ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Considering escaping hell

Adams argues that the traditional doctrine of eternal hellish experience stretches the Problem of Evil beyond any reasonable solution, as hell is stubbornly incompatible with God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and perfect goodness. Buckareff and Plug argue that people could leave hell. Matheson responds that if people could leave hell, people could leave heaven. But Matheson provides reasons to think that this is not possible. Luck attempts to refute Matheson’s argument. I show that Luck’s attempt contains analogies that lack features that crucially depict the asymmetrical relationship between heaven and hell. I suggest some other analogies that I think contain such features.

Source: UG
Consistency of the determinants of achieving fertility desires in Ghana: insights from 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data sets

Sub-Saharan Africa has entered the early stage of the demographic transition with differences in and between countries. The relation between fertility preference and actual fertility is at the core of the demographic changes during the demographic transition in sub-Saharan Africa. At the current pace of the demographic transition, overachieved fertility (actual fertility being higher than fertility preference) is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa although some women do achieve their fertility preference. Our aim is to assess the trends and identify factors that consistently influence women with completed fertility to achieve their fertility desires in Ghana over a 10-year period. We used secondary data from the 2003, 2008 and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys for the analysis. The sample size was restricted to currently married/living in union women aged 45–49 years. The results indicate that underachieved fertility has increased from 25.1% in 2003 to 35.8% in 2014. Similarly, achieved fertility has also increased from 23.8% in 2003 to 26.0% in 2014. On the contrary, overachieved fertility has decreased from 51.1% in 2003 to 38.2% in 2014. The most persistent determinants of achieved fertility relative to overachieved fertility in Ghana during the last three rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys are child survival status, ethnicity and couple’s fertility preference. The study provides support for programmatic interventions targeting improving child survival and regulating men’s fertility preference.

Source: UG
Consistency of the determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in Ghana: insights from four Demographic and Health Survey datasets

Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a key strategy in averting neonatal deaths. However, studies on the facilitators and risk factors for EIBF are rare in Ghana. We examined trends in EIBF and its major facilitators and risk factors in Ghana using data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 1998 to 2014. Methods: We used complete weighted data of 3194, 3639, 2909 and 5695 pairs of mothers ages 15–49 y and their children ages 0–5 y in the 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2014 surveys, respectively. We accounted for the complex sampling used in the surveys for both descriptive statistics and multiple variable risk ratio analysis. Results: The proportion of children who achieved EIBF increased by about 2.5 times from 1998 to 2003 and there was a marginal increase in the proportion of children who achieved EIBF between 2003 and 2014. Children born by caesarean section were at higher risk of being breastfed later than 1 h across all four surveys. Being born in the Upper East Region (compared with the Western Region) of Ghana facilitated EIBF in 2003 and 2008. Conclusions: The study revealed that the current estimate of the proportion of children achieving EIBF in Ghana was 55.1%, and delivery by caesarean section and region of residence consistently predicted the practice of EIBF in Ghana.

Source: UG
Consistent condom use among sexually active young adults in Ghana: an analysis of prevalence and associated factors

Consistent and proper condom use offers a safer, economically cheap and practically effective means of preventing HIV infection. Using the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey with a sample of 2779 sexually active youth (males=682 and females=2,097) in the age range 15–24, this study explored the prevalence of, and factors associated with consistent condom use among sexually active young adults in Ghana. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the data. Our results showed that approximately 11% of the respondents reported consistent condom use in their previous sexual activity. Females were more likely than males to have used a condom consistently. The logistic regression results showed that females who had tested for HIV were less likely to use a condom consistently. However, those who have obtained family planning information from print media and those from the northern part of Ghana were more likely to practise consistent condom use. Furthermore, males who professed the Traditional African religion were less likely to use a condom consistently. In contrast, males in the rich wealth category were more likely to use a condom consistently. These findings underscore the need for behavioural change campaigns targeting young adults, particularly those who are sexually active, to encourage consistent condom use. These interventions should target young adults with less family planning knowledge, those who know their HIV status and those who profess the Traditional African religion.

Source: UG
The Consolidation of Africa’s Contemporary Democratic Dispensation: The Case of Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire.

The study measured the extent of democratic consolidation through the spectrum of constitutional reforms, elections and the independence of the electoral commission, institutional structures, constitutionalism and rule of law, civil society organisations, freedom of the media, electoral violence, ethnicity and sub-regionalism, socio-economic challenges, corruption, security-sector challenges, and the role of the international community. It did a comparative analysis of the extent to which the above factors either promoted or militated against democratic consolidation in the two countries. It found that Ghana has done better in the consolidation of democracy, given its performance in all the factors that were analysed than Côte d’Ivoire. Ghana’s seeming better consolidation of democracy is largely due to its legal and institutional reforms, free and vibrant media, and the relative peaceful and stable environment within which the contemporary democratic dispensation thrives. Cote d’Ivoire is still faced with serious challenges in consolidating its democratic gains, largely because of the divisive concept of Ivoirité that had sought to create more-equal citizens which has created faultlines of South-North, Christians-Muslims, indigenes-migrants divides the 2010-11 Ivoirian Civil War that has muddied Cote d’Ivoire’s path to democratic consolidation. While the analysis of the data points to Ghana making strides towards the consolidation of its democratic dispensation; the work however identifies the institutionalisation of violence through the flourishing of vigilante groups, ethnocentrism, sub-regionalism, and common corruption that threaten to claw back Ghana’s gains. In the case of Cote d’Ivoire lethargic constitutional and institutional reforms, ethnocentrism, corruption and socio-economic challenges and lack of respect for the rule of law threaten the little gains it has so far made. The study recommends that there should be Constitutional Amendment to address emerging challenges and government and the public should renounce and fight corruption, there should also be capacity building for the judiciary to enhance their performance, security-sector reforms should be carried out to enhance professionalism.

Source: UG
Consolidation or multiplicity in supply logistics for health commodities?

Public health-sectors of most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) run a central medical stores (CMS) model that is monopolistic in character. Concerns raised about monopolistic CMS arrangements stress the need to encourage cost reducing efforts and improve service levels (outputs) by having multiple competing logistics institutions. This paper examines the desirability of consolidation or multiplicity in supply logistics by focusing on the task of inventory management (that is, distribution, storage and warehousing). The paper uses theory and historical evidence to describe and suggest a desired form of multiplicity in LMICs. Consolidation shouldn't progress to the point of monopoly and multiplicity doesn't mean having an infinite number of logistics institutions. A limited number (2−10) of logistics institu tions, that are full-line and national in their scope and scale of operations, should be enough to provide choice, support competition and minimize the risk of supply disruptions. Health policy and planning in LMICs should explore ways of turning existing logistics institutions in the public, private and non-governmental sectors into a multiplicity of types that are capable of assuring uninterrupted supplies of health commodities.

Source: UG
Constituencies for reform in Ghana

The attitudes of ordinary people in Africa towards the liberalisation of politics and economies are not well known. Are there popular constituencies for reform? Which specific reform measures do different social groups accept or reject? And does popular support for structural adjustment, if any, go together with support for democracy? In an effort to find answers, this article reports results of a national sample survey in Ghana conducted in July 1999 as part of the Afrobarometer. The survey finds that the constituency for democracy is broader than the constituency for market reform, which is concentrated among educated male elites. In addition, while most Ghanaians are patient with democracy and want to retain this political regime, most Ghanaians are fatigued with adjustment and want the government to 'change its policies now'. Given this distribution of popular preferences, one can surmise that democracy will be easier to consolidate than a market-based economy.

Source: UG
Constitution-Making and Constitutional Rule in Ghana

A constitution enjoys a special place in the life of any nation; a fact which makes constitution-making and constitutional practice a useful starting point for analyzing the government, politics and development of any state. Additionally, a constitution regulates not only the exercise of political power, but also the relationship between political entities and between the state and citizens. With this at the backdrop, the chapter examines the trajectories of constitution-making and constitutional practice in Ghana over the half-century since independence, taking into consideration issues like what accounted for the quick succession and varied nature of constitutions in Ghana over the last fifty years? How inclusive have the various constitution-making impacted on the practice of constitutional rule in Ghana? To what extent have changes in constitutional arrangements affected politics in Ghana? What has sustained the current constitutional dispensation in spite of the initial hiccups? Among other compelling issues

Source: UG
Constitutional Proposals for Gold Coast Independence

The present White Paper must be viewed against the background of the negotiations that preceded the granting of the existing Gold Coast Constitution, for in the Government's proposals for Constitutional Reform, 1953, which formed the basis of the negotiations, the Gold Coast Government made it clear that its proposals were only in respect of the limited transitional period which was necessary in order that the requisite constitutional and administrative arrangements for Independence· could be made. In the opinion of the Government, the Gold Coast is now at the end of this limited transitional period.

Source: UG
Constraints and opportunities for implementing nutrition‐specific, agricultural and market‐based approaches to improve nutrient intake adequacy among infants and young children in two regions of rural Kenya

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
Constraints Associated with Access to Free Maternal Delivery in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

The Ghanaian government instituted a nationwide free maternal delivery policy in 2005 as a pro - poor strategy to enable women have access to quality maternal health services. Th e aim was to meet the Millennium Development Goal 5 which seeks to reduce maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent between 1990 and 2015 and to increase the percentage of births attended by skilled professionals from 40 per cent in 2005 to 60 per cent by 201 5. The purpose of the study was to identify challenges associated with access to free maternal delivery. This study highlights the concerns of women who are direct beneficiaries of the policy. The study adopted a qualitative case study using focus group i nterviews 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 challenges to free maternal deliveries include: costs of transportation, distance from health facilities, denial of dignity by health personnel in hospitals and cultural issues. Availability of information on free maternal health services to these women, and the inclusion of their views are crucial to addres sing these challenges.

Source: UG
Constraints for future cocoa production in Ghana

To address the growing global demand for cocoa, sustainable intensification of its production in West Africa is considered crucial. This paper analyzes the determinants of cocoa productivity and profitability by smallholder farmers in Ghana to provide insights into challenges for future cocoa farming, which will guide the formulation and prioritization of tailored policies to address them. A four-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 731 cocoa farmers from various districts in all six cocoa growing regions in Ghana. Selected farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results show that cocoa productivity and profitability was very low with an average of 234 kg ha−1 and Gh¢ 568 (ca. US$ 150) per ha, respectively. Farm management practices, namely control of capsid and black pod disease, fertilizer application and pruning, significantly (p &lt; 0.05) influenced cocoa productivity. Capsid control and fertilizer application showed the highest impact on productivity. Farm size, however, had a negative impact, which implies that increase in farm size results in decreased smallholder cocoa productivity. Farmers should be encouraged to sustainably intensify farm management through controlling black pod disease and capsids, regular pruning and efficient application of fertilizer rather than focusing on excessive land expansion, which eventually hampers productivity and biodiversity. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Source: UG
Constraints on the use of animal source foods for young children in ghana: A participatory rapid appraisal approach.

Micronutrient deficiencies limit child health and development. Although animal source foods (ASF) provide highly bioavailable micronutrients, Ghanaian preschoolers consume little. Participatory rapid appraisal methods identified constraints to the availability, accessibility, and utilization of ASF. Stakeholders working with or living in six communities in three agro-ecological zones reported constraints including low income, lack of access to technology and markets, inequitable household food allocation, inadequate knowledge, and beliefs. The least expensive ASF was fish, which was easy to preserve and consumed by all communities. Since ASF was primarily purchased, interventions that increase income may be most successful in improving Ghanaian children's diets.

Source: UG
Construct validity of the neighborhood environment walkability scale for Africa

Purpose: Development of valid measures of built environments relevant for physical activity is an important step toward controlling the global epidemic of physical inactivity-related non-communicable diseases and deaths. This study assessed the construct validity of a self-report neighborhood environment walkability scale adapted for Africa (NEWS-Africa), by examining relationships with self-reported walking for transportation and recreation using pooled data from six sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: NEWS was systematically adapted to assess urban, peri-urban and rural environments in sub-Saharan Africa. Adults (n=469, 18-85 years, 49.7% women) from Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda were purposively recruited from neighborhoods varying in walkability and socioeconomic status, with some from villages. Participants completed the 76-item (13 subscales) NEWS-Africa by structured interview and reported weekly minutes of walking for transport and recreation using items from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The overall 'walkability' index had a positive relationship with both walking for transportation (eta=0.020, p=0.005) and recreation (eta=0.013, p=0.028) in the pooled analyses. The mixed-use access and stranger-danger scales were positively related with transport walking (eta=0.020, p=0.006 and eta=0.021, p=0.040, respectively). Proximity of recreational facilities (eta=0.016, p=0.015), road/path connectivity (eta=0.025, p=0.002), path infrastructure (eta=0.021, p=0.005), and overall places for walking and cycling (eta=0.012, p=0.029) scales were positively related to recreational walking. Country-specific results were mostly non-significant except for South Africa and Uganda. Conclusions: Seven of 14 NEWS-Africa scales were significantly related to walking behavior in pooled analyses, providing partial support for the construct validity of NEWS-Africa. However, effect sizes appeared to be lower than those from other continents. Further study with larger and more diverse samples is needed to determine whether the instrument performs well in each country.

Source: UG
Construction and characterisation of a BAC library made from field specimens of the onchocerciasis vector Simulium squamosum (Diptera: Simuliidae)

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
Construction and pre-evaluation of an in-house cylindrical ionization chamber fabricated from locally available material

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to construct a very robust in-house cylindrical ionization chamber from locally available materials to minimize cost, and to assess its suitability for use in a clinical setting. Materials and Methods: The entire body of the constructed IC was composed of Perspex (PMMA). Other components of the IC were made from locally available materials, such as paper and discarded items. The in-house IC was made waterproof by passing the triaxial cable connecting its various electrodes through a plastic tube which once served as a drainage tube of a urine bag. This connection was made such that the chamber was vented to the environment. The completed in-house IC was evaluated for: polarity effect, ion recombination, ion collection efficiency, stability, dose linearity, stem effect, leakage current, angular, dose rate and energy dependences. Results: Although the pre-evaluation results confirmed that the in-house IC satisfied the stipulated international standards for ICs, there was a need to enhance the stem effect and leakage current characteristics of the IC. The in-house IC was found to have an absorbed dose to water calibration coefficient of 4.475 x 107 Gy/C (uncertainty of 1.6%) for cobalt 60 through a cross-calibration with a commercial 0.6 cc cylindrical IC with traceability to the Germany National Dosimetry Laboratory. Using a Jaffé diagram, the in-house IC was also found to have a recombination correction factor of 1.0078 when operated at the calibration voltage of + 400 V. In terms of beam quality correction factors for megavoltage beams, the in-house IC was found to exhibit characteristics similar to those of Scanditronix-Wellhofer IC 70 Farmer type IC. Conclusion: The constructed in-house Farmer-type IC was able to meet all the recommended characteristics for an IC, and therefore, the in-house IC is suitable for beam output calibration in external beam radiotherapy.

Source: UG
Construction of the World Health Organization child growth standards: Selection of methods for attained growth curves

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with a number of research institutions worldwide, is developing new child growth standards. As part of a broad consultative process for selecting the best statistical methods, WHO convened a group of statisticians and child growth experts to review available methods, develop a strategy for assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss methodological issues likely to be faced in the process of constructing the new growth curves. To select the method(s) to be used, the group proposed a two-stage decision-making process. First, to select a few relevant methods based on a list of set criteria and, second, to compare the methods using available tests or other established procedures. The group reviewed 30 methods for attained growth curves. Using the pre-defined criteria, a few were selected combining five distributions and two smoothing techniques. Because the number of selected methods was considered too large to be fully tested, a preliminary study was recommended to evaluate goodness of fit of the five distributions. Methods based on distributions with poor performance will be eliminated and the remaining methods fully tested and compared. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Source: UG
Constructions of masculinity and femininity and sexual risk negotiation practices among women in urban Ghana

Using qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews with women in Accra, Ghana, this paper explores narratives of masculinity and femininity and sexual risk negotiation practices among women. While women framed ‘proper’ masculinity in terms of stereotypical reproductive norms, they also acknowledged the fluidity and multiplicity of masculinities. Femininity was more uniformly characterised in terms of physical attractiveness and beauty, responsibility and reproduction. These features, especially those related to adherence to morally and socially appropriate sexual norms (e.g., menstrual and bodily hygiene, unplanned pregnancy etc.), influenced women's approach to sexual negotiation. Work aiming to support women to negotiate sex safely needs to pay attention to their notions of gender and practices of sexual negotiation.

Source: UG