ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic Evaluation and Risk Factors of Streptococcus Agalactiae Infection among Pregnant Women.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae, a Gram-positive bacterium in the gastrointestinal and gastro-urinary tract, is a significant culprit in bacterial infections among parturient mothers and their neonates. It leads to life-threatening situations among the infected despite the current advances in medical care. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Group B streptococcus colonization and compared different diagnostic approaches among pregnant women attending the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The research employed a cross-sectional comparative study of 150 pregnant women between the ages of 15 to 45 years, with a mean of 25.1 (±4.7) each for every trimester. Vaginal swab samples were collected from each participant and sent for microscopy, biochemical testing, culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the multiplex primer approach. The study reported a prevalence of 34.7% of GBS infection among the participants using the 16s rRNA PCR sequencing method as the standard. A comparison of the other PCR techniques and the culture method reported that the culture method was insensitive but specific. In all, no significant association was established between the prevalence of infection and the clinical information of participants. GBS was highly prevalent among the participants, and established protocol for diagnosis is urgent to curtail this disease.

Source: UCC
Diagnostic Yield of Fluorescence and Ziehl-Neelsen Staining Techniques in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Comparative Study in a District Health Facility

Background. Despite the recent advancement in diagnostic methods, the smear microscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in high burden countries like Ghana. Notwithstanding, fluorescence staining technique provides a more efficient option for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive smears. This study therefore aimed at assessing the diagnostic performance of fluorescence microscopy (FM) and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining techniques in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods. A comparative study was carried out on 100 patients who reported at the Out Patients Department (OPD) or the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) center of the Kade Government Hospital and were suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis. Two (2) sputum samples each were collected. This included one spot and one morning sample. The smears were prepared and stained with FM and ZN staining techniques. Xpert MTB/RIF assay was also performed. Results. Of the 200 samples analyzed, 71 (35.5%), 46 (23.0%), and 84 (42.0%) were positive for pulmonary tuberculosis when FM, ZN, and XPERT MTB/RIF assays were used, respectively. The mean reading time of FM was three times faster than the ZN technique with very good acceptance (1.5min: 4.6min). The sensitivity and specificity of fluorescent staining to that of XPERT MTB/RIF assay were 84.5% and 100%, respectively, while those of ZN staining were 54.8% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion. For a routine laboratory test in a resource-limited setting, our study has demonstrated that fluorescence staining technique is a more sensitive test for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis as compared to the conventional ZN technique.

Source: UCC
Diagnostic Yield of Fluorescence and Ziehl-Neelsen Staining Techniques in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Comparative Study in a District Health Facility

Despite the recent advancement in diagnostic methods, the smear microscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in high burden countries like Ghana. Notwithstanding, fluorescence staining technique provides a more efficient option for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive smears. This study therefore aimed at assessing the diagnostic performance of fluorescencemicroscopy (FM) and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining techniques in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods. A comparative study was carried out on 100 patients who reported at the Out Patients Department (OPD) or the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) center of the Kade Government Hospital and were suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis. Two (2) sputum samples each were collected. This included one spot and one morning sample. The smears were prepared and stained with FM and ZN staining techniques. Xpert MTB/RIF assay was also performed. Results. Of the 200 samples analyzed, 71 (35.5%), 46 (23.0%), and 84 (42.0%) were positive for pulmonary tuberculosis when FM, ZN, and XPERT MTB/RIF assays were used, respectively. The mean reading time of FMwas three times faster than the ZN technique with very good acceptance (1.5min: 4.6min).The sensitivity and specificity of fluorescent staining to that of XPERTMTB/RIF assay were 84.5% and 100%, respectively, while those of ZN staining were 54.8% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion. For a routine laboratory test in a resource-limited setting, our study has demonstrated that fluorescence staining technique is a more sensitive test for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis as compared to the conventional ZN technique.

Source: UCC
Diagnostically important muscle pathology in DNAJB6 mutated LGMD1D

Limb girdle muscular dystrophies are a large group of both dominantly and recessively inherited muscle diseases. LGMD1D is caused by mutated DNAJB6 and the molecular pathogenesis is mediated by defective chaperonal function leading to impaired handling of misfolded proteins which normally would be degraded. Here we aim to clarify muscle pathology of LGMD1D in order to facilitate diagnostic accuracy. After following six Finnish LGMD1D families, we analysed 21 muscle biopsies obtained from 15 patients at different time points after the onset of symptoms. All biopsies were obtained from the lower limb muscles and processed for routine histochemistry, extensive immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: Histopathological findings were myopathic or dystrophic combined with rimmed vacuolar pathology, and small myofibrillar aggregates. hese myofibrillar inclusions contained abnormal accumulation of a number of proteins such as myotilin, αB-crystallin and desmin on immunohistochemistry, and showed extensive myofibrillar disorganization with excess of Z-disk material on ultrastructure. Later in the disease process the rimmed vacuolar pathology dominated with rare cases of pronounced larger pleomorphic myofibrillar aggregates. he rimmed vacuoles were reactive for several markers of defect autophagy such as ubiquitin, DP-43, p62 and SMI-31. Conclusions: Since DNAJB6 is known to interact with members of the chaperone assisted selective autophagy complex (CASA), including BAG3 – a known myofibrillar myopathy causing gene, the molecular muscle pathology is apparently mediated through impaired functions of CASA and possibly other complexes needed for the maintenance of the Z-disk and sarcomeric structures. he corresponding findings on histopathology offer clues for the diagnosis

Source: UCC
Diallel analysis of maize in inbred lines (zea mays) for resistance to striga (striga hermonthica)

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. infest millions of hectares of land under cereals in sub-Saharan Africa, threatening food security. One of the major crops threatened is maize (Zea mays L.), a staple food for many Ghanaians. The objectives of this study were to investigate the combining ability and heritability of Striga-resistant maize inbred lines for the selection of superior lines for hybridization. A diaHel cross involving ten (10) maize inbred lines was made to produce forty-five (45) Fl single crosses excluding reciprocals. All 45 Fl 's with their parents were evaluated under artificially infested Striga fields at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) trial farms at Nyankpala using the randomized complete block design. The genotype means were partitioned into general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) effects according to Griffing method 2 model 2 diallel. The study found gca and sca effects to be significant (p < 0.01) for grain yield, days to flowering, plant height and Striga emergence count (STEC). Both additive and non-additive gene actions were thus responsible for these traits. The ratios of gca to sea components were relatively low, from 0.09 (STEC) to 0.46 (days to 50% silking), indicating that sca was important in predicting the F I hybrid performance. Heritability values for grain yield, days to flowering, plant height and STEC ranged from 0.72 for STEC to 0.98 for plant height, indicating that these traits can easily be transferred from the inbred lines to the single-cross hybrids. Inbred lines TZISTR 101, TZISTR 108 and TZISTR 102 were found to have good combining abilities for Striga resistance and may be exploited for single - cross hybrid development.

Source: UCC
Dialogic positioning in literature reviews of masters’ Theses in a Ghanaian University

Following insights from disciplinary variation studies on writer’s positioning and stance, there has been an interest in analyzing how academics engage in an academic interaction with their putative readers, by either fending off alternative views from their readers or allowing for the inclusion of their views. Using the engagement system of the appraisal theory propounded by Martin and White (2005) in analyzing 45 purposively sampled M.Phil theses submitted to the departments of Linguistics, Geography and Resource Development and Nutrition and Food Science of the University of Ghana, the study examined the various engagement resources used by M.Phil.students to limit the dialogic space, on one hand, and to allow for the inclusion of the views of their readers, on the other hand, while reviewing the works of other scholars in the literature review section of their masters’ theses. The study also probed further to examine the epistemological norms and conventions that inform the use of these resources in the theses submitted to the three selected departments.The analysis and discussion of the data revealed that M.Phil. students in the sciences are more dialogically contractive and dialogically expansive when constructing the literature review sections (henceforth, LR) of their theses. The analysis again revealed that unlike the humanities and social sciences, knowledge in the natural sciences is relatively more of an impersonal, inductive enterprise and this influences the engagement resources postgraduate students use while reviewing existing literature in their theses. The study contributes to postgraduate pedagogy, the appraisal theory and serves as a fertile ground for further research.

Source: UCC
Didactical conceptual structures in extending the triad to the tetrahedron exemplified in the teaching and learning of equations of the circle

The study explored didactical conceptual structures in extending the didactical triad to the tetrahedron in equations of the circle. Studies have shown that there are still inadequate interactions in the didactic triad and lack of knowledge of mathematics classrooms as indelible cultural forces. However, the didactic tetrahedron has helped students interact better in such situations. Therefore, the sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used in this study. This design adequately illuminated the interactions in the intersubjective didactic instructional models because meaning is based on one’s experiences and socially situated. The research population was 1,500 senior high school Elective Mathematics students. Out of this number, 500 students were randomly sampled through the use of table of random number procedures. This was subsequently followed up by a purposive sample of 12 students whose responses were so interesting for the qualitative data. Having satisfied statistical assumptions, controlled internal and external threats to validity, established reasonable reliability of instruments and confounded possible covariates, the researcher analysed the quantitative results with probability values, estimated marginal means, effect sizes and statistical powers. The results and findings showed that there were steady improvements in interactions in the didactic tetrahedron. This was evident in students’ scores in the tasks and equations of the circle. The interview transcripts confirmed and explained the reasons for these improvements. The researcher therefore, recommended among other things, that policy makers should adopt the didactic tetrahedron to enable students to fully interact during classroom discourse in order to enhance performance in elective mathematics.

Source: UCC
Diet-Related Lifestyle Diseases: Awareness of Persons in Selected Occupations in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Diet and lifestyle are major factors thought to influence susceptibility to many diseases. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of awareness of people in selected occupations in the Cape Coast Metropolis on diet related lifestyle diseases. It aims at examining the knowledge of persons about diet-related lifestyle diseases, lifestyle practices of persons in relation to diet-related lifestyle diseases, association between level of knowledge of diet-related lifestyle diseases and lifestyle practices, differences in knowledge of diet-related lifestyle diseases among persons with different socio-demographic factors, and differences in lifestyle practices among persons with different socio-demographic factors A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A total of 378 respondents were sampled for the study. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample 377 workers. An interview schedule was used as instrument for collecting data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test of independence were used to analyse the data. The study found that respondents did not have full knowledge about the constitution of diet-related lifestyle diseases as well as their causes. The recent diet-related lifestyle diseases that are common in the Metropolis were blood hypertension, kwashiorkor, ulcer, obesity and diabetes. Similarly, the number of people adopting alcohol as a lifestyle practice increases as the ages increase. The study recommends that the Metropolitan Directorate of Health should educate the populace on the constitution and the causes of diet-related lifestyle diseases

Source: UCC
Dietary Diversity Score during Pregnancy is Associated with Neonatal Low Apgar Score: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Apgar score is an established index of neonatal well-being and development. Nutrition during pregnancy is an accepted risk factor for neonatal low Apgar score. Objective: To investigate the association between dietary diversity score and low Apgar score. Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study. The study participants were 420 mothers who delivered and were attending the postnatal clinic at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital. Mothers’ dietary information during pregnancy was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. In reference to the FAOs women’s Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), the subjects were categorized into low, medium or high DDS. The primary outcome was Apgar score. Apgar scores < 5 were classified as low. Results: The mean age (± standard deviation, SD) of subjects was 26.7 ± 5.7 years with a range of 17 to 45 years. The prevalence of low Apgar score among the study population was 16.9%. Majority of the study participants had a low DDS in relation to low Apgar score whereas 7.5% had high DDS. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the odds of low Apgar score in the low DDS group was three times higher than those who had high DDS (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR= 3.10, 95% confidence interval, CI=1.23-4.48). Conclusion: Dietary diversity score during pregnancy was associated with a low Apgar score in the study area. The results of this study reinforce the significance of adequate nutrition during pregnancy in the study area.

Source: UCC
Dietary Modification Guidelines for Diabetic Patients: Are Final Year Nursing Students Prepared to Offer this Health Service?

It has been indicated that although the responsibility of offering nutrition education lies in the hands of mainly registered dietitians and certified diabetes educators, these professionals may not be available to diabetics as often as nurses. However, a review of the literature suggests that the nutritional knowledge level of nurses in the nutritional management of chronic health conditions may be low. Therefore this study was undertaken to assess the knowledge levels of final year nursing students regarding the nutritional management of Type II diabetes mellitus. The study design was cross-sectional and it was undertaken in two randomly selected Nursing Training Institutions in Ghana. A structured pretested questionnaire was administered among final year nursing students. Although respondents had adequate knowledge about the risk factors, signs and symptoms and preventive measures of diabetes, their knowledge levels on dietary management of diabetic conditions were poor in the areas of fat intake, use of glycemic index diets, reduction of intake of refined carbohydrate foods and alcohol intake in diabetic patients. The knowledge levels of the nursing students regarding the nutritional management of diabetes were not optimal, underscoring and perhaps suggesting the need to improve upon the content areas of nutrition courses that are taught in Nursing Training Institutions. It is recommended that dietitians are included in developing the curriculum of nutrition-related courses for training nurses.

Source: UCC
Dietary Practices And Associated Non-Communicable Diseases Among In-School Adolescents In Bekwai Municipal

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have gradually become common due to a cumulative cluster of factors such as poor dietary practices and a sedentary lifestyle. Poor dietary quality (high salt intake, high saturated and trans-fatty acid intake, and low fruit and vegetable consumption) and insufficient physical activity are key risk factors for NCD development. Therefore, the study investigated dietary practices and associated NCDs among adolescents in Bekwai Municipal. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey that employed a quantitative method. Simple random sampling and stratified sampling techniques were used to select students from four schools in the municipality. A total of 1,714 students participated in the study. Analysis was done using frequency, mean scores, Chi-square, Mann–Whitney test, and logic regression. Most (65%) of the adolescents had inadequate knowledge about NCDs. Most of the adolescents had poor dietary practices, and this was higher among girls than boys. Boys and girls differed in the intake of drinks, meat, fish, bread, dairy products, and fats. There was no association between the dietary practices of adolescents and the development of NCDs. However, those who consumed many fruits were 42% less likely to develop NCD. Being a female, traditionalist, and Muslim had increasing odd of developing NCDs. Females are at greater risk of being obese and overweight (X2=24.28, p-value=0.001). Thus, encouraging the consumption of fruits and vegetables and reducing the intake of unhealthy foods and beverages can help in reducing NCD risk among these adolescents.

Source: UCC
Differences among Age, Gender and School Factors in Ghanaian Senior Secondary School Students' Aspirations for Entrepreneurial Careers

Research has shown that demographic and contextual factors such as age, gender, among others have influence on secondary school students' aspirations for entrepreneurship careers. Again, it has been noted that entrepreneurial potential should be identified and evaluated at secondary school level so that teachers and counsellors will be more successful in augmenting entrepreneurial propensity at the stage of development in which individual career options are still open. This study therefore determined whether differences in age, gender and school factors influenced Ghanaian senior secondary school students' aspirations for entrepreneurial careers. The descriptive research design was adopted for this study. A total of 2,000 students were selectedfrom Forms 3 and 4 for the study. Five research questions were set to guide the study whilst multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the sample. A questionnaire titled “Self-Knowledge, Family Influence and Career Knowledge Level on Aspirations for Entrepreneurial Careers ” was used to obtain relevant data which were analysed using descriptive statistics. The conclusion of the study was that there were differences with respect to age, gender, course of study and school type in students' aspirations for entrepreneurial careers, while there was none regarding form/class level. Among the counselling implications are that counsellors must take into consideration personal and contextual variables of students during career counselling, especially in entrepreneurship, and also people in lower age groups must be encouraged to take up entrepreneurship, and thereafter business start-up activity. It was recommended that entrepreneurship education should be incorporated in the secondary school curriculum in Ghana, and entrepreneurial careers in particular, must not be stereotyped.

Source: UCC
Differences in effect between key soap and new Omo on the performance of Gtp wax prints

The purpose of the current research was to examine the effects of soap (key soap) and soapless detergent (new omo) on the colour change, dimensional stability and tensile strength of GTP wax prints. This is to find out if the rebranded omo has the same effect on printed fabrics as key soap to inform and increase consumers’ confidence in using new omo in taking proper care of their printed fabrics. This research used two wax prints fabrics (Adepa Dumas and Nustyle). The samples were bought from accredited distributors from the market and selected based on the differences in their brands and prices. A 2×2×5 factorial experimental research design using the laboratory method was employed. Data were collected using GSA premises and standards. The findings show that a difference of 70.780N between key soap and new omo caused a significant effect on the weft strength of Adepa Dumas and a difference of .130% and .120% respectively caused a significant effect in warp dimension of Adepa Dumas. The study also revealed that a difference of 42.720N between key soap and new omo caused a significant effect in the weft strength of Nutyle wax print, a difference of .080 units caused a significant effect in its colour change and a difference of .042% and .066% caused a significant change in the warp and weft dimensions respectively. The findings also revealed a significant interaction effect between washing soaps and their washing periods on the weft strength, the colour change, the warp and weft dimensions of Adepa Dumas and Nustyle after five washing periods. Therefore, it is recommended that more awareness should be created by Unilever Ghana Limited on the reliable use of the rebranded omo (new omo)

Source: UCC
Different shades of green: environmental management in hotels in Accra

This paper assesses the environmental management practices of different categories of hotels in Accra, Ghana. Managers of 200 hotels were surveyed, employing the stratified random sampling method. Results of the study indicate significant differences in the extent of environmental management of the hotels suggesting that the better the quality of a hotel, the better the environmental management performance. Suggestions are made towards improvement in waste management and voluntary environmental programs in small and medium hotels that did not perform well in those areas of environmental management

Source: UCC