts, identification and ranking of households into socioeconomic groups. Key informants within the community ranked households into wealth categories after discussing in detail concepts and indicators of poverty.Results: Community defined indicators of poverty covered themes related to type of employment, educational attainment of children, food availability, physical appearance, housing conditions, asset ownership, health seeking behavior, social exclusion and marginalization. The poverty indicators discussed shared commonalities but contrasted in the patterns of ranking per community.Conclusion: The in-depth nature of the PWR process precludes it from being used for identification of the poor on a large national scale in a program such as the NHIS. However, PWR can provide valuable qualitative input to enrich discussions, development and implementation of policies, programs and tools for large scale interventions and targeting of the poor for social welfare programs such as premium exemption for health care. © 2013 Aryeetey et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Source: UG