ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
HIV_AIDS knowledge and sexual behaviours among adolescents with hearing impairments in some selected special schools in Ghana

The central aim of this sequential explanatory mixed method research aimed at exploring HIV/AIDs knowledge and sexual behaviours of adolescents with hearing impairments (HI) in some selected special schools in Ghana. This study mixed method designs was employed to achieve the aim. Self-constructed questionnaires were administered to three hundred and ten (N=310) adolescents from four (4) special schools in four regions of Ghana. Self-structured questionnaire, which made up of HIV/AIDs Knowledge and sexual behaviour scales, were used in gathering quantitative data. In collecting qualitative data, interviews were used. SPSS software version 17.0 was used to summarize quantitative data. Main data analytic strategies used in the study included frequency distribution tables, Measures of central tendency (mean) and dispersion (standard deviation), t-test and correlations. Open, axial and selective coding systems were used to analyze qualitative data. Results showed that although adolescent with HI were aware of HIV/AIDs, they had no knowledge of HIV/AIDs; most of them were engaged in sexual behaviours that placed them at high risk of contracting HIV. In addition, study disclosed that risky sexual behaviours could be predicted from adolescent with HI lack of knowledge of HIV/AIDs. There was a statistical significant difference between female and male adolescents’ knowledge of HIV/AIDs as well as their risky sexual behaviours. Findings have significant implications on adolescents with HI as well as educational programming in Ghana. It is recommended that GES should develop policies and programmes that support collaboration among stakeholders. At family and community level, adequate information should be provided for adolescents with HI. This will help fill the HIV/AIDs information gap between adolescent with HI and their hearing counterpart. Finally, at the school level, curriculum designers should include appropriate HIV/AIDS education programmes in their programme planning.

Source: UEW
HIVAIDS knowledge and sexual behaviours among adolescents with hearing impairments in selected special schools for the deaf in Ghana

This study explored HIV/AIDs knowledge and sexual behaviours of adolescents with hearing impairments (HI) in some special schools in Ghana. The study employed mixed method designs to achieve its objective. A cluster sampling technique was used to sample the respondents. Self-constructed questionnaire, which was made up of HIV/AIDs Knowledge and sexual behaviour scales, was administered to three hundred and ten (N=310) adolescents from four (4) special schools in four regions of Ghana. Interviews and focus group discussions were used in gathering the data. The data analysis strategies used in the study included frequency distribution tables, mean scores, standard deviation, t-test and correlations through the use of SPSS software version 17.0. Open, axial and selective coding systems were used to analyse qualitative data. Results of the study showed that although adolescents with HI were aware of HIV/AIDs, they had limited knowledge of HIV/AIDs; most of them were engaged in sexual behaviours that placed them at high risk of contracting HIV, and that risky sexual behaviours could be predicted from adolescents with HI lack of knowledge of HIV/AIDs. There was a statistically significant difference between female and male adolescents’ knowledge of HIV/AIDs as well as their involvement in risky sexual behaviours. It is recommended that all stakeholders should work collaboratively to intensify education on HIV/AIDs by using sign language to ensure that information needed by individuals with HI is captured and this should be part of the national HIV Strategic Plans (NSPs). Free health care and counselling services should be provided for persons with disabilities. Also emphasis should be placed on knowledge of HIV/AIDs when planning programmes for HIV/AIDs education and both genders should be involved.

Source: UEW
Home factors of basic school pupils and academic achievement in mathematics in the Amansie West district

One cannot dispute the fact that the home plays a critical role in the mathematics learning of children. Pupils in school are exposed to the same instructional activities but their performances differ. Differences in home environments contribute much to their performances in school. This study, therefore, sought to explore how home factors of Basic School pupils contribute to their academic achievement in mathematics in the Amansie West District of Ghana. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of home factors of basic school pupils on their academic achievement in mathematics in the Amansie West District. The study was conducted in the district to check whether parental supervisory roles in the house, parental educational status, parental financial status and home environment and household chores affect pupils learning of mathematics. The study adopted a case study research approach. The qualitative approach of data collection was employed. A sample of 12 people comprising six Class 3 pupils and their respective parents were used for the study. The sample was drawn from Manso Nkwanta, Manso Dominase and Manso Suntreso. Data collection instrument used was an interview, document analysis and observation. The audiotape recording of interview sessions was transcribed and thematic approach used to analyse data for all the research questions. From the study, it was revealed that Parental supervisory roles contributed to the performance of pupils in mathematics. Parental academic status motivated pupils to learn in order to go higher than their parents on the educational ladder. Also, it contributed to the poor performance of pupils in mathematics. Parental financial status contributed the contributed to their performance of pupils in mathematics. The study also revealed that pupils play too much in their environment hence their poor performance. The study further revealed that household chores do not have any influence on pupils’ academic achievement in mathematics. Pupils’ home environment accounted for their poor performance. From the study, it was concluded that home differences of pupils account for the effectiveness of their performance in school. This is because pupils are exposed to the same curriculum in their classrooms but their performance varies. Following from the findings, some recommendations are made.

Source: UEW
House owners’ adherence to the laws regulating Ghana’s housing plan and design in the Gomoa East District

Earlier studies on adherence to housing laws in Ghana have massively concentrated on metropolitan and municipal assemblies. However, their findings may not be adequate for the dynamism in peri urban and urban areas of districts that are contiguous to heavily populated municipalities. This study therefore contributed to filling this gap by investigating house owners’ adherence to the Building and Zoning regulations in the peri urban and urban areas of the Gomoa East District, which is contiguous to the heavily populated Awutu Senya Municipality. Captured in four objectives, the study examined the pre- and post-building adherence level of house owners to the national Building and Zoning regulations in the district. It further examined the factors which influence house owners’ adherence to the housing laws and identified the effects that house owners’ adherence to the housing laws in the district have on the environment. Ways of improving adherence of house owners to the housing laws in the district were also explored. A quantitative approach was adopted and using a semi-structured questionnaire, data was gathered on 375 house owners who were residents in their houses in the study area. This sample size was determined through the multi-stage sampling technique. With the help of SPSS software version 22 and Stata MP 14 software, the data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the logit regression model. The results revealed that house owners’ adherence to the Building and Zoning regulations in both the pre and post building stages was low. Moreover, house owners’ ability to interpret permit, building supervision by Town and Country Planning Authourity (TCPA) during construction and having tertiary education had significant influence on the house owners’ level of adherence. It also came to light that, poor sanitation, poor street network and flooding resulted from house owners’ low level of adherence to housing law in the district. In order to bring about immediate improvement in the situation, it is recommended that house owners in the Gomoa East District endeavour to be abreast with the requirements of the Building and Zoning regulations by seeking guidance from the district’s TCPA especially during building construction to help align their building activities with the requirements of these housing laws. Yet more, there is need for an enhancement of the supervisory activities of the TCPA in both pre- and post-building of houses in the district. These done, will go a long way to improve house owners’ adherence to Building and Zoning laws and offset the negative effects that accompany breaches to the housing laws in the district.

Source: UEW
Household conditions and academic performance of students from selected senior high schools in Mfantsiman Municipality

Household conditions play very crucial role in children‟s academic performance. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between household conditions and academic performance of students in selected Senior High Schools in Mfantsiman Municipality. The theories employed in this study were ecological systems theory and the household production theory. The study also employed quantitative approach and descriptive survey design. Stratify and random (proportional) sampling techniques were employed to select 104 respondents for the study. Questionnaire were used for data collection and continuous assessment records of sampled students were also analyzed. The findings of the study show a significant positive relationship between household conditions, parental involvement in education and students‟ academic performance. It was revealed that the higher the socio-economic status of parents the higher the performance of students. Again, the lower the socio-economic status of parent the lower the academic performance of students. However, there were some exceptions where some students from low socio-economic background perform academically better than those from high socio-economic background due to high intelligent quotients (natural endowment). This study further revealed the strongest positive relationship between parental involvement and academic performance of SHS students. The more parents get involved in the education of their children, the better the academic performance of their children and the less parents get involved in the education of their children, poorer the academic performance of such children. It is therefore recommended that, parents should play a leading role in their children‟s education by playing active role for an improvement in academic performance.

Source: UEW
Household Sanitary Inspection, Mosquito Control and Domestic Hygiene in the Gold Coast [Ghana] from the Late-Nineteenth to the Mid-Twentieth Century

Mosquito control was the focus of many public health interventions in the Gold Coast because during the colonial period, malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases remained a leading cause of European and African morbidity and mortality. Tagging along with theories of racial ecology that portrayed Africans and their surroundings as the nidus of infection, and therefore, perceiving African homes as a source of danger, colonial officials targeted the fight against mosquito at African households and surroundings. Sanitary inspectors were deployed to African households to search, prosecute and fine householders whose environment harboured larvae. By examining the connection between household sanitary inspection, mosquito control and domestic hygiene, this article demonstrates how sanitary inspection was not limited to finding larvae. Instead, it became a tool for checking general cleanliness in African households, and therefore, provided the colonial administration, the means to regulate, and manipulate African habits and practices in the domestic sphere. � The Author(s) 2021

Source: UEW
Household usage of firewood, its challenges and effects on its users in the Kwabre East Municipal

The usage of firewood, as fuel, to cook has been an important traditional method in the Kwabre East Municipality. Many people in households in the Kwabre East Municipal have been adversely affected as a result of constant exposure to the smoke from the firewood. The study sought to find out factors influencing the choice of firewood as fuel, its usage challenges and the adverse effects it has on its users in households in the Kwabre East Municipal of Ashanti Region. The study adopted quantitative and descriptive research design to draw conclusion between variables. Simple random technique was used to sample out 250 respondents for the study. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The study finds out that the population preferred firewood (as fuel for cooking) to other sources due to its affordability. Some challenges associated with the use of firewood were the smoke it comes along with, the excessive heat it habours, and its inability to get food cooked very fast. The study also finds out that the usage of firewood (as fuel for cooking), has adverse effects on its users. They were health complications, unpleasant body odour, and modifying in food taste and smell. Finally, the study recommends that strategies and interventions aimed at reducing its effects should be employed. Also, the government should subsidize cost of other clean fuels such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (GAS) to encourage to shift from the use of firewood for cooking.

Source: UEW
Household usage of firewood, its challenges and effects on its users in the Kwabre East Municipal (A case study in Kwabre East Municipal in Ashanti region)

The usage of firewood, as fuel, to cook has been an important traditional method in the Kwabre East Municipality. Many people in households in the Kwabre East Municipal have been adversely affected as a result of constant exposure to the smoke from the firewood. The study sought to find out factors influencing the choice of firewood as fuel, its usage challenges and the adverse effects it has on its users in households in the Kwabre East Municipal of Ashanti Region. The study adopted quantitative and descriptive research design to draw conclusion between variables. Simple random technique was used to sample out 250 respondents for the study. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The study finds out that the population preferred firewood (as fuel for cooking) to other sources due to its affordability. Some challenges associated with the use of firewood were the smoke it comes along with, the excessive heat it habours, and its inability to get food cooked very fast. The study also finds out that the usage of firewood (as fuel for cooking), has adverse effects on its users. They were health complications, unpleasant body odour, and modifying in food taste and smell. Finally, the study recommends that strategies and interventions aimed at reducing its effects should be employed. Also, the government should subsidize cost of other clean fuels such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (GAS) to encourage to shift from the use of firewood for cooking.

Source: UEW
Household usage of firewood, its challenges and effects on its users in the Kwabre East Municipal (A case study in Kwabre East Municipal in Ashanti region)

The usage of firewood, as fuel, to cook has been an important traditional method in the Kwabre East Municipality. Many people in households in the Kwabre East Municipal have been adversely affected as a result of constant exposure to the smoke from the firewood. The study sought to find out factors influencing the choice of firewood as fuel, its usage challenges and the adverse effects it has on its users in households in the Kwabre East Municipal of Ashanti Region. The study adopted quantitative and descriptive research design to draw conclusion between variables. Simple random technique was used to sample out 250 respondents for the study. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. The study finds out that the population preferred firewood (as fuel for cooking) to other sources due to its affordability. Some challenges associated with the use of firewood were the smoke it comes along with, the excessive heat it habours, and its inability to get food cooked very fast. The study also finds out that the usage of firewood (as fuel for cooking), has adverse effects on its users. They were health complications, unpleasant body odour, and modifying in food taste and smell. Finally, the study recommends that strategies and interventions aimed at reducing its effects should be employed. Also, the government should subsidize cost of other clean fuels such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (GAS) to encourage to shift from the use of firewood for cooking

Source: UEW
Households’ willingness to pay for improved solid waste management service_ the case of Kasoa, Ghana

Solid waste management is an integral component of sustainable development for any nation and prioritizing solid waste management is greatly supported as global initiative. This study investigated household Willingness to Pay (WTP) for improved Solid Waste Management (SWM) services in Kasoa. A cross-sectional survey design was employed for this study. Data was obtained from 276 households in six electoral areas within Kasoa. The study analysed households‘ Willingness to Pay and subsequently their Maximum Willingness to Pay for improved SWM service as well as the factors that influenced their Willingness to Pay. To elicit Willingness to Pay, an open-ended Contingent Valuation Model was employed for the data collection. Probit and Ordered Probit Models were used in the empirical analysis to determine the factors that influence Willingness to Pay and Maximum Willingness to Pay of households for improved SWM service respectively. The results revealed that 73.9% of respondents were willing to pay at a maximum fee of 15Ghc per month for improved SWM service. The outcome of the study shows that, age, average monthly income, collection frequency, employment status, level of education (tertiary), house ownership and service satisfaction were the factors that significantly influenced household‘s willingness and maximum willingness to pay for an improved SWM service. The study recommends that government and various stake holders should make efforts towards improving residents' income as willingness to pay relates positively to income. More so, a flat rate should not be charged across households since household Maximum Willingness to Pay values vary among households

Source: UEW
Housing affordability among Public sector workers the case study of Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly

Housing has come to be accepted on various platforms as one of the most essential elements in our lives. The need to provide adequate, decent and affordable housing has remained a top priority of every government in Ghana. This problem is further heightened in the urban settings due to rapid urbanization. One critical element that cannot be overlooked is the issue of providing affordable housing to public sector workers. The study adopted the mixed approach method by purposively selecting public sector worker in Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. A total of 250 public sector workers participated in the study from the four sub-metros of the metropolis using a developed questionnaire with both qualitative and quantitative aspects. Findings from the study indicate that public sector workers in Sekondi-Takoradi rely mostly on self enquiries and friends or relatives in their search for affordable housing by mostly using their saving. The factors the influence their choice of affordable housing were accessibility factors, housing characteristics and financial factors. Availability accessibility and financial challenges were also identified as the challenges public sector workers in Sekondi-Takoradi faced in getting affordable housing. It is recommended that public sector agencies should assist their employees by building apartments to accommodate them.

Source: UEW
How and when does digital innovation capabilities affect firm performance.

In the fast-paced, constantly-changing modern world, gaining and maintaining logistics excellence demands more effort. The main objective of the study is to examine when and how digital innovation capabilities influence firm performance. The quantitative research approach was adopted. Also, explanatory and descriptive research design was employed. Cross-sectional survey strategy was utilized with questionnaire serving as the instrument of data collection. The study adopted convenience sampling and purposive sampling techniques in sampling firms and respondents respectively. The quantitative data collected was analyzed descriptively and inferentially using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS latest version). The findings of the study indicated that digital innovation capabilities are very essential in firm performance. Also, the findings of the study indicated supply chain visibility mediates the relationship between digital innovation capabilities and firm performance. The findings of the study indicated that supply chain responsiveness does not moderate the relationship between digital innovation capabilities and firm performance. The study recommends that firms firm develop dynamic capabilities such as supply chain responsiveness to maximize the benefits of digital innovation capabilities in influencing firm performance.

Source: UEW
How effective are police road presence and enforcement in a developing country context?

Traffic enforcement and associated penalties are essential in any successful road safety strategy. Available literature identifies both traditional and automated traffic enforcement. Ghana employs traditional traffic enforcement involving visible police officers enforcing traffic rules and regulations on the roadways. This phenomenological study explores the perceived effectiveness of police road presence as a road safety strategy in the Ghanaian context. Data for the analysis came from in-depth interviews of 42 people recruited as a convenience sample (comprising 25 commercial drivers, 12 private drivers, and five traffic police officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service). The study results suggest widespread driver road tactics to outwit the traffic police officers, police extortion and driver bribery (road traffic corruption), and punishment avoidance. These behaviours undermine deterrence and negate the seriousness and expected general deterrent effect of the police road presence and enforcement. This study provides an initial exploration of the effectiveness (or otherwise) of police road presence and enforcement in the context of a developing country. Additional studies are, however, needed to explore this phenomenon further. � 2022, The Author(s).

Source: UEW