ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Using Africa’s Past To Promote Change Toward Safer Alternatives For Food Packaging In Accra

This study aimed to promote attitude change among street vendors and their customers by exposing them to a communication intervention. The respondents were exposed to digitized images of ancient pottery and materials used to meet the daily needs of food storage in Africa’s past, followed by a narration of. how these materials were used in the past that could be used in the present day to package food. Respondents reflected on their experiences in the communication intervention and were engaged in a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews to tap their perceptions and intentions about safer alternative practices of food storage in the present times. To discourage the use of harmful food packaging products, respondents called for attitudinal changes among all actors and suggested that government interventions, prudent economic practices, and education about food packing practices should lead to the adoption of cultural packaging practices that are safe and enhance food quality, taste, and palatability. Respondents further indicated that innovative strategies aimed at transforming traditional packaging practices will add a modern touch and make traditional and cultural food packaging safer and more acceptable. Thus, the use of earthenware, clay, leaves, and pottery should be innovatively designed to be more portable and convenient for packaging food. Modern food packaging businesses should, therefore, explore the combination of knowledge and ideas from the past and present to make food packaging safe and more environmentally friendly.

Source: UG
Using ATMs as workload relievers for Ghanaian bank tellers: the customer behavioral challenge

This study explored the issue of whether the use of the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) as a service delivery tool in the banking industry of many developing countries has achieved its intended objective of increasing the effectiveness of customer service provision and reducing the workload of bank tellers. The purpose is to understand customers’ behaviour towards the use of ATM as a banking service delivery tool, and the influence of such customer-usage behaviour on the banks’ human resource capacity building, in terms of employee workload relief and performance. This is because most banks in sub-Saharan African countries have introduced the ATM in bids to satisfying customers’ service needs and making the work of employees easier. Data was collected using questionnaires that were administered to bank customers who use the ATM facility, as well as bank managers. The findings showed that though most bank customers who use the ATM services perceive the ATM as a convenient, reliable, accurate and suitable service delivery tool for their banking transactions; they still underutilize the ATM’s service capacity by choosing to go to the banking halls to make cash withdrawals of amounts that could be obtained from the ATMs. It is also found that by virtue of this customer behaviour of not using the ATM’s to their full potential, the relief that it is expected to provide bank tellers is not realized. It is concluded that because of customer behavioral challenges to the effective utilization of the ATM technology, banks in developing economies not benefiting from its full potential as a customer service delivery tool, and also as a strategic workload reliever for tellers who service customers inside the banking halls.

Source: UG
Using classification tree modelling to investigate drug prescription practices at health facilities in rural Tanzania

Abstract Background Drug prescription practices depend on several factors related to the patient, health worker and health facilities. A better understanding of the factors influencing prescription patterns is essential to develop strategies to mitigate the negative consequences associated with poor practices in both the public and private sectors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural Tanzania among patients attending health facilities, and health workers. Patients, health workers and health facilities-related factors with the potential to influence drug prescription patterns were used to build a model of key predictors. Standard data mining methodology of classification tree analysis was used to define the importance of the different factors on prescription patterns. Results This analysis included 1,470 patients and 71 health workers practicing in 30 health facilities. Patients were mostly treated in dispensaries. Twenty two variables were used to construct two classification tree models: one for polypharmacy (prescription of &#8805;3 drugs) on a single clinic visit and one for co-prescription of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) with antibiotics. The most important predictor of polypharmacy was the diagnosis of several illnesses. Polypharmacy was also associated with little or no supervision of the health workers, administration of AL and private facilities. Co-prescription of AL with antibiotics was more frequent in children under five years of age and the other important predictors were transmission season, mode of diagnosis and the location of the health facility. Conclusion Standard data mining methodology is an easy-to-implement analytical approach that can be useful for decision-making. Polypharmacy is mainly due to the diagnosis of multiple illnesses.

Source: UG
Using deep learning for acoustic event classification: The case of natural disasters

This study proposes a sound classification model for natural disasters. Deep learning techniques, a convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM), were used to train two individual classifiers. The study was conducted using a dataset acquired online1 and truncated at 0.1 s to obtain a total of 12 937 sound segments. The result indicated that acoustic signals are effective for classifying natural disasters using machine learning techniques. The classifiers serve as an alternative effective approach to disaster classification. The CNN model obtained a classi fication accuracy of 99.96%, whereas the LSTM obtained an accuracy of 99.90%. The misclassification rates obtained in this study for the CNN and LSTM classifiers (i.e., 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively) suggest less classifica tion errors when compared to existing studies. Future studies may investigate how to implement such classifiers for the early detection of natural disasters in real time.

Source: UG
Using elemental analyses and multivariate statistics to identify the off-site dispersion from informal e-waste processing

Electronic waste (e-waste) is informally processed and recycled in Agbogbloshie in Accra (Ghana), which may be the largest such site in West Africa. This industry can lead to significant environmental contamination. In this study, surface dust samples were collected at a range of sites within Accra to establish the offsite consequences of such activities. Fifty-one samples were collected and analysed for 69 elements by ICP-mass spectrometry after nitric acid digestion. The data indicated a significant enrichment in metals associated with solder and copper wire at the site itself and a downwind dispersion of this source material to a distance of approximately 2.0 km. Chlorine and bromine were also elevated at this site as residues from polyvinyl chloride combustion and flame retardants respectively. The elemental composition indicated that only low technology electrical equipment was being treated this way. Multivariate statistical analyses by principal components analysis and polytopic vector analysis identified three sources contributing to the system; (i) burn site residue dispersing within 2 km from the source site, (ii) marine matter on the beaches alone and (iii) the baseline soil conditions of the city of Accra. Risk ratios and hazard quotients developed from the measured concentrations indicated that copper was providing the greatest risk to inhabitants in most cases although nickel, vanadium, chromium and zinc also contributed.

Source: UG
Using Ethnography to Identify Barriers and Facilitators to Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding in Rural Ghana: Implications for Programs

The overall goal of the department is to conduct research and provide solutions to nutritional problems in Ghana. In pursuance of this goal, the Nutrition Department since its inception has focused its research in the areas of maternal, infant and young child nutrition, food consumption and food security and micronutrient deficiency and interventions. These are priority food and nutrition problems in Ghana.

Source: UG
Using goal-setting theory and expectancy theory to understand career goal implementation in the hospitality industry

Internships could influence the career goal-setting of tourism and hospitality students and their intention to stay in the industry, but there is a lack of studies examining these relationships. The purpose of this study was to assess how goal-setting among students in the hospitality education sector affects students’ intention to stay in the hospitality industry. A survey instrument under pinned by Goal-setting theory and Vroom’s expectancy theory was applied to examine students’ goal-setting and implementation intentions prior to and after the internship. The findings confirmed that self-efficacy, goal commitment, feedback mechanism, and situational constraints, severally have predictive effects on the implementation intentions of students. In addition, industry knowledge and valence had predictive effects on implementation intention, but goal commitment and situational constraints did not record significant effects on implementation intentions after the internship. The implications of the study are discussed.

Source: UG
Using health and demographic surveillance systems for teratovigilance in Africa

ncreased funding in the past decade has improved healthcare coverage of the population and access to vaccines and drugs across sub-Saharan Africa.1However, there is still a need to collect valid and sufficient baseline data, data on the safety of drugs and vaccines used during pregnancy, and for innovative approaches to pharmacovigilance in pregnancy to inform policy makers and to improve treatment guidelines.Interest in establishing sustainable pharmacovigilance systems in Africa is gaining momentum thanks to plans for large-scale implementation of artemisinin-based combination therapies across Africa. However, less than 1% of individual case safety reports in WHO’s database (VigiBase®) are from Africa.2Drugs such as tetracycline, metronidazole, albendazole, mebendazole, and efavirenz are not recommended during the first trimester because of potential embryo toxicity.3 Nonetheless, these drugs are still used by women of childbearing age, and even pregnant women, by self-medication or irrational prescriptions.

Source: UG
Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling to Examine Attitudinal and Instructional Variables that Predict Students’ Achievement in Mathematics

Mathematics is considered to be the foundation for success in many aspects of life because there cannot be any meaningful development without knowledge of Mathematics. Students’ achievement in Mathematics is often considered necessary for the success of the students and the future of their country. Therefore, the training and preparation of students to do well in Mathematics has become a fundamental goal of education for most countries. Researchers, educators and policy-makers are in a continuous struggle to find ways of improving students’ achievement in Mathematics. Applying Hierarchical Linear Modeling on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007, this study examines the relationship between attitudinal and instructional variables and Mathematics achievement among Ghana’s grade eight students. Prior to the analyses, exploratory factor analyses were conducted for clusters of similar items reduce the number of predictor variables. The results indicate that students’ gender, educational aspiration, self-confidence in Mathematics, value for Mathematics, the frequent use of some instructional variables, teachers’ major area of study were significant predictors of Mathematics achievement. However, teacher variables such as teacher’s gender and years of teaching were not significant predictors of Maths achievement.

Source: UG
Using ICT for education and sustainable development among the underserved in Africa

The potential of ICT for education and sustainable development cannot be underestimated. Using cases from some African countries and data from deprived regions in Ghana, this paper discusses the opportunities and challenges in ICT for education and sustainable development in underserved areas in Africa. Much as infrastructural development, illiteracy and financial bottlenecks limits the possibility of fully utilizing emerging technologies, the growth of innovative technology like mobile telephony presents opportunities for using ICT to kick out of poverty through education. In this process the concern should not just be to provide access but to implement development programs that will meet the educational, agricultural, economic and healthcare needs of the people in underserved areas.

Source: UG
Using lay counsellors to promote community-based voluntary counselling and HIV testing in rural northern Ghana: A baseline survey on community acceptance and stigma

Access to voluntary counselling and HIV testing (VCT) remains limited in most parts of Ghana with rural populations being the least served. Services remain facility-based and employ the use of an ever-dwindling number of health workers as counsellors. This study assessed approval for the use of lay counsellors to promote community-based voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and the extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma in the Kassena-Nankana district of rural northern Ghana. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the tendency to stigmatize people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). Focus group discussions were held and analytical coding of the data performed. The majority (91.1%) of the 403 respondents indicated a desire to know their HIV status. Most (88.1%) respondents considered locations outside of the health facility as preferred places for VCT. The majority (98.7%) of respondents approved the use of lay counsellors. About a quarter (24%) of respondents believed that it was possible to acquire HIV through sharing a drinking cup with a PLWHA. About half (52.1%) of the respondents considered that a teacher with HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to teach, while 77.2% would not buy vegetables from a PLWHA. Respondents who believed that sharing a drinking cup with a PLWHA could transmit HIV infection (OR 2.50, 95%CI 1.52-4.11) and respondents without formal education (OR 2.94, 95%CI 1.38-6.27) were more likely to stigmatize PLWHAs. In contrast, respondents with knowledge of the availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs were less likely to do so (OR 0.40, 95%CI 0.22-0.73). Findings from the thirteen focus group discussions reinforced approval for community-based VCT and lay counsellors but revealed concerns about stigma and confidentiality. In conclusion, community-based VCT and the use of lay counsellors may be acceptable options for promoting access. Interventional studies are required to assess feasibility and cost-effectiveness.

Source: UG
Using Motivation, Opportunity, and Ability Model in Social Marketing to Predict “Galamsey” Behavior in Ghana

Background: Illegal mining (hereafter referred to as “galamsey”) has adverse effect on human life, the environment, and other living organisms that support human existence. However, the traditional strategies employed by governments and other stakeholders to tackle “galamsey” have proved ineffective in changing “galamseyers” behavior. Focus: This research thus aims to apply the motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA) model in social marketing to predict and explain behavior change toward galamsey activities in Ghana. Specifically, the paper investigates the influence of Motivation (i.e., attitudes toward stopping “galamsey” activities, beliefs and subjective norms) on intentions toward the behavior, as well as opportunity and ability on the intentions–behavior nexus. Key Hypotheses: The study tested the following key hypotheses: There is a positive and significant relationship between beliefs and intention to stop galamsey activities, there is a positive and significant relationship between attitude and intention to stop galamsey activities, there is a positive and significant relationship between social norms and behavioral intention to stop galamsey activities, and there is a positive and significant relationship between intention to stop galamsey and galamsey behavior change. Methods: Self-administered survey was used to collect data from “galamsey” operators (n ¼ 238) in Kyebi-Ghana, using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The hypothesized relationships were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: The findings of the study reveal that “galamseyers” behavioral intention toward stopping “galamsey” is mainly determined by the respondents’ beliefs about and positive attitudes toward the behavior. The results further establish a positive significant relationship between intention and actual behavior change. Moreover, the findings suggest a strong interactive relationship between intentions and ability, intentions and opportunity and actual behavior. The study however did not find a significant relationship between social norms and intentions to stop “galamsey” activities. Recommendation for Research or Practice: These findings can be used to develop interventions aimed at fostering positive behavior change toward “galamsey.” Importance to Social Marketing Field: By applying the MOA model to a social marketing context, the study contributes to knowledge by providing a deeper theoretical understanding from an emerging economy context. Limitation: Although the MOA model was able to predict “galamsey” behavior change, the model has been criticized for including opportunities and failing to mention that inhibitors (barriers) to be reduced to foster sustainable behavior change. Hence, future studies should include other variables in the model to cater for this gap

Source: UG
Using multiple linear regression techniques to quantify carbon stocks of fallow vegetation in the tropics

Fallow ecosystems provide a significant carbon stock that can be quantified for inclusion in the accounts of global carbon budgets. Process and statistical models of productivity, though useful, are often technically rigid as the conditions for their application are not easy to satisfy. Multiple regression techniques have been applied to study some biophysical phenomena but yet to be applied to carbon stock estimation. Using ecological data from 28 sampling locations, the study applied the stepwise multiple regression technique to identify ecological variables that would explain carbon stock of fallow vegetation, aged between 3 and 8 years. The procedure generated three predictive regression models. The full model, could explain nearly 98% of variability of carbon stock (R2 = 0.979), using cation exchange capacity and total nitrogen content of soil and leaf area index as the three predictor variables. Sampling inaccuracies could have contributed to the error component of models and sample size increase has been suggested for reduction of such errors. The advantage of the method is its simplicity. The paper suggests that the derived models be validated before broad application. Also, the cost-effectiveness of the approach should be tested against other approaches.

Source: UG
Using Odonates As Markers Of The Environmental Health Of Water And Its Land Related Ecotone

The study of Odonata communities along wetlands requires the basic understanding of the abundance, distribution and number of species present. As habitat conditions change, they also exhibit changes in their diversity and distribution. Odonata assemblages were surveyed along the Densu River at Atewa Range Forest Reserve (ARFR) and Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana and Weija in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Of the 177 species recorded for Ghana, 66 species (43 dragonfly and 23 damselfly species) were sampled along the Densu River. These belonged to eight families of which the Libellulidae dominated. The distribution of species was significantly different between the sites with the most diverse area being ARFR with 47 species. The various environmental variables along the river were recorded and their effects discussed.

Source: UG
Using Orthoptera and Hymenoptera indicator groups as evidence of degradation in a mining concession (Tarkwa gold mine) in Ghana

One of the most important bioindicators of change in habitat conditions, especially in tropical Africa, is change in insect diversity. In line with that, the dynamics of Orthoptera and Hymenoptera insect orders were studied and used as evidence of change in ecosystem health after a similar study on Lepidopteran groups revealed some level of degradation in the Tarkwa Gold Mine (TGM). Orthopteran and Hymenopteran species assemblages were sampled within the mine and characterised based on family diversity. Transect counts, sweep netting, malaise trapping and flight interception trapping methods were employed to sample abundance and diversity of insect assemblages of the above-mentioned insect orders. Results showed that few species belonging to these two orders were recorded within the mine, although the records were dominated by more aggressive and habitat degradation tolerant members as reported for the Lepidopteran group in a previous study. We conclude that records of diversity of these insect orders in this study shows a reduction in the ecosystem health within TGM. This finding is further proof that there is a general decline in biodiversity within the concession and hence care must be taken to encourage environmentally-friendly mining practices to avoid further degradation. Recommendations are made for environmental management to maintain more natural vegetation to serve as refugia for impacted animals within the concession.

Source: UG
Using phenomenography to unearth factors influencing the delivery of guidance services

Which factors influence the delivery of school guidance services in Colleges? Education (CoEs) in Ghana? The guidance needs of students in the CoEs may not be fully met if the factors that influence guidance service delivery at that level of education are not explored for effective upgrade of service quality. This phenomenographic study therefore explored factors influencing the delivery of guidance services in CoEs in Ghana. We interviewed second-year teacher trainees (n = 24) and counsellors from three randomly selected CoEs in the Volta region of Ghana (n = 3). The findings indicate that material resources and awareness influenced guidance service delivery in the CoEs. It was also found that although students reported that confidentiality and attitude influenced service delivery in the colleges, the counsellors did not agree with this. Finally, the study discovered that human resource do not influence guidance service delivery in the colleges. It was recommended that college authorities should provide the material resources, such as offices, computers, and test batteries, that are needed for counselling, and counsellors should publicise the guidance programme to raise awareness and lead to the development of positive attitudes towards the program. This study contributes to the guidance and counselling literature by illuminating the factors influencing guidance service delivery in CoEs. This should be of interest to practitioners, policymakers and researchers in school guidance and counselling.

Source: UG