ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Contraceptive use intentions and unmet need for family planning among reproductive-aged women in the Upper East Region of Ghana 11 Medical and Health Sciences 1117 Public Health and Health Services 11 Medical and Health Sciences 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine

Background: Motivations for use of contraceptives vary across populations. While some women use contraceptives for birth spacing, others adopt contraception for stopping childbearing. As part of efforts to guide the policy framework to promote contraceptive utilization among women in Ghana, this paper examines the intentions for contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women in one of the most impoverished regions of Ghana. Methods: This paper utilizes data collected in 2011 from seven districts in the Upper East Region of northern Ghana to examine whether women who reported the use of contraceptives did so for the purposes of stopping or spacing childbirth. A total of 5511 women were interviewed on various health and reproductive health related issues, including fertility and family planning behavior. Women were asked if they would like to have any more children (for those who already had children or those who were pregnant at the time of the survey). Results: The prevalence of contraceptive use was low at 13%, while unmet need is highly pervasive and demand for family planning is predominantly for spacing future childbearing rather than for the purpose of stopping. Overall, about 31.7%of women not using contraceptives reported a need for spacing while 17.6% expressed a need for limiting. Thus, the latent demand for family planning is dominated by preferences for space rather than limiting childbearing. Conclusion: Results show that there is latent demand for family planning and therefore if family planning programs are appropriately implemented they can yield the desired impact.

Source: UG
Contradictions between commercializing seeds, empowering smallholders farmers, and promoting biodiversity in Ghana: Seed policy within a historical framework

This article critically examines the agricultural development agenda of promoting commercialization and sustainable intensification and contrasts this with farmers’ own priorities, with case studies drawn from the maize and cocoa sectors in Ghana. The study investigates the relationship between agricultural development paradigms, seed breeding strategies, and the commercialization of agriculture from the 1950s to present. It returns to the debates of farming systems research, the appropriation of the agricultural varieties of farmers within the South by Northern agribusiness, and Paul Richards’ framework of an Indigenous African agricultural revolution rooted in the experimental traditions of farmers to establish a critical framework for examining the commodification of seeds. It focuses on the contradictions between maintaining biodiversity, fashioning high-yielding proprietary seeds, and promoting farmer participation that became manifest in the framework of farming systems research. It argues that commercial pressures have prioritized yields and the protection of proprietary varieties over biodiversity in policy frameworks. This contrast with farmers’ own concerns with adapting varieties to the conditions on their farms through their own experimentation, and maintaining a diversity of changing genetic materials including those drawn from certified varieties. This enables farmers to hedge against risk, disease, and pest attacks, while selecting varietal materials that optimize yields in the particular agroecological conditions of their farms. Although social participation is still upheld as an important value in liberal market agrarian policies, there has been a significant transformation in its usage. It no longer denotes farmer participation in the design of and experimentation with technology, but participation in the consumption of the agricultural products of agribusiness or in the agricultural technology treadmill. This contribution examines the implication of smallholder agricultural commercialization for biodiversity and for the dynamism and vitality of local farming systems.

Source: UG
Contradictions in TQM implementation: A proposed balance from the Ghanaian perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to confirm the existence of contradictions in total quality management (TQM) implementation among some Ghanaian companies and to provide a framework for balancing these contradictions. Design/methodology/approach Closed-ended questionnaires were used as a survey instrument. A sample of 80 managers from 40 Ghanaian multinational companies implementing TQM responded to the questionnaires. Findings The results showed that the implementation of TQM comes with inherent contradictions, which may hinder the success of TQM if not checked. Three pairs of contradictions were established in this study, namely “Standardization vs Innovation,” “Manipulation vs Empowerment,” and “Collectivism vs Individualism.” A framework was proposed to balance these contradictions in order to ensure TQM success. Research limitations/implications The study used all the 40 ISO certified firms in Ghana, but this number is quite small relative to ISO certified firms worldwide. Further, the study was done in Ghana and, for these reasons, generalization to the rest of the world is limited. Practical implications The proposed framework when applied by managers to balance the contradictions will achieve success in TQM implementation. Originality/value Previous studies have talked about the existence of the contradictions. This paper proposes a framework to balance the existing contradictions. This framework is new and has never been proposed in the literature to minimize the adverse effects of these contradictions on a firm’s profit generation.

Source: UG
Contrasting Asymptomatic and Drug Resistance Gene Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum in Ghana: Implications on Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention

Malaria is a significant public health problem in Ghana. Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) using a combination of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine has been implemented since 2015 in northern Ghana where malaria transmission is intense and seasonal. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum carriers in three ecological zones of Ghana, and compared the sensitivity and specificity of di erent molecular methods in identifying asymptomatic infections. Moreover, we examined the frequency of mutations in pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr, and pfdhps that relate to the ongoing SMC. A total of 535 asymptomatic schoolchildren were screened by microscopy and PCR (18s rRNA and TARE-2) methods. Among all samples, 28.6% were detected as positive by 18S nested PCR, whereas 19.6% were detected by microscopy. A high PCR-based asymptomatic prevalence was observed in the north (51%) compared to in the central (27.8%) and south (16.9%). The prevalence of pfdhfr-N51I/C59R/S108N/pfdhps-A437G quadruple mutant associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance was significantly higher in the north where SMC was implemented. Compared to 18S rRNA, TARE-2 serves as a more sensitive molecular marker for detecting submicroscopic asymptomatic infections in high and low transmission settings. These findings establish a baseline for monitoring P. falciparum prevalence and resistance in response to SMC over time.

Source: UG
The Contribution of Academic Migration to Timbuktu’s Arabic-Islamic Scholarship and Manuscripts Culture in the Golden Era

Academic migration is increasingly emerging as a distinctive field of pursuit in migration studies, however it has a longstanding history in Arabic and Islamic culture. This has been attributed to the Quranic and Hadith injunctions that encourage Muslims to travel in quest of Knowledge. This study examines the impact of academic migration on Arabic and Islamic scholarship in Timbuktu in the Golden era in order to demonstrate how that consolidated Arabic and Islamic education in West Africa. The paper contends that of all the factors that brought home fame and recognition to Timbuktu, and earned her the accolade "the pearl of the desert", the movement of people into and out of Timbuktu has been unsurpassed, and that Academic migration was instrumental in the transformation of Timbuktu into a center of academic excellence, and the utimate destination of scholars and teachers. The study seeks to enrich our understanding of this critical issue, which has so far received only minimal attention, especially in languages other than Arabic.

Source: UG
The contribution of bank and surface sediments to fluvial sediment transport of the Pra river

Sediment source studies involving a simple mixing model was undertaken in the Pra River Basin in Ghana 210 using a single tracer 210 Pb to determine the relative contribution of surface and bank sediments to the fluvial sediment transport. Sediment source tracing was performed on the basis of sub-basins by comparing the 210 concentration of 210 Pb in fluvial sediments to the bank sediments and potential surface sediment sources. The potential sediment source types sampled for analysis included surface sediments from arable top soils, illegal mining sites, path/untarred roads leading to rivers, gullies and gutters from settlements and farms. For bank erosion, river channel bank materials were sampled. Lead-210 fallout was determined by alpha spectrometry using the low background Gas-less Automatic Alpha counting system (Canberra iMatic™). Results showed that bank material was the dominant sediments and accounted for over 60% of suspended sediment loads in all tributaries. Measures should be put in place to control the entrainment of bank materials since bank sediments constitute a larger proportion of the fluvial sediments. High fluvial sediment load is known to have geomorphological, hydrological, water resource management and ecological implications. © 2017 Ecological Laboratory. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Contribution of child health interventions to under-five mortality decline in Ghana: A modeling study using lives saved and missed opportunity tools

Abstract Background Increased coverage of interventions have been advocated to reduce under-five mortality. However, Ghana failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on child survival in 2015 despite improved coverage levels of some child health interventions. Therefore, there is the need to determine which interventions contributed the most to mortality reduction and those that can further rapidly reduce mortality to inform the prioritization of the scale-up of interventions. Materials and methods Deterministic mathematical modeling was done using Lives Saved and Missed Opportunity Tools. Secondary data was used, and the period of the evaluation was between 2008 and 2014. Some of the interventions assessed were complementary feeding, skilled delivery, and rotavirus vaccine. Results A total of 48,084 lives were saved from changes in coverage of interventions and a reduction in the prevalence of stunting and wasting. Reduction in wasting prevalence saved 10,372 (21.6%) lives, insecticide-treated net/indoor residual spraying 6,437(13.4%) lives saved, reduction in stunting 4,315(9%) lives saved and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) 4,325(9.0%) lives saved. If coverage levels of interventions in 2014 were scaled up to 90% in 2015, among neonates, full supportive care for prematurity (5,435 lives saved), full supportive care for neonatal sepsis/pneumonia (3,002 lives saved), and assisted vaginal delivery (2,163 lives saved), would have saved the most lives among neonates, while ACTs (4,925 lives saved), oral rehydration salts (ORS) (2,056 lives saved), and antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia (1,805 lives saved) would have made the most impact on lives saved among children 1–59 months. Lastly, if all the interventions were at 100% coverage in 2014, the under-five mortality rate would have been 40.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014. Discussion The state of the package of interventions will likely not lead to rapid mortality reduction. Coverage and quality of childbirth-related interventions should be increased. Additionally, avenues to further reduce stunting and wasting, including increased breastfeeding and complementary feeding, will be beneficial.

Source: UG
Contribution of diabetes to amputations in sub-Sahara Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Diabetes related amputations remain a major global problem, with devastating complications. We critically appraised relevant literature to quantify the prevalence of diabetes related amputations in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). An electronic search was performed using the EMBASE and PubMed databases until 2020. Twenty-four out of 834 studies retrieved were included. The pooled prevalence of diabetic-related amputations was 36.9% (95%CI: 32.9%–40.8%). Complications of diabetes related amputations included infection, anaemia, foot deformity and mortality. The study revealed a substantial contribution of diabetes to the burden of amputations in SSA and suggests the need for further studies to assess how to reduce the incidence of diabetes, reduce the incidence of and or delay the progression of macro and microvascular complications of diabetes in SSA.

Source: UG
The contribution of enterprise establishment factors to employment growth of the pineapple industry in the Nsawam- Adoagyiri District in the Eastern Region of Ghana

The establishment of enterprises is influenced by various factors identified in the theories of enterprise establishment. However, most entrepreneurs do not pay particular attention to such factors when establishing and managing their enterprises. The aim of this study is to examine how enterprise establishment factors contribute to employment growth of the pineapple industry in Nsawam-Adoagyiri District. The enterprise establishment factors investigated in this study are the basic tasks identified by the entrepreneur, availability of funds for enterprise establishment, business information and entrepreneur’s expertise from previous education and previous work. A survey was conducted using mixed methods research. Data were collected from 172 entrepreneurs in the pineapple industry from eight farmer based organizations randomly selected from Nsawam-Adoagyiri District of Ghana. The data were analyzed with SPSS software using Chi square and multiple regression analysis. The results show that availability of funds for enterprise establishment contributed significantly to employment growth. The study found that business information did not contribute to employment growth of the pineapple industry in the study area. While entrepreneurs’ expertise acquired from educational background did not contribute significantly to employment growth of the industry, entrepreneurs’ expertise from previous work background contributed significantly to employment growth. The regression analysis showed that the enterprise establishment factors investigated in this research explain 52% of the variations in employment growth in the pineapple industry in the study area. It can therefore be concluded that enterprise establishment factors do not only influence the enterprise establishment process but also contribute to employment growth of the pineapple industry in the study area.

Source: UG
The contribution of non-cash remittances to the welfare of households in the Kassena-Nankana District, Ghana

This study examined the flow of non-cash remittances in the Kassena-Nankana District in Ghana. Twenty in-depth interviews were held with recipients (respondents) of non-cash remittances and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that non-cash remittances were in the form of foodstuff and electronic appliances and they were used for various purposes. The perspectives and experiences of respondents indicate that these transfers contribute significantly to improving household welfare. Thus, establishing institutional policies to facilitate the flow of non-cash remittances will not only benefit recipients but can also contribute to the socio-economic development of receiving countries through taxation.

Source: UG
Contribution of Refractive Errors to Visual Impairment in Patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Objective: To determine the contribution of refractive error to visual impairment in visually impaired patients attending Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Method: This study was conducted over a period of 1 year beginning October 2002 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Every 4th consecutive new case attending the eye clinic, aged 6 years and above was selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A Snellen’s chart was used to determine the unaided visual acuity, visual acuity with spectacles where the patient was wearing one, and visual acuity with pin hole with or without spectacles. Improvement in visual acuity by 2 or more lines on the Snellen’s chart when looking through the pin hole was regarded as an indication of refractive error. Results: A total of 1,069 respondents, 594 female and 475 male were recruited into the study. One hundred and fifteen (115) patients (10.76%) were found to have impaired vision (Visual acuity worse than 6/18 to PL in the better eye). The vision of 51 of those with impaired vision improved when looking through the pin hole. Refractive error with Visual Acuity worse than 6/18 was present in 4.8% of all patients who attended the eye clinic. Refractive error was present in 44.3% of patients with visual impairment. Conclusion: Visual impairment was a common presentation and uncorrected refractive error was a major cause of visual impairment.

Source: UG
Contribution of scaling up nutrition Academic Platforms to nutrition capacity strengthening in Africa: local efforts, continental prospects and challenges

Addressing contemporary nutrition problems often requires the application of knowledge from multiple disciplines. The scaling up nutrition (SUN) movement harnesses multiple sectors for effective global and in-country planning and implementation. Although the role of knowledge networks (academia and research institutions) is recognized, the how of engaging knowledge networks in the current SUN architecture is only now becoming apparent. For relevant sectors to play their roles effectively, observed capacity gaps, particularly in developing country settings, need to be addressed. The present paper presents the work being undertaken by the Ghana SUN Academic Platform (AP), a local knowledge network, towards strengthening nutrition capacity in Ghana. The AP presently provides technical support, evidence, and capacity towards scaling up effective nutrition interventions in Ghana and beyond. The data presented draws heavily on the observations and collective experiences of the authors in practice, complemented by a review of relevant literature. The ultimate goal of the AP is to build a cap acity of professionals from nutrition and cognate sectors (including planning, agriculture, health, economics, research, and academia). This is an essential ingredient for effective and durable SUN efforts. The paper recognizes that both disciplinary and interdisciplinary capacity is required for effective SUN efforts in Africa, and offers an approach that utilizes cross-sector/inter-professional, peer-learning, and experiential learning initiatives.

Source: UG
The Contribution of the Department for International Development (DFID) to Rural Development in Ghana

Development aid continues to play an important role in the economies of developing countries. It is an important capital injection for most African states, including Ghana. This study assesses the contribution of the Department for International Development (DFID) to rural development in Ghana. It also, reviews and describes DFID’s development interventions in line with Ghana’s national development blueprint, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA). Based on interviews and secondary sources, the study concluded that the DFID plays a significant role in rural development, despite funding constraints. Its development interventions are in the area of health, education, poverty reduction, wealth creation and governance, thus complementing Ghana’s effort toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The study recommends that the Nation Development Planning Commission (NDPC) coordinates all development aid activities in order to target development trapped sectors and to avoid duplications, especially in rural communities. Also, Ghana should reduce its overdependence on development aid and redirect its effort towards domestic capital accumulation for development interventions in rural communities to promote national growth.

Source: UG
The Contribution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to Regional Integration in Africa

The promotion of regional integration in Africa has been on the agenda of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) since its inception in 1958. In spite of the activities and programmes adopted by the ECA to further this agenda on the continent, achieving greater integration has proved elusive and most of the regional integration arrangements on the continent have not achieved the expected results. Some of the programmes of the ECA have achieved limited success whilst others have failed altogether. Using mainly primary sources, complemented by secondary data, this study sought to evaluate the contributions of the ECA to regional integration in Africa, as well as the critical challenges that hinder the smooth and successful implementation of its programmes to enhance the integration process on the continent. The study found that although the ECA has contributed enormously to the progress of integration on the continent, major challenges such as inadequate finance and human resource within the organization, poor infrastructure on the continent and the multiplicity of Regional Economic Communities in Africa, among others, have hindered the ECA from effectively contributing to the integration of Africa. The study offered recommendations on how the ECA can better aid Africa in the future to deepen integration.

Source: UG
The Contribution of the World Bank in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 in Ghana: A Case Study of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Project

United Nation member states adopted a 15-year plan ( 17 SDGs) in 2015 to eradicate poverty and make sustainable development a reality. SDG 6 (Universal access to water and sanitation) is one of the goals and the achievement of this objective is a significant challenge to developing nations as a result of the absence of political will, financial constraints, overpopulation, etc. World Bank has been a major contributor to this sector globally by funding projects to ensure access to water and sanitation. The study examined the World Bank GAMA project in Ghana which was implemented in 2013 and projected to end in 2020 and how it will help Ghana achieve SDG 6. To investigate this issue, qualitative research method was used in conducting the research with purposive sampling method. The conceptual framework of Human Security was used with emphasis on environmental security. Data for the study were obtained from primary sources through semi-structured interviews and from secondary data sources. The study found out that the project has put in place some mechanisms which have increased access to water and sanitation and improved the quality of life of the people with other secondary benefits such as health, economic, social, environmental benefits, among others. However, the project is faced with implementation challenges such as availability of land, human resource constraints, financial constraints, among others. The study recommends that all stakeholders must be engaged extensively, contractors with financial capacity should be employed, there should be a thorough assessment of the targeted areas and the implementing teams must be resourced efficiently while ensuring effective enforcement of sanitation laws and building codes

Source: UG