ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Acceptor-donor-acceptor small molecules based on derivatives of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene for solution processed organic solar cells

Three simple semiconducting acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) small molecules based on an electron-rich (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) EDOT central core have been synthesised (DIN-2TE, DRH-2TE, DECA-2TE) and characterised. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices incorporating these materials have been prepared and evaluated. The physical properties of the molecules were characterised by TGA, DSC, UV/vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The optical HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of the molecules in the solid state were in the range 1.57-1.82 eV, and in solution 1.88-2.04 eV. Electrochemical HOMO-LUMO energy gaps determined by cyclic voltammetry were found to be in the range 1.97-2.31 eV. The addition of 1% 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) to photoactive blends of the A-D-A molecules and PC71BM more than doubled the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in the case of DRH-2TE:PC71BM devices to 1.36%. © 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Source: UG
Access and Equity in Free Maternal Delivery Policy in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana: Voices of Women

In 2005, Ghana instituted a free maternal delivery policy as a pro - poor strategy to enable all women have access to quality maternal health services . The aim was to meet t he Millennium Development Goal 5 which seeks to reduce maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent between 1990 and 2015. It also aimed at increasing the percentage of births attended by skilled professionals from 40 per cent in 2005 to 60 per cent by 2015 . The purpose of the study was to analyze access and equity issues in free maternal delivery policy and to assess the level of awareness, concerns and perceptions of women on the policy. This study focused on the voices and concerns of women who are the direct beneficiaries of the policy. The study used a qualitative case study approach drawing on focus group interviews with women from three districts in the Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana. Results from the study were analyzed using the Constant Comparative approach of grounded theory. The findings showed that many women are still excluded by reason of poverty. Irrespective of the policy, access to professional skilled birth attendant is still restrained by various indirect costs associated with hospital deli very. This made the policy inequitable to women and denied them their right to reproductive health. Women’s concerns bordered very much on their right to dignity often denied them by health personnel in hospitals . Inclusion of women’s voices is relevant to informing policy on free delivery policy that need to be addressed.

Source: UG
Access and Use of Digital Resources: A Survey of Their Value for Faculty in Three Ghanaian Universities

This paper is culled from a doctoral study that investigated the development and management of digital libraries in selected academic libraries in Ghana. In this article, the authors report on the value that faculty members place on access to and use of digital resources and their implications for library services in three Ghanaian universities. The survey method was used to administer a structured questionnaire to 230 faculty members. Using convenience sampling, 10% of faculty were selected from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done to construct frequencies and establish relationships among respondents. Findings showed that less than half of the faculty members were aware of and used digital resources such as the online databases, institutional repositories, the library’s website and the online public access catalogue (OPAC). Nevertheless, the impact of the resources on them was very positive. The study recommended the need for university librarians to interact with faculty during orientation sessions for new faculty as well as new heads of departments. Additionally, subject librarians should work closely with departmental heads to be allocated periods for presentation on available digital resources, their usefulness for their own career enhancement and for their teaching role. The underlying implications of this study show that more advocacies are required from university libraries to enhance the use of digital resources.

Source: UG
Access and use of digital resources: a survey of their value for faulty in three Ghanaian universities

This paper is culled from a doctoral study that investigated the development and management of digital libraries in selected academic libraries in Ghana. In this article, the authors report on the value that faculty members place on access to and use of digital resources and their implications for library services in three Ghanaian universities. The survey method was used to administer a structured questionnaire to 230 faculty members. Using convenience sampling, 10% of faculty were selected from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done to construct frequencies and establish relationships among respondents. Findings showed that less than half of the faculty members were aware of and used digital resources such as the online databases, institutional repositories, the library’s website and the online public access catalogue (OPAC). Nevertheless, the impact of the resources on them was very positive. The study recommended the need for university librarians to interact with faculty during orientation sessions for new faculty as well as new heads of departments. Additionally, subject librarians should work closely with departmental heads to be allocated periods for presentation on available digital resources, their usefulness for their own career enhancement and for their teaching role. The underlying implications of this study show that more advocacies are required from university libraries to enhance the use of digital resources.

Source: UG
Access and utilisation of safe motherhood services of expecting mothers in Ghana.

Despite more than a decade of the Safe Motherhood Initiative in Ghana, access and utilisation levels of modern healthcare services by expecting mothers remain very low, even though considerable progress has been made over time. Using Andersen's behavioural model (1968, 1995) as the conceptual framework, the study examines, with data from Ghana DHS (GSS and MI, 1999), user-related social, economic and demographic factors that influence access and utilisation of safe motherhood services. The bivariate and multivariate analyses reveal that education of mother and spouse, regional location of residence and socioeconomic status exert the strongest impact and are significant in predicting the use of safe motherhood services and thus differentials in health among expecting mothers. The implications of these results for improved maternal healthcare are discussed.

Source: UG
Access Barriers Encountered By Persons With Mobility Disabilities In Accra, Ghana

The environment is a critical factor for participation for everyone. The need for accessible transportation and a built environment for persons with disabilities to enjoy their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be overemphasized. This study sought to understand the daily experiences of persons with mobility disabilities with physical and transportation barriers in Accra-Ghana. Photovoice methodology was used to enable participants to tell their stories about access barriers that they encountered daily. A total of 153 pictures remained, out of 431, after the final selection of pictures that best communicated participants’ experiences with accessibility. These pictures were accompanied by 95 narratives corresponding to the content of the pictures as well as the messages that the participants sought to communicate. The pictures were taken from 11 different physical and transportation environments. Evidence from the study demonstrates the existence of barriers in the built environment and transportation, which impact negatively on the psychological and social lives of persons with mobility disabilities. The need for the removal of identified barriers to empowering persons with disabilities for sustainable development cannot be overemphasized. The paper, therefore, concludes with recommendations targeting the government, social workers, and disability activists about strategies to improve access to participation for persons with mobility disabilities.

Source: UG
Access to a quality healthcare among prisoners – perspectives of health providers of a prison infirmary, Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of health system factors on access to a quality healthcare among prisoners in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – Data were gathered using different qualitative methods (interviews and participant observation) with staff of the James Camp Prison, Accra. Findings were analyzed using a framework method for the thematic analysis of the semi-structured interview data; and interpreted with the theoretical perspective of health systems thinking and innovation. Findings – The study concludes that health system factors such as inadequate funding for health services, lack of skilled personnel and a paucity of essential medical supplies and drugs negatively affected the quality of healthcare provided to inmates. Research limitations/implications – The limited facilities available and the sample size (healthcare workers and prison administrators) impeded the achievement of varied views on the topic. Practical implications – The paper recommends the need for health policy makers and authorities of the Ghana Prison Service to collaborate and coordinate in a unified way to undertake policy analysis in an effort to reform the prisons healthcare system. Social implications – The national health insurance scheme was found to be the financing option for prisoners’ access to free healthcare with supplementation from the Ghana Prison Service. The study recommends that policy makers and healthcare stakeholders should understand and appreciate the reality that the provision of a quality healthcare for prisoners is part of the entire system of healthcare service delivery in Ghana and as such should be given the needed attention. Originality/value – This is one of few studies conducted on male only prisoners/prison in the context of Ghana. It recommends the need for an integrated approach to ensure that the entire healthcare system achieves set objectives in response to the primary healthcare concept

Source: UG
Access to and use of export market information by non-traditional commodity exporters in Ghana

Ghana has traditionally depended on a number of export commodities such as cocoa, timber, gold and diamonds for its economic and social development. Recent economic policies of government have aimed to expand the country's exports to include non-traditional exports such as horticultural products, textiles, fishery products, wood products and handicrafts. Growth in exports depends on both domestic factors, such as the quality, quantity and cost of production of the commodities, as well as conditions in the export markets. It was in that context that this paper analysed the nature of access to and use of export market information b y non-traditional commodity exporters in Ghana. A mail questionnaire was used to collect organisational-level perception and activity information concerning export market information from forty non-traditional commodity exporting firms in Ghana. The study found that 32 (87%) of the firms sought information from diverse sources concerning foreign markets, although the information was mostly obtained from institutions and organisations. The types of market information sought included prices of product; consumer tastes and preferences; export logistics and facilities; political issues; and customs procedures. The study recommended specific roles in the dissemination and provision of access to export information for the Ghana Export Promotion Council, and for public, community and academic libraries and trade associations in Ghana.

Source: UG
Access to and Use of Information Centres among Scientists at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crops Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana

The study investigated the access to and use of information centres among scientists at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Kumasi, Ghana. The study aimed at ascertaining the level of access to and use of information centres among scientists. The research design for the study was a study case. Questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data from 73 scientists and 3 library staff respectively. The study revealed that scientists used information centres but at a minimal rate, accessibility was unlimited. They would however use it more if the centre is well resourced with competent personnel, equipment and current and relevant materials. In addition, scientists use the centre for research purposes and prefer to use journals to other type of materials. The study recommended that scientific information centres should subscribe to current electronic journals, procure modern equipment and also train the staff of the information centres to encourage high patronages of the centres by the scientists. In addition, networking of information centres should be encouraged since no library or information centre can solely cater for the information needs of scientists.

Source: UG
Access To Clean Energy In Africa Revisited: The Roles Of Women Empowerment, Corruption Control, FDI And Sectoral Growth.

One of the key contributors to climate change is energy consumption, with the type of energy used having implications on the natural environment and health of users. To pro mote environmental sustainability and sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 aims to achieve accessibility, and affordability of clean and modern forms of energy for all. This study aims to investigate the effects of women empowerment, cor ruption control, foreign direct investment, and sectoral growth on access to clean energy in Africa, as well as the effects of the interrelatedness of these factors on clean energy access. Using data on 32 countries in Africa from 2002 to 2021 and rigorous econometric techniques, the study finds that women empowerment and corruption control significantly increase access to clean energy in Africa while sectoral analyses show varying effects of growth in the different sectors on clean energy accessibility. Furthermore, it is found that corruption control is not able to reverse situations of adverse effects of some variables on access to clean energy in some cases, likely due to the low levels of corruption control in Africa. The results suggest that African countries could enhance access to clean energy for its citizens and harness the full potential of clean energy, to promote sustainable devel opment and improve the lives of their population, by empowering women, fighting corrup tion, and cultivating balanced economic growth.

Source: UG
Access to health information, health literacy and health-related quality of life among women living with breast cancer: Depression and anxiety as mediators

Objective This study examined the direct and indirect influences of health literacy and access to health information on the quality of life among 205 women living with breast cancer in Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was employed. The interviewer-administered instrument included the health literacy scale, questions on access and satisfaction with healthcare information, depression and anxiety scale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer. Results Access to health information and health literacy had significant indirect effects on quality of life through depression and anxiety. Whereas health literacy had direct influence on quality of life after controlling for other factors, access to information had no direct influence on quality of life. Conclusion Health literacy and access to health information improve quality of life in women living with breast cancer by reducing the levels of depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety serve as possible mechanisms for the positive impacts of access to health information and health literacy on improved quality of life among breast cancer patients. Practice implications Health care providers need to ensure that the information needs of patients are met in oncology practice to reduce their negative emotional states which would lead to improved health and wellbeing.

Source: UG
Access to Higher Education in Ghana: Examining Experiences through the Lens of Students with Mobility Disabilities

This article examines the experiences of students with mobility disabilities accessing higher education institutions in the Accra metropolis of Ghana. To capture the accessibility issues that people with disabilities encounter in their daily lives as postsecondary students first hand, this study used PhotoVoice methodology, which uses a combination of photographs and corresponding narrations. Themes identified in the photographs and narrations highlight the emotional and academic impact of participant encounters with an inaccessible postsecondary environment. Implications for policy and practice are discussed

Source: UG
Access to Labour Pain Relief: Perspective of Post-Natal Women within the Accra Metropolis

Pain during child birth is unparalleled, it is a global phenomenon that pervades all societies regardless of race, creed, geographical location and economic status. In Africa, attitudes, perceptions and beliefs regarding pain during vaginal birth influence the whole experience of child birth. The concept of access to labour pain relief during spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) has not been explored much; this qualitative study was therefore conducted to explore access to labour pain relief among post-natal women who had SVD in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. An exploratory descriptive design was used to achieve the aim of the study, purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants and data saturation was achieved with twelve (12) participants. Individual interviews were done and audiotaped, verbatim transcriptions were made and analyzed qualitatively using thematic content analysis. The study was guided by the Access to Health Care Model developed by Penchansky and Thomas, (1981). Findings revealed five main themes namely; availability of labour pain relief, accessibility of labour pain relief, accommodation of LPR, affordability of LPR and acceptability of LPR. This study revealed that post-natal women had similar experiences with labour pain management. They experienced immense pain and were ignored amidst shouts for help with pain management; the limited labour pain relief options available were not easily accessible to the women, there was no antenatal education and preparation for the management of labour pain and despite being registered with the NHIS, women had to pay exorbitant fees for delivery services. In conclusion, it is recommended that health care facilities must ensure the availability of LPR as part of routine care during labour, women in labour should have access to effective pain management, finally, delivery services should be covered by the NHIS and should include all forms of labour analgesia. Key words: Access, Labour Pain Relief, Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery, Post-Natal Women.

Source: UG
Access to Library Resources By Sandwich Diploma Students In the University of Ghana

A survey was conducted in July 2011 to determine the library use and needs of sandwich diploma students of the College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon. Three hundred and twelve of the 362 students who enrolled for the programme, completed the questionnaires used in the analysis. The data was analysed using the SPSS version 16. The findings showed that about 74% of the students used campus library facilities when on campus. Majority (70.7%) used the college library more than any other library on campus. The main reason for using the library was to find a quiet place to study. This was followed by the use of the internet. The results also revealed that the students did not receive any library orientation or user education. As a result majority (59%) found it difficult using the library. With regard to improving services they received, they stated provision of more computers, provision of user education, acquisition of more current books, and extension of opening hours in the evening of the libraries during the inter-semester breaks when the sandwich programme is in session.

Source: UG
Access to mobile phones and the wellbeing of non-farm enterprise households: Evidence from Ghana

In this paper, we use the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 6) and robust methods to examine the access to mobile phones and wellbeing of non-farm enterprise households in Ghana. The findings of the study show that having access to a mobile phone improves the chances of being non-poor. With regards to the transmission channel, the results show that access to mobile phones is positive and significantly related with the revenues of nonfarm enterprises, suggesting that having mobile phones may expedite the business activities of nonfarm enterprises and thus leads to higher sales revenues. Finally, the locality disaggregated estimations of the effect of access to mobile phones on non-farm household wellbeing indicate that the significant positive effect of access to mobile phones on household wellbeing seems to be the case only among rural nonfarm enterprise households with urban nonfarm enterprise households' wellbeing not reliant on their access to mobile phones. However, having access to mobile phones improves the sales revenue of nonfarm enterprises in both rural and urban areas.

Source: UG
Access to reeds and mat making in the lower Volta basin of Ghana

This paper explores the origins of pressures on reeds and sedges used for mat making in the lower Volta basin of Ghana, and their impact on the socially embedded system which dictates access to reed fields. Data for the study were collected through field work employing participatory rural appraisal methods in 18 communities, involving 152 mat weavers. The findings showed that the mat-weaving industry has contributed immensely in providing poor women a means of livelihood but reed marshes in the basin have reduced in recent years due to hydrological changes in the area caused by the damming of the Volta upstream. The decline in the availability of reed is exerting immense pressure on this once freely available resource, thus inducing landlords to impose a price on the rights of entry into marshlands by reed collectors. The imposition of these charges affected the very people that the mat-weaving industry is targeted to help. The study recommends the local and central government to play a more active role and civil society groups to broaden the livelihood base of women living in this region.

Source: UG