ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A review of some medicinal plants with the potential to defeat antimicrobial resistance: Cases of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
A review of studies on green finance of banks, research gaps and future directions

With growing global concern for environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development, policymakers and researchers have recently focused on green finance. In this study, existing studies on green finance in the context of the banking sector have been reviewed with considerations on products and determinants of green finance. The content analysis approach has been used to critically analyse and summarize forty-six (46) relevant studies. The results found green securities, green investments, climate finance, carbon finance, green insurance, green credit and green infrastructural bonds as part of key green finance products of banks. Pertinent determinants the study found to be influencing green finance policies from banks include environmental and climate change policies, interest rates, religion, risks, social inclusion and social justice as well as banking regulations. In theory, this study provides a guide for further studies. The results of the study will assist banks on the key issues to consider in adopting, developing and granting green finance.

Source: UG
Review of the distribution of waterbirds in two tropical coastal Ramsar Lagoons in Ghana, West Africa

Areview of waterbirds was undertaken in two coastal Ramsar lagoons, namely the Keta and Muni Ramsar sites in Ghana, West Africa, from August 2010 to March 2012 to determine the status of diversity and abundance of key waterbired species that utilize the lagoons. A total of 20,217 of waterbirds belonging to 25 different species, 19 genera and 10 families were counted in the two lagoons. Maximum count of 19,757 contributing to 97.7% of the total counts was recorded in Keta Lagoon area while 460 contributing to 2.3% of the total count was recorded in the Muni Lagoon area. By comparison with the Save the Seashore Birds Project-Ghana (SSBP-G), which started in 1983 and ended in 1985, a total of 53,500 of waterbirds were counted in the Keta Lagoon, an indication of a 63.1% decline in waterbirds abundance. Atotal of 24 species was recorded in the Keta Lagoon and its surrounding floodplains (H‟= 0.94, J‟= 0.68 and d‟= 2.32), whilst the Muni Lagoon recorded a lower number of species of 12 (H‟ = 0.82, J‟ = 0.76 and d‟ = 1.79). The Keta Lagoon recorded higher numbers of waterbirds because the Keta Lagoon is less turbid and shallow, and, therefore, waterbirds were able to stalk and easily locate their prey as compared to the Muni Lagoon, which recorded the lowest numbers possibly due to siltation and, hence, waterbirds could not locate fish fingerlings. Generally, the diversity of waterbirds utilizing both lagoons has declined over the past 27 years as compared to the results from the SSBP-G. Public awareness programmes to highlight the importance of lagoons and waterbirds as environmental indicators is recommended. This could be achieved through education and enforcement of existing wildlife laws and international conventions. In addition, conservation initiatives governing the conservation of waterbirds by the Ghana Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission is urgently recommended.

Source: UG
A review of the economic impact of malaria in agricultural development

This paper surveys the linkages between malaria and agriculture, focusing on the economic impacts of the disease. We adopt Negin's (2005) conceptual framework to examine the potential impacts of malaria in the agricultural sector, including both direct and indirect impacts. In addition to health care costs, malaria causes loss of agricultural labor and slows adoption of improved practices in agriculture. Furthermore, some agricultural practices and development interventions are known to facilitate the spread of malaria, exacerbating its impacts. Given the importance of both agriculture and malaria in developing countries, especially in Africa, the interaction between them could be a significant factor in economic growth. The review identifies gaps in past research on this topic. A better understanding of malaria's impact on agricultural productivity, coupled with efforts to strengthen capacity to deal with malaria, would enhance policies and programs aimed at combating malaria and curbing its impacts on agricultural productivity. © 2010 International Association of Agricultural Economists.

Source: UG
Review of the evidence regarding the use of antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation in low- and middle-income countries

Inadequate micronutrient intakes are relatively common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially among pregnant women, who have increased micronutrient requirements. This can lead to an increase in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This review presents the conclusions of a task force that set out to assess the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes and adverse birth outcomes in LMICs; the data from trials comparing multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) that contain iron and folic acid (IFA) with IFA supplements alone; the risks of reaching the upper intake levels with MMS; and the cost-effectiveness of MMS compared with IFA. Recent meta-analyses demonstrate that MMS can reduce the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational age in comparison with IFA alone. An individual-participant data meta-analysis also revealed even greater benefits for anemic and underweight women and female infants. Importantly, there was no increased risk of harm for the pregnant women or their infants with MMS. These data suggest that countries with inadequate micronutrient intakes should consider supplementing pregnant women with MMS as a cost-effective method to reduce the risk of adverse birth outcomes.

Source: UG
A review of the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme claims database: possibilities and limits for drug utilization research

Background: There are inadequate data on prescribed drug utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Drug utilization research (DUR) in this region is hampered by lack of access to databases that capture prescribed drug utilization such as health insurance claims, electronic medical records and disease registries. The primary objective of this MiniReview was to describe the content of the NHIS claims database in the context of the health care system in Ghana. We will also review the possibilities and limitations of analysing this novel database for drug utilization research (DUR) in Ghana. Methods: We reviewed the history, composition of the database, coverage and health systems in Ghana. To demonstrate the application of the NHIS claims database for DUR, we reviewed the NHIS’ drug formulary (NHIS medicines’ list), assessed and quantified the utilization of the top 25 most commonly prescribed medicines and their distributions by age, sex, region of residence and by MDCs. Results: As of December 2014, about 40% (~10.5 million) of the Ghanaian population were active beneficiaries of NHIS. There were 1.43 million unique patients in the NHIS claims database who received services from about 81 providers located in 9 out of the 10 regions in Ghana. The mean age of this sample of beneficiaries was 31 (standard deviation, 22) years, a third of whom were aged <18 years old. Nearly, 2 out of every 3 beneficiaries were females. On average, there were approximately 3 outpatient visits per beneficiary in 2015. There were about 522 unique drugs on the NHIS medicine list. Overall, analgesic was the most prescribed class of medicine (mostly paracetamol and diclofenac). Antimalarials, artemether-lumefantrine, were observed as the second most prescribed medicines followed by anti-infectives (metronidazole) and antihypertensives (amlodipine). Conclusion: The Ghana NHIS claims database is a great resource for DUR. This database could also be extended to facilitate pharmacoepidemiological and other health services’ research especially if transformed into one of the existing standardized common data models. © 2018 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society)

Source: UG
A review of the literature on sexual and reproductive health of African migrant and refugee children

Background: Migration and involuntary displacement of children and young people have recently become common features of many African countries due to widespread poverty, rapid urbanization, joblessness, and instability that motivate them to seek livelihoods away from their places of origin. With limited education and skills, children become vulnerable socioeconomically, thereby exposing themselves to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks. Methods: Against this background, the authors undertook a scoping review of the existing literature between January and June 2019 to highlight current knowledge on SRH of African migrant and refugee children. Twenty-two studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Results: The results identified overcrowding and sexual exploitation of children within refugee camps where reproductive health services are often limited and underutilized. They also reveal language barriers as key obstacles towards young migrants’ access to SRH information and services because local languages used to deliver these services are alien to the migrants. Further, cultural practices like genital cutting, which survived migration could have serious reproductive health implications for young migrants. A major gap identified is about SRH risk factors of unaccompanied migrant minors, which have received limited study, and calls for more quantitative and qualitative SRH studies on unaccompanied child migrants. Studies should also focus on the different dimensions of SRH challenges among child migrants differentiated by gender, documented or undocumented, within or across national borders, and within or outside refugee camps to properly inform and situate policies, keeping in mind the economic motive and spatial displacement of children as major considerations. Conclusion: The conditions that necessitate economic-driven migration of children will continue to exist in sub- Saharan Africa. This will provide fertile grounds for child migration to continue to thrive, with diverse sexual and reproductive health risks among the child migrants. There is need for further quantitative and qualitative research on child migrants’ sexual and reproductive health experiences paying special attention to their differentiation by gender, documented or undocumented, within or across national borders and within or outside refugee camps.

Source: UG
A review of the medicinal properties and applications of pycnanthus angolensis (WELW) warb

The Clinical Pathology Department conducts research that contributes to intervention strategies and safeguards of public health in Ghana. In view of this the Department carries out research into plant medicine development, drug interactions and regulation, bio-monitoring and prevention of poisoning from environmental toxicants (e.g. mycotoxins specifically aflatoxins and toxic heavy metals). The Department also provides specialized laboratory services in support of public health programmes.

Source: UG
A review of the process of knowledge transfer and use of evidence in reproductive and child health in Ghana

Background The paper carries out a situational analysis to examine the production, dissemination and utilisation of reproductive and child health-related evidence to inform policy formulation in Ghana’s health sector. Methods The study used Wald’s model of knowledge production, transfer and utilisation as a conceptual model to collect relevant data via interviews and administration of questionnaire to a network of persons who either previously or currently hold policy-relevant positions in Ghana’s health sector. Additional data was also gathered through a scoping review of the knowledge transfer and research utilisation literature, existing reproductive and child health policies, protocols and guidelines and information available on the websites of relevant institutions in Ghana’s health sector. Results The findings of the study suggest that the health sector in Ghana has major strengths (strong knowledge production capacity, a positive environment for the promotion of evidence-informed policy) and opportunities (access to major donors who have the resources to fund good quality research and access to both local and international networks for collaborative research). What remains a challenge, however, is the absence of a robust institutional-wide mechanism for collating research needs and communicating these to researchers, communicating research findings in forms that are friendlier to policy-makers and the inability to incorporate funding for research into the budget of the health sector. Conclusion The study concludes, admonishing the Ministry of Health and its agencies to leverage on the existing strengths and opportunities to address the identified challenges.

Source: UG
A review of the safety of niclosamide, pyrantel, triclabendazole and oxamniquine

Detailed safety review of the intestinal anthelminthics (pyrantel and niclosamide) and antischistosomal and antitrematodes (oxamniquine and triclabendazole) was conducted using publications in journals and major reference sources combined with the assessment of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in the database of the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring in Sweden. Data from available limited publications on the subject provide evidence in support of the overall safety of these medicines with no publication citing an unfavourable safety assessment of any of the drugs. Whilst there have been concerns about the risk of seizures with oxamniquine, these concerns have not diminished the extent to which the medicine has been used in several countries. All four medicines appear to be safe and well tolerated even when used in mass treatment campaigns in several countries. This safety review indicates that oxamniquine, triclabendazole, niclosamide and pyrantel have favourable benefit-risk profiles for use in humans. However, in order to enhance the evidence base to determine safety issues in relation to medicines that are used heavily in settings with poor or non-existent pharmacovigilance systems, it is recommended that the WHO pushes its current supportive efforts for the setting up of such systems globally, especially in resource-limited countries. The four drugs are all retained on the current list of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. © 2008 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
A Review of Theories of Expression in the Context of the Development Argument

The present article examines the subject-matter of freedom of expression. It offers a critical review of the principal perspectives on the subject as propounded by Western philosophers and situates the discussion of the relevance of their views in a non-Western environment. It does so in the context of development and ends up postulating a new paradigm which examines the relationship between freedom of expression and development and the exercise of this freedom, not by individuals qua individuals, but by individuals in a community context. This idea takes into account traditional African approaches to the exercise of freedom of expression. It then applies this developmental, community-oriented perspective of freedom of expression to the promotion of democracy and human rights in emerging states.

Source: UG
A review of traditional Ghanaian and Western philosophies of adult education

The primary objective of this article is to critically examine some aspects of the traditional Ghanaian and Western philosophies of adult education. It is a well-attested fact that many of the pre-colonial and early colonial writers about Africa portrayed Africa as a dark continent devoid of advanced centres of learning worthy of emulation by others. The old West African civilizations of Ghana, Mali and Songhai with advanced centres of learning at Timbuktu and Djenne in the 11th century seemed to have been completely ignored by these writers (Boahen 1967: 20, Davidson 1966b: 50). Even though many other writers including several missionaries, anthropologists and historians, depicted Africa in a rather positive and scientific manner (Davidson 1966b, Goody 1966), much of the negative image created long ago still exists and needs to be examined and corrected. The formal Western system of school education was introduced in Ghana more than a century ago. Despite this, about 60% of the adult population today makes its living as illiterate farmers, workers, apprentices or master craftsmen in the various traditional art and craft production centres. Consequently, traditional adult education continues to play an important role in the social and economic development of the country. Like the Western system of adult education the Ghanaian traditional education has sound philosophical foundations, which have helped to maintain political stability and social cohesion in the country over the years. Much is written about Western and eastern philosophies but there is a dearth of literature on philosophies of adult education from Africa. Given that Africa is the second largest continent on the globe and that adult education proliferates throughout the continent, the authors felt their investigation would make a significant contribution to a global understanding of the field. Additionally, there is an increasing need for African students to appreciate and re-establish confidence in their own culture. This review cannot cover all of Africa so the focus is on Ghana, one country in West Africa. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Source: UG
A review on phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology studies of Aconitum

The main research focus of the Electron Microscopy and Histopathology Department in the past 20 years has been in the areas of enteric diarrhoeas with special emphasis on rotavirus. Through its diarrhoea surveillance studies, the Department has helped to firmly establish rotaviruses as a major cause of diarrhoea in children, and document the circulation of unusual rotavirus genotypes in Ghana. The Department has also recently expanded its diagnostic repertoire to include the identification and characterization of noroviruses, astroviruses, and other enteric viruses.

Source: UG
A review on techniques applied to modelling, simulating and visualising evolution of physical landscape

The paper considers contemporary physical landscape visualisation and simulation models that are used for impact analysis and decision making for geographical location studies. For this purpose a generic framework is presented that provides professionals with a tool to facilitate decision making. The main reasons for the framework construction are to provide a rigorous approach to the task of studying the evolution of physical landscapes, and to provide appropriate data for forecasting and scenario projections using computational simulations that reflect future changes. The framework is based on an in-depth analysis and assessment of a landscape monitored over time. On satisfactory completion of landscape models construction, the set of models developed are then used for the construction of visualisation images to represent the entire evolutionary process of the landscape. This framework includes functions through which users can generate visualisation models either with twodimensional maps and/or interactive immersive three dimensional images. © 2009 IEEE.

Source: UG
Reviewing the extensive appointment powers of the president as solution to winner-takes-all politics in Ghana.

The 1992 constitution of Ghana gives the Executive President of Ghana enormous and extensive powers of appointment. This over the years has led to the manifestations of the Winner-Takes-All (WTA) politics. As a result Executive Presidents of Ghana have exercised their powers of appointment to the benefit of only party apparatchiks and loyalists without recourse to appointment based on apolitical or non-partisan meritocracy. In this regard, many Ghanaians, irrespective of their competence, experience and expertise, are denied the opportunity to serve their country simply because they do not belong to the ruling party. We argue that, the 1992 constitution of Ghana gives the Executive President so much power in appointing state officials. This promotes WTA politics and deepens clientelism. The paper reviews the extensive powers of appointment of the President and practically examines how the exercise of these powers promotes WTA politics and clientelism. It discusses previous attempts at promoting inclusive government through appointments and the challenges encountered. The paper finally proffers policy recommendations on how the powers of appointment could be exercised in a manner that promotes inclusivity and to some extent, promote meritocracy.

Source: UG
Revisiting the determinants of food security: Does regular remittance inflow play a role in Ghanaian households? A disaggregated analysis

The study investigates the factors that influence food security in Ghana, focusing on the role of remittances. Employing data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) 7, the study found that receiving remittances reduces the probability of facing food insecurity by 0.4% to 1.2% while receiving them regularly decreases the chances of experiencing food insecurity by 1.8% to 3.9%. In addition, an analysis of the disaggregated components of remittances shows that cash and other goods (non-food) remittances are negative and significantly associated with food insecurity. The results emphasize the importance of not only cash remittances but also remittances in the form of other non-food goods in improving food security. Policies that will encourage the easy and regular inflow of remittances will be key to enhancing food security.

Source: UG