ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Polymicrobial enteric infections in African infants with diarrhoeadresults from a longitudinal prospective caseecontrol study

Objectives: This longitudinal caseecontrol study aimed to determine the frequency of polymicrobial enteric detections in Ghanaian infants with and without diarrhoea. Methods: Infants aged 1e12 months with and without diarrhoea attending the outpatient department of a peri-urban Ghanaian hospital were prospectively assessed and stool samples were collected on days 0, 6 and 28 and analysed for 18 enteric pathogens with PCR. Results: At least one enteric pathogen was detected in 100 of 107 cases with diarrhoea (93%) and in 82 of 97 controls (85%). The number of pathogens was higher in cases than in controls (median three versus two pathogens, p 0.001). The adjusted attributable fraction (AF) for diarrhoea was highest for entero toxigenic Escherichia coli (7.2%, 95% CI e2.0% to 16.3%), rotavirus (4.1%, 95% CI 0.6%e7.5%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%, 95% CI e0.7 to 5.3%) and astrovirus (2.3%, 95% CI e2.9 to 7.5%). In cases, a higher pathogen number was significantly associated with watery stool consistency (median 3, interquartile range (IQR) 2e5 versus median 2.5, IQR 1e4, p 0.014), stool frequency five or more per day (median 4, IQR 3e5 versus median 3, IQR 2e4, p 0.048) and vomiting (median 4, IQR 3e5 versus median 3, IQR 2e4, p 0.025). During follow-up, 94% (78/83) of cases and 85% (67/79) of controls had acquired at least one new pathogen without developing a new episode of diarrhoea. Conclusion: Enteric pathogens could be identified in the stool of the vast majority of Ghanaian infants, whereby pathogens were very frequently acquired without resulting in new episodes of diarrhoea during follow-up. A higher number of co-occurring pathogens may increase the risk of diarrhoea and disease severity. Melina Heinemann, Clin Microbiol Infect 2021;27:1792

Source: KNUST
Polysaccharide Yield from Okra Genotypes Using Different Drying Methods

This study was undertaken to ascertain how the genotype of okra, method of drying affect polysaccharide yield. Three okra genotypes Penkruma, Aisha, and Agbagboma Deep Green were taken through oven, solar and freeze drying methods and fresh portions maintained prior to polysaccharide extraction. Solar dried form of the Aisha genotype gave the highest yield of 15.50% followed by Aisha freeze dry 14.80%, Penkruma solar dry 14.60%, Agbagboma freeze dry 14.30%, Aisha oven dry 13.22%, Penkruma freeze dry 12.82%, Penkruma oven dry 10.90%, Agbagboma oven dry 10.50%, and Agbagboma solar dry 7.90%. Fresh forms of Aisha, Penkruma and Agbagboma genotypes are 9.90%, 9.57% and 10.15%, respectively. For all forms of drying, Aisha genotype gave the highest yield, followed by Penkruma and then Agbagboma. The carbohydrate content ranged between 6.5% to 53.3% whiles the Protein content of the polysaccharides obtained from the various genotypes also ranged from 7.7% to 21.3% .In terms of protein, all samples proved to be significantly different at p ≤ 0.05 whereas a significant difference existed at p ≤ 0.05 amongst the samples with the exception of Agbagoma Fresh, Agbagboma Solar, Penkruma Fresh and Penkruma Solar in terms of carbohydrate composition. The genotypes gave antioxidant activities in the range of 69.4% and 78.8% with no significant difference amongst the test samples except for Aisha Oven and Agbagboma Fresh. Total Phenolic Content ranged from 3.78 mg GAE/g to 10.36 mg GAE/g. There was a significant difference in the phenol contents of the entire samples at p ≤ 0.05.

Source: KNUST
Population, poverty and environmental degradation: the Ghanaian experience

The rapid growth of the urban centres in the country, in terms of numbers and space, is creating a lot of environmental problems for the country. Firstly, natural resources in the form of forests, grass1ans, and even wetlands are now giving way to human settlements and infrastructural development. A second major environmental problem associated with urbanization in Ghana is the creation of waste products. The management of which has been the bane of the country. As a developing country, Ghana has been constrained financially in managing the domestic waste in the cities efficiently. The residents are also helpless in handling the waste since most of them do not have the financial resources to either use environmentally-benign facilities or to manage waste in efficient manner. The result of all these is mirrored in the fact that our surroundings are engulfed in the heaps of rubbish and even faeces. However, there have not been many quantitative analyses of this issue iii this country. In this dissertation, data on 150 heads of households from 4 communities in Accra and Kumasi have been used to investigate the relationship between population density and the levels of income of residents on one hand and the environmental pollution in such areas on the other. The findings of the study have confirmed the notion that population pressure and poverty are major agents of environmental pollution in the urban centres in Ghana. The target groups of the study are the residents of the urban centres of the country and the policymakers of such areas. It is intended that the residents would take a cue from the revelations of the study in terms of the health problems associated with environmental pollution. it is also hoped that the policymakers, especially the chief executives of the district assemblies, who are agents of developments would consider providing environmentally- friendly, public waste disposal facilities, especially at places being regarded as deprived areas

Source: KNUST
Poor sanitation practices in the cities of Ghana: a case study of Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Though it is widely held that sanitation affects public health, more is yet to be known as to how its affect economic activity, especially in developing nations like Ghana. Like most cities in developing countries, Nsawam is experiencing rapid urbanisation leading to an increase in the urban population and rapid growth in the size and number of informal settlements. The study assessed the poor sanitation practices in Nsawam in the Eastern region of Ghana. The descriptive sample survey was used for the study and a sample size of sixty respondents including household heads and traders at the Nsawam market were selected for the study. Almost all respondents interviewed from the study had formal education at various levels. Findings from the study shows that 80% of the respondents get access to water and 65% also have access to toilet facility. Despite the fact that waste collectors and services were deployed to manage waste on regular basis and communal refuse containers were provided, many sellers and some households still disposed of waste indiscriminately. People were prone to dumping in gutters and drains resulting in choked gutters. There was lack of washrooms and toilet facilities, poor drainage especially at the market place and waning commitment of waste management agencies to arrest the sanitation problems. Sanitation regulations and law enforcement plays crucial role in ensuring good environmental sanitation condition. The study revealed that, the main driving force for the poor environmental sanitation conditions experienced in the metropolis is attitudinal. The study recommends change of behaviour of residents and traders in the market toward sanitation, effective collaboration of sanitation agencies, public education, participatory hygiene sanitation transformation of the market, and the need for more empirical studies into the indigenous understanding of sanitation and its benefits.

Source: KNUST
Population and agricultural land use in the Manya Krobo District

The Mann Krobo District is in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The predominant people of the district are the Krobo who are mostly farmers. Indeed a number of researchers have described the Krobo as industrious farmers. Another characteristic feature of the district is the rapid population growth. The two variables: the rapid population growth of the Krobo and their agricultural activities, make the Manya Krobo District an ideal rural area for the examination of the relationship between population growth and agricultural land use. By 1731, the Krobo had become firmly established on the Krobo Mountain in the north-eastern part of the Accra Plains. As a result of rapid population increase, they acquired agricultural land from their Akan neighbours. By 1950, the Krobo had penetrated Akan lands as far as the southern parts of the Afram Plains, about 30C’ kilometres north-west of the Krobo Mountain. The land acquisition process was greatly influenced by the changing attitude of the Akan landowners. Thus while the process was peaceful at some stages at other stages, it was characterised by clashes. The rapi4 population growth of the district has great impact on the, land use. Indicators of population stress like: land fragmentation, changes in frequency of cropping, environmental degradation, changing landholding patterns, decreasing crop yields changing crop patterns and disputes over land ownership are now common features of the agricultural landscape. The population, in turn, does not remain static: it is responding to the agricultural land use change. There are signs of population mobility, changing perception about fertility level and the use of family as a source of labour, rising educational levels and occupational change chance. To address the problem of population pressure in the district, there is the need for carefully planned programmes to tackle both the problems of rapid population growth and inefficient agricultural land use.

Source: KNUST
Porcupine Sports Complex

Ever since its introduction in Ghana nearly a century ago, soccer (football) easily the most popular discipline among all other sports in the country, has come a long way from amateurism to professionalism. In this transitional star, when the soccer controlling body, the Ghana Football Association (G.F.A.) has modified its policies to encourage professionalism in Ghana soccer a scheme like the Porcupine sports Complex which seeks to private sports facilities for a private soccer club is very essential. This thesis involves the collection of information and data on the development, organisation and promotion of soccer in Ghana with particular reference to Asante Kotoko F.C. Being a new area of soccer development thorough studies have been made into existing clubs with similar managerial and organisational motives in Western Europe the home of professional soccer. The analysis and synthesis of this background information led to a comprehensive design of a sports comp1x to be privately financed and managed by Asante Kotoko F.C which has plans to go professional in the near future. The sports complex includes the following facilities: a 60,000 capacity stadium, player’s hostel, a club house, training field and an outdoor play area0

Source: KNUST
A Portfolio Diversification Index as a Fund Management Instrument : a Case of Johannesburg Stock Exchange

Diversification is a basic tenet of portfolio construction but the conventional methods of measuring diversification remain inexact. Traditionally, a portfolio's diversification is measured relative to a market index. This approach is problematic in concentrated markets such as the JSE as the benchmark itself is often highly concentrated. A high level of concentration results in low diversification. This report investigates a new quantitative measure of diversification called the portfolio diversification index (ibDI). The PDI is based on a number of independent factors which are quantified using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The report shows: * 1. The diversification of various JSE market indices calculated using the PDI and illustrates the effect of concentration on diversification. 2. The use of the PDI as a tool to assist active fund managers to improve their Information Ratio. Concentration is a major factor in smaller markets and this report highlights the dangers of simply transporting international research into other markets without first verifying the results.

Source: KNUST
Portacath Implantation in Ghana: Initial Experience at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi

Current practice for chemotherapy in most oncology departments is the use of dedicated venous access for the continuous and frequent delivery of drugs, fluids and blood products, and the monitoring of the effects of treatment. The frequent venipuncture of peripheral veins is associated with various complications and discomfort to the patients. Permanent central venous access is therefore very important. Totally Implantable Vascular Access Device (TIVAD) is a type of central venous access that utilizes the central veins; the internal jugular vein, the subclavian or the femoral veins. It is a kind of permanent central venous access where a central venous catheter is connected to a subcutaneously buried port or septum which can be accessed at any time and has the ability to stay for almost 5 years. They are therefore the preferred form of long-term central venous access in patients treated by oncology departments. We share our initial experience of 5 patients in our institution. There were 4 females and one young boy who had been diagnosed with Hemophilia. Three of the patients had new implantation, one had removal of her 5-year-old TIVAD that had been implanted in another country and one had the TIVAD accessed when she had been referred to our hospital for breast surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Source: KNUST
Portfolio optimization using the Markowitz model: Case study of selected companies in Ghana

Over the past few years, there has been increased activity in the Ghanaian capital market. It is important that prospective investors and market watchers are able to determine the risk of listed companies. However, information regarding the beta of companies and what proportions to invest in portfolios to spread the risks for some expected returns are not readily available. Once an investor determines how risky listed companies are, he or she would be able to spread the risk by diversifying the investment, i.e. making the investment commensurate with the risk in order to maximize returns. Three data sets, one containing the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) All Share Index, the other containing the monthly beginning and closing stock prices of six of the most liquid stocks listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Bank of Ghana 91-day Treasury bill rates for the period January, 1998 to December, 2002 were obtained from the Bank of Ghana. The sensitivity of the six selected companies was established by calculating their betas using regression analysis. The Markowitz Model was formulated and solved using the quadratic programming add-in and the Microsoft Excel Solver. The results indicated that most of the six selected companies have negative betas, which implies that most of these companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange were less risky. The optimal solution to the Markowitz model indicated that in order to ensure diversification and good returns, Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) stock should make up 19.64% of the portfolio, SG-SSB Bank stock should make up 8.93% of the portfolio, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) stock should make up 17.86% of the portfolio, Home Finance Company (HFC) 10.71% of the portfolio, Enterprise Insurance (EIC) stock should make up 5.36% of the portfolio and Total Ghana Limited stock should make up 37.5% of the portfolio.

Source: KNUST
Possible Causes of Infertility in Patients Visiting an IVF Clinic and the Use of Basal Gonadotrophins as Predictive Markers of Ovarian Response in IVF Clients

Background - Assisted reproduction is expensive, time-consuming and stressful for patients. The development of sufficient number of follicles during ovarian stimulation for IVF is a very important step towards a successful outcome. The accurate determination of ovarian reserve continues to be a challenge for reproductive physicians. Basal hormonal markers may contribute to the prediction of ovarian reserve and as a reflection of the number of oocytes retrieved after ovarian stimulation. Therefore, a major challenge to the IVF team is to predict prospective patients who will be low responders and to appropriately counsel women who are potential candidates for assisted reproduction. Aims - The aim of this study was to assess basal hormonal markers; LH, FSH and prolactin and obesity markers; BMI and WHR as predictive markers of ovarian response in IVF clients. Again it was to determine the effect of some lifestyle and behavioural patterns like exercise and smoking on measurable outcomes of ovarian stimulation by subjects who seek assisted conception. Methods - A total of 104 subjects were recruited at the Lister hospital and fertility centre in Accra - Ghana for this study. Anthropometric measurements performed included body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR). Other lifestyle features like exercise and smoking patterns were assessed from responses to a provided questionnaire. Blood samples were drawn on second day of their menstrual cycle in the month prior to the IVF procedure and basal LH, FSH and prolactin assayed. A ratio of FSH/LH was calculated. Results – Age, basal FSH and FSH/LH ratio of subjects showed a very significant negative correlation with measured outcomes of ovarian stimulation. Poor responders were significantly older than normal responders (median age; 40 vs. 36, P = <0.01). Basal FSH was significantly higher in poor responders as against normal responders (median FSH; 12.7 vs. 9.7, P = <0.05 respectively). In response to lifestyle, all subjects who engaged in moderate to high forms of exercise recorded a normal response after the ovarian stimulation protocol. Number of retrieved oocytes and ovarian capacity were negatively correlated to both obesity indices; WHR and BMI. Conclusion - By way of predicting ovarian response, our study reveals that basal FSH levels and FSH/LH ratio better predict response of subjects after ovarian stimulation protocol. Obesity negatively impacts on outcomes of in-vitro fertilization process as it has a negative effect on the number of oocytes aspirated. This could probably be due to the fact that in obese persons higher doses of ovarian stimulation drugs are needed to generate a sizable pool of follicles for fertilization.

Source: KNUST
Post Harvest Losses of Rice (Oriza Spp) From Harvesting to Milling: A Case Study in Besease and Nobewam in the Ejisu Juabeng District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Rice (Oriza sativa) is the most important staple food in the world, feeding almost half of the world’s population. Sub Saharan Africa rice imports accounts for more than 30% of the world’s imports even though it grows a lot of rice. Rice production notwithstanding, there are lots of post harvest losses of rice, these losses have however not been estimated for effective control. This study therefore aimed at estimating post harvest losses of rice from harvesting to milling and suggests critical areas of control. The study was carried out at “Besease” and “Nobewam” in the Ejisu Juabeng District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana to assess rice farmers perception and knowledge of post harvest losses in rice and to estimate post harvest losses that occur from harvesting to milling. The results of the survey showed that postharvest losses of rice were considered too high by 90% of the respondents (rice farmers) and that they needed interventions to reduce the losses. The study showed that harvesting losses were higher (2.93%) when sickle harvesting method was used than when panicle harvesting method which resulted in 1.39% was used. Threshing losses were also higher (6.14%) when threshing was done using the “bambam” (a big locally made wooden box) than when the bag beating method (2.45%) was used. Harvesting losses ranged between 4.07% and 12.05% at farmer’s fields. Storage losses were 7.02% while drying losses were 1.66%. SB 30 milling machine was more efficient producing 67.3% head grains compared to SB 10 (50%) and the locally manufactured machine (47.3%). Post harvest losses from harvesting, threshing, drying, and storage were found to range from 11.10% to 27.14% with an average of 19.12%. SB 30 though more efficient than SB 10 and the local machine, does not produce competitive percentage head grains. Milling machines that produce higher percentage head grains has to be introduced to make local rice milling more economically competitive.

Source: KNUST
The possible microbial aethiology of pyoderma among primary school children in the Ashanti region of Ghana

The possible aetiologic agents of pyoderma were studied among 310 primary school children (aged 5-14 years) drawn from two study areas, rural (Ejisu-Juaben District) and urban (Kumasi district) settings in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. A total of 634 bacterial species was recovered. 3-haemolytic Streptococci gave the highest recovery rate of 45%. Of this, 214 or 74% were identified as Streptococcus pyogenes with the remaining, 25% (or 71) representing Lancefield groups B, C, D and G. This was closely followed up by Staphylococcus aureus 32.6% (207), Staphylococcus epidermidis 10.3% (65), Pseudomonas species 10.3% (65), Proteus mirabilis 2.2% (7) and Escherichia coli 0.3% (2). The isolation of the Pseudomonads particularly, aeruginosa from typical pyoderma lesions was quite thought-provoking due to its innate resistance to most antimicrobial agents. Penicillin G (2mg) was effective only against the isolated species of Streptococci but ineffective against the remaining bacterial species isolated. Gentamycin (10mg), on the other hand, was the only antimicrobial agent with a 100% activity on all isolates including P. aeruginosa. The rest of the antibiotics tested on the bacterial isolates were susceptible to varying degrees.

Source: KNUST
Post abortion care and its contextual determinants: the case of Kpeshie Sub-Metro in Accra, Ghana

The theme Post-abortion Care (PAC) was coined during 1993 by (IPAS) (International Project Assistance Services) to include curative care, preventive care and improve overall reproductive health. PAC encompasses treatment and management of incomplete abortion, whether spontaneous or induced. This provides the necessary skills to women to prevent future abortion risks and improve the overall health. Many women suffer long-team complications including infertility, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancies. The consequences of these losses and sufferings to individuals, families, communities and nations are manifolds. Therefore there is the need for thorough investigations into the problem. This study describes the result of a community based survey on the context of Post- abortion care of Kpeshie sub Metro in Accra-Ghana. A structured questionnaire was administered to 250 females in their Reproductive age. The results showed that respondent 65.2% were more than 25 years old and over (7 1.6%) of the respondents had ever been pregnant. Out of these, 87.1% had their children alive. Whilst 25.7% had miscarriage and 43% intentionally tempered or terminated their pregnancies. However, 68% of abortion clients usually do not request for contraceptive after treatment, 60% health providers do not usually provide contraceptive counseling and services for abortion clients. Also 78% of abortion clients are not given appointment to talk to someoôe else for contraceptives and family planning in general. Concerning organization of post abortion care services at La hospital, the health facility usually provide Pre and post abortion counseling services to clients. Furthermore, follow up is not done due to limited resources, lack of zeal to do it, and poor communication There is the need therefore for all stakeholders like Policy makers, Donors, Regional, District, Community, and health services to join hands to do more research and education to create more awareness to the public.

Source: KNUST