ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Logistic Regression Analysis to Determine Risk Factors for the Clinical Diagnosis of Diabetes; Case Study: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (2008-2009)

The study was conducted to find out if factors like age, gender, occupation status, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertensive, contribute to the clinical diagnosis of diabetic. The data used for the study was a secondary data from the physiotherapy department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Two years data was sampled out, that was, 2008 and 2009. The software package used for the analysis of the data was SAS, version 9.1. The preliminary results which involved an independent test of our outcome variable, diabetes, with all the predictor variables (alcohol, smoking, hypertension, cholesterol level, gender, family history, occupation, and marital status) showed that alcohol, hypertension, cholesterol level, and occupation were statistically significant at 5% to the outcome of diabetes. Marital status, smoking, family history and gender were not statistically significant to diabetes. A test of association between diabetes and alcohol with gender as a confounder showed that one can get diabetes when he/she consumes alcohol and this can be influenced by the gender of the person. The results from the statistical package showed that occupation, alcohol, cholesterol level and age were statistically significant to our outcome, diabetes. The odds ratio of occupation (0.497), alcohol (1.958), cholesterol level (2.259) and age (1.021) showed that the unemployed, those who take alcohol, and people with high cholesterol levels have a higher risk in getting diabetes. Age increase also increases one‘s risk to having diabetes.

Source: KNUST
A logistic regression model on some malaria intervention strategies: a case study of Obuasi Municipality

Some medical experts and researchers have in recent times expressed interest in Malaria due to its life threatening nature and debilitating effect especially on pregnant women and children. This study seeks to model the risk of reduction in malaria reporting by children under five years in the Obuasi Municipality given the types of interventions. Data gathered from a baseline survey across 22 clusters on a maximum of 508 sampled children is being modeled by means of logistic regression. The data was restricted to a 5-year span (2009 - 2014) because of the vested interest in the under 5- year group. A paired t-test which compares the p-value of 0.00 to a threshold p-value of 0.05 was used to establish whether there is a significant difference between the two sets of data on clinical visits in the past and in the current year. The same test was used to establish that there was a mean reduction of 1:36 (with 1.53 standard deviation) in malaria reporting. Our analysis also provides some parameter estimates for our model. These are tested using Wald statistics and form the basis of our model equation. Again since our analysis of parameter estimates reveals that the parameter 1:2330 corresponding to the use of both IRS and ITN interventions only, has the least p-value of 0:0052 < 0:05, we conclude that children who experience both interventions are likely to risk reduction in malaria reporting and therefore contribute significantly to model.

Source: KNUST
A Logistic Regression Model for Motor Insurance Claims in Ghana: a Case Study of SIC Insurance Company Limited (SIC)

Motor insurance is only the insurance which is compulsory by law. The National Insurance Commission (NIC) which has the responsibility for the insurance industry currently supervises about 21 insurance companies, 2 reinsurance companies, 37 insurance brokerage companies and about 4,500 insurance agents. This number is currently not enough for the ever growing population of the nation. With thc collapse of some insurance companies, there has been the problem of how to handle most of the claims. Also the mere fact that industries in Ghana do not put emphasis on some of the risk factors in estimating motor insurance claims would give room for unfairness in making claim. It is in line with the foregoing claim problems of motor insurance that this 'study is designed to consider and critically examine some pertinent characteristics (called here risk factors) of the an insured vehicle attributing to motor claims. This was achieved by establishing a logistic regression model using these risk factors: sex of the policyholder, make of vehicle, age of vehicle at point of entry, and cubic capacity of vehicle. The data were obtained from the Motor Claims Department of SIC Insurance Company Limited (SIC) for the period, 2007 - 2008. The results from the various analyses revealed that only the two risk factors: the vehicle make (FIAT, NISSAN, TOYOTA, BMW), and vehicles aged at least 6 years at point of entry contribute significantly to the prediction of a motor insurance claim. The odds ratios analysis also showed that these makes of vehicle make more claims compared to OPEL while all the relatively old insured vehicles are less likely to make a claim compared to insured vehicles not more than five years old.

Source: KNUST
Logistic Regression Model of Stillbirths in Asutifi South District Case Study: St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital, Hwidiem.

Stillbirths in the developing world are more common than the deaths of babies after births and it remains a serious public health issue. Even though stillbirths are preventable, there has been a sharp rise in the rate of stillbirths in the Asutifi South District of Brong Ahafo Region. Using data obtained from the delivery book register and inpatient folders at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital, this study examines the rate and determinant risk factors associated with stillbirth occurrence at the Asutifi South District. Retrospective data on relevant variables of maternal and fetal characteristics were extracted from the delivery book register and inpatient folders of those who delivered at the facility over the study period. The extracted data used in this study covers from January 2015 to December 2016. Binary logistic regression technique was employed to determine the risk factors associated with stillbirth occurrence. Out of the 4925 deliveries, 130 of them, representing 2.6% were stillbirths; this means that 26 out every 1000 deliveries are born stillbirth in the district. From the binary logistic regression, the study indicates that, pregnant women who had given birth to one child before, those who gave birth through spontaneous vaginal delivery, those with a fetal birth weight of less than 2.5 kg and those who had attended antenatal care visits for one to three times before delivery were found to be the significant risk factors of experiencing stillbirth. The study revealed a high rate of stillbirths in the district and some of the determinant risk factors associated with stillbirth occurrence were also identified.

Source: KNUST
Logistics flexibility and sustainability performance: the mediating role of supply chain resilience

Logistics flexibility is an essential aspect of modern supply chain management, providing companies with the ability to respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions, customer demands, and unexpected disruptions. The study examines the mediating role of supply chain resilience on the relationship between logistics flexibility and sustainability performance, using the resource-based view and dynamic capability theories as the theoretical foundation. The study adopts ana explanatory research design to examine the relationship between logistics flexibility, supply chain resilience and sustainability performance. The research strategy was a survey of manufacturing firms in Ghana. The study adopted a quantitative research approach. The sampling technique adopted in this study is simple random sampling. The research approach is quantitative. The study targets Manufacturing Firms operating within the Greater Accra Region. Based on data obtained from 149 respondents, the study revealed no significant despite a positive relationship between logistics flexibility and sustainability. The study, however revealed a positive and significant effect of supply chain resilience on sustainability performance. Finally, the revealed an indirect effect of logistics flexibility on sustainability performance via supply chain resilience. The study recommends that supply chain managers to always make the conscious effort to enhance their supply chain resilience as part of their logistics flexibility initiatives. The study also recommends that, to increase social, economic and environmental sustainability throughout a firm’s supply chain, supply chain managers should work to increase their resilience

Source: KNUST
Logit Model for the Determinants of Drug Driving: A Case of Commercial Drivers in Ghana

Generally, significant proportion of road accidents can be attributed to drug driving globally. The recent rise in the number of road traffic accidents by a report of the Ghana National Road Safety Commission in 2012, calls for a review of drug driving. This study was conducted to asses the use of drugs by commercial drivers in Ghana and to determine the social factors that contribute to drug driving. A self administered questionnaire was used. A sample of 300 questionnaires were administered and duly edited thereafter to ensure consistency as well as clarity and reliability. The purposive sampling approach was used to select commercial bus and cargo terminals of some regions based on the locations of the terminals and the population of vehicles. The backward elimination regression model-building technique was used to select the significant variable(s) into a tted logistic regression model. A 5 percent statistical significance level is required for a variable to stay in a model. All respondents were male adults within the active productive age and 41 percent are illiterate. Approximately, 34 percent of the respondents admitted using drug when driving and 70 percent learn how to drive from unapproved driving institutions. Level of education, Time used to drive, Mode of training and Distance traveled were the most significant variables associated with the use of drug by commercial drivers. There are significant association between Levels of educational, Distance traveled, Time (hours) used to drive and Drug Use by commercial drivers in Ghana. Drug driving is a threat to the transportation industry and measures should be taking to address this problem.

Source: KNUST
Longevity risk hedging and annuity pricing for re-insurance: A case study of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)

Predicting mortality trend and hedging of longevity risk in recent times has gained attention at a period when life expectancies are increasing unexpectedly. Due to advancement in technology, hygienic and medical practices, life insurance companies may achieve more profit because their liabilities will reduce since death benefit payments are paid whilst the annuity insurance scheme such as pensions may incur losses because of longevity improvement. The study seeks to investigate if there exists longevity risk pose to SSNIT and how they can reinsure the pensioners after the guarantee period of 15 years. Data collected from SSNIT covered the period 1991 – 2013 and Lee Carter model was used to predict future male mortality trend of the study. The study proposed that, SSNIT can insure the pensioners by acquiring life annuities from private life companies and individual longevity risk can be hedged through acquiring a life annuity from private life insurance companies since using Lee Carter model has proved that there is improvement in longevity.

Source: KNUST
Long-term virological outcomes of replacing zidovudine or stavudine with tenofovir in the absence of routine virological monitoring in Kumasi, Ghana

Whilst access to ART is successfully expanding in Africa, long-term outcomes remain poorly investigated. This study addressed the outcomes of introducing tenofovir (TDF) in place of zidovudine (ZDV) or stavudine (d4T) among Ghanaian adults receiving HIV care in the absence of routine virological monitoring and determined the associated clinical and psychosocial dimensions.

Source: KNUST
Longitudinal Data Analysis of the Academic Performance of CEMBA Students; Case Study; Accra, Kumasi-IDL (KNUST)

The purpose of the study is to assess the academic performance of CEMBA students at the Accra and Kumasi centres of institute of distance learning, KNUST. In all about 437 students for the (2009/2010) were considered for the study. Students‟ semester weighted average (SWA) for three semesters were considered as a dependent variable and their age, sex and centre were considered as explanatory variables. Linear mixed effect model was fitted for the data available using the SAS 9.0 software. It was concluded that the student’s academic performance does not depend on their gender. But centre and age were found to be significant. For the start of semester one, on the average Kumasi centre performed better than the Accra centre but the situation changed over the three semesters. Also young students performed better on the average at the start of semester one. The recommendations were that the authorities should have a second look at the facilities at the Accra centre and that the number of the explanatory variables should be widen thus, questionnaire can be designed to look at the attitude of students next time a similar research is been undertaken at the same institute.

Source: KNUST
Long memory behaviour and predictability of stock returns. A case of Ghana stock exchange.

This research work explores the long memory behaviour on Ghana stock Exchange (GSE). It further seeks to examine long memory in both equity returns and volatility using the weak-form version of the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) as a criterion. The estimates are based on daily closing prices of seven (7) stocks listed on the GSE. The data were changed into compounded returns by taking the first difference of the natural logarithm of the daily closing prices. The study employs unit root, variance ratio, ARFIMA and FIGARCH models to estimate the long memory parameter in order to unearth the weak-form inefficiency ascertained by other researchers. The results showed that these stocks display a predictable component in returns. In general, these findings contradict the precepts of the EMH and a variety of remedial policies are suggested. The evidence which recommends the null hypothesis of the price series as random walk processes is strongly rejected for all the stocks, at any of the intervals of k at the 1% significant level. The results of the ARFIMA-FIGARCH model suggest that stock returns in GSE are characterised by stochastic processes which have a potentially predictable component, this in turn implies a departure from the EMH suggesting that relevant market information was only partially reflected in stock price changes. This pattern of time dependence in stock returns may allow for past information to be used to improve the predictability of future returns. To improve the efficiency of the market, there must be approval of electronic trading platform, which takes into account the selection of a fundamental store framework that, can enhance the accuracy to speed the flow of information in order ensure a safe flow of information to market applicants and enhance the efficiency of the market.

Source: KNUST
Loss severity of claims amounts in motor insurance. A case study of State Insurance Company

General Insurance companies in Ghana are confronted with problems when they want to use past or present claims amounts in forecasting future claim severity. This study seeks to determine an appropriate statistical distribution for the claims amounts of SIC, to determine the posterior distribution of the claims amounts of SIC, and to estimate the expected future claims amounts of SIC using Bayesian methodology. Secondary data from motor policy was obtained from State Insurance Company (SIC) over a period of one year (from January 2015 to December 2015) was used. Claims data that were above GHS 4,000 were considered by the researcher. The analysis of the data was done using Excel, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and EasyFit software. The research work revealed that the claims data and the posterior distribution of the claim amount followed log-normal distribution and the expected future claim amount is GHS 21,525.27.

Source: KNUST
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Laboratory Confirmation of Buruli Ulcer Disease—Towards a Point-of-Care Test

As the major burden of Buruli ulcer disease (BUD) occurs in remote rural areas, development of point-of-care (POC) tests is considered a research priority to bring diagnostic services closer to the patients. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a simple, robust and cost-effective technology, has been selected as a promising POC test candidate. Three BUD-specific LAMP assays are available to date, but various technical challenges still hamper decentralized application. To overcome the requirement of cold-chains for transport and storage of reagents, the aim of this study was to establish a dry-reagentbased LAMP assay (DRB-LAMP) employing lyophilized reagents.

Source: KNUST
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based detection of typhoid fever on an automated Genie II Mk2 system – A case-control-based approach

Typhoid fever, caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi, is an important cause of blood stream infections in the tropics, for which easy-to-apply molecular diagnostic approaches are desirable. The diagnostic performance of a newly introduced and a previously described loop-mediated isothermal am plification (LAMP) approach using different primer sets on a Genie II Mk2 device for the identification of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica ser. Typhi was evaluated with well-characterized residual materials from the tropics in a case control-based approach. After in-vitro confirmation of binding characteristics of both LAMP primer sets with culture isolates (n = 112), sensitivity and specificity were 100% for the newly designed new LAMP primer set 1 with incubated blood culture materials, while specificity was reduced to 97.1% for primer set 2. For 170 EDTA blood samples, sensitivity and specificity were 10% and 98.3% for primer set 1 as well as 38.0% and 83.3% for primer set 2, respectively; qPCR from EDTA blood did not score much better with 10% sensitivity and 100% specificity. LAMP using a Genie II Mk2 device is suitable for the identification of Salmonella enterica spp. enterica ser. Typhi from incubated blood culture materials. Sensitivity and specificity were insufficient for diagnosis directly from EDTA blood samples but LAMP showed similar sensitivity as qPCR.

Source: KNUST
Lost children: a critical analysis of child soldiering in Uzodinma Iweala’s beasts of no nation and Ishmael Beah’s a long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier.

In the Child Soldiers International Annual Report (2017-2018), it is revealed that globally, over 10,000 children were formally released from armed forces and groups during 2017. Delivering his annual report on children and armed conflict to the Security Council in 2021, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, revealed that more than 8,500 children were used as soldiers in the year 2020 in various conflicts across the world. Obviously, the high numbers of child soldiers witnessed over the years, especially in Africa is clearly indicative of the need for an unremitting discussion on the topic with the aim of ending this repugnant enterprise. It is for this reason that this thesis through textual analysis, anchored on the trauma theory and supported by the theory of literary realism, critically analyzes the child soldier phenomenon in Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, Beasts of No Nation (2005), and Ishmael Beah’s memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (2007). This research work concentrates on how the child soldier as a result of his traumatic experiences is rendered lost: a child who is robbed of his childhood and innocence and for that matter, transitions from a victim of war to a victimizer. By discussing the child soldier as the narrative voice, this research is able to explore the traumatic experiences of child soldiers through their own narrations. The child soldier’s loss of innocence and childhood is further highlighted after the war and during the period of rehabilitation. The difficulty experienced by the child soldier at this stage communicates how lost he has been rendered. KEYWORDS: Civil War, Child-soldier narrative, Child soldier, Trauma

Source: KNUST
Lost children: a critical analysis of child soldiering in uzodinma iweala’s beasts of no nation and Ishmael beah’s a long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier.

ABSTRACT In the Child Soldiers International Annual Report (2017-2018), it is revealed that globally, over 10,000 children were formally released from armed forces and groups during 2017. Delivering his annual report on children and armed conflict to the Security Council in 2021, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, revealed that more than 8,500 children were used as soldiers in the year 2020 in various conflicts across the world. Obviously, the high numbers of child soldiers witnessed over the years, especially in Africa is clearly indicative of the need for an unremitting discussion on the topic with the aim of ending this repugnant enterprise. It is for this reason that this thesis through textual analysis, anchored on the trauma theory and supported by the theory of literary realism, critically analyzes the child soldier phenomenon in Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, Beasts of No Nation (2005), and Ishmael Beah’s memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (2007). This research work concentrates on how the child soldier as a result of his traumatic experiences is rendered lost: a child who is robbed of his childhood and innocence and for that matter, transitions from a victim of war to a victimizer. By discussing the child soldier as the narrative voice, this research is able to explore the traumatic experiences of child soldiers through their own narrations. The child soldier’s loss of innocence and childhood is further highlighted after the war and during the period of rehabilitation. The difficulty experienced by the child soldier at this stage communicates how lost he has been rendered. KEYWORDS: Civil War, Child-soldier narrative, Child soldier, Trauma theory

Source: KNUST