ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of Government Stakeholders on Ageing and Assisted Care in the Cape Coast Municipal Area

To explore the perceptions of government stakeholders on assisted care for the aged in a Metropolis, in Ghana. Method: This is a qualitative sub-study of a larger study on developing a model for the care of the aged in the Cape Coast Metropolitan area. The following questions were put to the key informants: Have you noticed an increase in the number of the aged in the communities? What are government plans for the aged? How is the welfare and the caring from traditional attention, what is your view on the introduction of assisted care in Ghana? Data was collected through key-informant in-depth interviews with 10 government stakeholders directly in charge of policy implementation in the metropolis. Data collection took place over a period of four months from October 2016 to January 2107. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed. Findings: There was no preparations made for ageing, government had plans and strategies for the aged care. Traditional caring provision is inadequate and the concept of assisted living is regarded with mixed feelings. Some informant described assisted caring as an unaccepted practice that should not be encouraged. Conclusion: Those implementing the policies are not certain of the feasibility of the programme. Awareness of assisted living should be promoted so that the community can make their own decisions.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of Husbands’/Children’s Relationships and Attachments with their Wives/Mothers, Regarding their Late Home Coming from Work.

The study assessed the relationships and attachments between husbands/children and their working wives/mothers regarding her late home coming respectively in Ga East District of Ghana. The descriptive research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised husbands and children of families in which the wife/mother works within Dome Township, a suburb of the Ga East District. The purposive sampling method was used to sample fifty-one (51) husbands and one hundred and fifty (150) children for the study. Two sets of questionnaires were used to obtain data for the study. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the instruments were 0.78 and 0.72. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were the statistical tools used for the data analysis. It was found that children had positive perception of work life balance of their mothers than their fathers. The study showed that husbands had positive perception of work life balance of their wives. Husbands had positive perception about their wives to come home late from work. The results revealed that there's is a significant difference between husbands with tertiary education and those without tertiary education regarding their perception in work life balance of their wives. It is recommended that government and other employers of labour must therefore ensure that working mothers of children from the ages of 12 to 16 are given flexible work at various work places. Guidance counsellors must hold workshops for school children of working mothers who may be experiencing a lot of problems such as behavioural disorders, learning difficulties, problems with development and challenges with peers.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of hypertension and adherence to medication in the Cape Coast metropolis, Ghana.

There is a growing concern about hypertension related complications such as stroke, heart attack, and sudden deaths among Ghanaians. These complications could be controlled with persistent adherence to anti- hypertensive medication and recommended lifestyle modifications. Though effective anti-hypertensive medicines are readily available in Ghana, the level of medication adherence among patients is reportedly low. This thesis assesses patients' perceptions of hypertension and levels of medication adherence in urban Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. The Self-Regulatory Model of illness was applied to assess patients' perceptions and medication adherence. Data was collected from 350 adult hypertensive patients from three main public hospitals. This was followed with in-depth interviews for four adherents and four non-adherents, purposively selected out of the 350 patients after baseline analysis. Quantitative data was analysed using the Chi-square model and content analyses procedure for the qualitative survey. Twenty-two percent (22%) of the sample were adherent to medication. Patients at age 70 years plus, understanding treatment instructions, home blood pressure checks, and perceptions that hypertension is intermittent were found to significantly associate with medication adherence. Perceived appearance of symptoms, side effects of anti-hypertensive, and preference for herbal preparations were among the key reasons for medication non-adherence. As part of the consultation process, doctors and nurses should address misconceptions of hypertension. There is a need to intensify patient education about risks of complications due to medication non-adherence.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of Institutional Stakeholders on the Role Of University Environment in the Teaching and Learning Processes in the University of Cape Coast

The study assessed perceptions of institutional stakeholders regarding the role of university environment on the teaching and learning processes in the University of Cape Coast. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study was all lecturers and administrators in the University of Cape Coast. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 125 lecturers and 98 administrators for the study. Four research questions guided the study. A 42-item questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach’s coefficient alpha for the questionnaire for lecturers and administrators were 0.73 and 0.78. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and one sample t-test were used to analysed data. The results showed that, to a great extent, lecturers and administrators perceived physical facilities such as university library, size of lecture halls, laboratories to affect teaching and learning process. Lecturers and administrators indicated that, class sizes affected teaching and learning processes. Lecturers and administrators also reported that university location affected the process of teaching and learning. It was found out that the emotional state of a lecturer, an administrator and motivation affected teaching and learning processes. It is recommended that government resource allocation for physical facilities should be improved. Additionally, the university management should put students into smaller class sizes. Furthermore, government and communities are to ensure that students have access to the institutions near to their areas of residence. Incentive packages by university authorities should be given to motivate lecturers and administrators

Source: UCC
Perceptions of institutional stakeholders on the role Of university environment in the teaching and Learning processes in the University of Cape Coast

The study assessed perceptions of institutional stakeholders regarding the role of university environment on the teaching and learning processes in the University of Cape Coast. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study was all lecturers and administrators in the University of Cape Coast. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 125 lecturers and 98 administrators for the study. Four research questions guided the study. A 42-item questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach’s coefficient alpha for the questionnaire for lecturers and administrators were 0.73 and 0.78. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and one sample t-test were used to analysed data. The results showed that, to a great extent, lecturers and administrators perceived physical facilities such as university library, size of lecture halls, laboratories to affect teaching and learning process. Lecturers and administrators indicated that, class sizes affected teaching and learning processes. Lecturers and administrators also reported that university location affected the process of teaching and learning. It was found out that the emotional state of a lecturer, an administrator and motivation affected teaching and learning processes. It is recommended that government resource allocation for physical facilities should be improved. Additionally, the university management should put students into smaller class sizes. Furthermore, government and communities are to ensure that students have access to the institutions near to their areas of residence. Incentive packages by university authorities should be given to motivate lecturers and administrators.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of issues and challenges contributing to pupils’ poor performance in mathematics in some rural schools in the new Juaben municipality: the perceptions of stakeholders in education

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the key issues and challenges perceived by Pupils, Mathematics teachers, Headteachers and Circuit supervisors as contributing to pupils’ poor performance in mathematics in some rural schools in the New Juaben Municipality. It was to find out how stakeholders of mathematics education perceive teachers’ support for the learning of mathematics. Also, the study sought to find out the perceptions of stakeholders about schools’ support and motivation for the learning of mathematics. Finally, the study sought to determine whether rural mathematics teachers and pupils’ perceptions toward mathematics contribute significantly to pupils’ achievement in the subject. The study used simple random, the stratified and the purposive sampling techniques. The simple random sampling was used to select 300 pupils and the stratified technique was used to put the classes into various strata, thus JHS 1, JHS 2 and JHS 3, while the purposive was used to select the 30 other respondents for the study. The instruments used to collect data for the this study were three sets of perceptions questionnaires and one interview guide. The data gathered were analysed statistically using means, frequencies and percentages. The study among other things found that the support pupils get from teachers, headteachers, and the school in general with respect to teaching and learning is inadequate. It was recommended that stakeholders in education should provide opportunities that would encourage pupils to attend school regularly and study mathematics with interest.

Source: UCC
The perceptions of members of forest fringe communties on community participation in the management of the Kabakaba West Reserve in Ho Municipality

Currently, the Kabakaba West Reserve is managed by the Municipal Forestry Department with little or no involvement of the surrounding communities. The non-participation of the adjoining communities in the management of the reserve has led to encroachment on the reserve by these communities leading to the degradation of the forest. The main purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which the communities surrounding the reserve have been involved in the management of the reserve. The survey design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised of heads of households and opinion leaders of the forest fringe communities. The simple random and purposive sampling techniques were respectively used to select 180 heads of households and 6 opinion leaders who participated in the study. Structured and semi-structured interview guides were used to collect the data. The study established that participation of the local communities in the management of the reserve is generally low. Whereas institutional failure was identified as a major cause for the low level of participation observed in the study, the locus of the reserve on the livelihoods of the local people also came into question. It was noticed that the reserve was too small; hence did not affect the livelihoods of the people in significant ways. The limited participation of the local people in the management of the reserve is likely to affect the communities and the reserve negatively. It will be beneficial if the bottlenecks to participation that were identified in this study are addressed based on the recommendations made.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of owners of small and medium scale enterprises on the Ghana alternative exchange: evidence from Accra Metropolis

The importance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises is being considered crucial to the economic development strategies of every economy. It is therefore, important to consider conditions that would ensure sustained growth in this sector. Finance is considered as the life blood of every organisation and most firms rely on finance not only for survival but for growth and expansion. Access to finance is usually restricted to SMEs by financial institutions with simple reason that SMEs have high risk of default. It can be observed from research reports that, most developed and some developing countries have structures which is gradually reducing the dependence of most SMEs on bank loans, personal financing, family and friends financing and all other traditional methods of financing businesses. This study sought to analyse owners/managers views on the listing requirements on the GAX, to analyse the current funding sources to SMEs as well as to assess the readiness of SMEs to get listed on the GAX. The study adopted a cross sectional design to survey 327 SMEs out of the population by using the Krejcie & Morgan (1970) sample size determination table. The study concluded that SME willingness to list on the GAX is low despite their willingness to share information with the general public and their understanding of the operations of the GSE-GAX. There are now new and alternative sources of financing across the world which include capital market financing for SMEs; in which countries have establish a new market for SMEs with less stringent listing requirements to list either debt or equity instruments.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of public junior high school teachers in Berekum municipality on the performance appraisal system in Ghana education service

The study was to find out the perception of public junior high school teachers in Berekum Municipality on the performance appraisal system in Ghana Education Service (GES).The evaluative research design was used in the study. The cluster and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 142 respondents for the study. The questionnaire was the main instrument used in the collection of the field data. The data were analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (Version 10) software. The results were presented in frequency tables, percentages and barcharts. The main findings of the study were that most of the respondents were of the view that their headteachers involved them in the practice of performance appraisal. The majority of the respondents indicated that the implementation of the performance appraisal was in line with the GES system; the majority of the respondents stated that performance appraisal was not regularly conducted in the schools. The main recommendations of the study were that the GES must organize workshops on the performance appraisal system on a regular basis for the teachers, and feedback from the performance appraisal must be given to the teachers.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of refugees about the durable solutions: a case study of the Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana

Refugees living in the Buduburam camp of Ghana suffer from numerous social, economic and psychological problems owing to their status as refugees. These problems require the durable solutions, but the implementation of the durable solutions cannot be achieved without the acceptance of the solutions by the refugees. This research sought to assess the perceptions of refugees about the durable solutions. By adapting ‘When Displacement Ends’ framework for the durable solutions, the study assessed the refugees’ knowledge, preference, expectations and challenges associated with the durable solutions. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to solicit views from refugees about the durable solutions. The findings suggest that resettlement was the most preferred durable solution. Knowledge about the durable solutions was widespread among the refugees, but they did not fully understand the concept of local integration. Generally, easy access to employment, skills training, health care, and education were found to be major expectations of the durable solutions. Fear of persecution, competing with Ghanaians for job opportunities, and inadequate information about resettlement were the main challenges associated with the implementation of voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement of refugees in a third country respectively. It is recommended that UNHCR and GRB should educate more refugees about the exact packages for voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement in a third country. This will clarify some perceptions they have about the durable solutions.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of return migrants and non-migrants to female migration: Case of Ghana

The past three decades have witnessed a phenomenal increase in female migration especially in developing countries where females now migrate independently. These forms of migration now challenge the stereotyped male migration from rural to urban areas. This paper focuses on the perceptions of return and non-migrants to the emerging independent female migration from the Wa District in the Upper-west region of Ghana to the two main cities, Accra and Kumasi. Using both questionnaire and focus group discussions, 94 return migrants and 86 non-migrants were interviewed in four villages in the Wa district of Ghana. The study shows that lack of job opportunities and more especially, access to farmland at the place of origin compelled the women to migrate to Accra and Kumasi for the kaya yei business. Both return migrants and non-migrants perceived migration as an opportunity through which women acquire basic material items that they need in later life. In particular, the return migrants claimed that their socio-economic status has improved through migration. Although the women benefit in diverse ways through migration this has been at the expense of domestic, conjugal, maternal and kin role in their place of origin. It is partly for this reason that some community members, especially males do not support autonomous migration of women to Accra and Kumasi for the kaya yei business. Nonetheless, given the demonstration effects of return migration and the relatively poor environment of the place of origin, autonomous female migration from the Wa district to Accra or Kumasi for the kaya yei business is going to continue within the foreseeable future

Source: UCC
Perceptions of Risky Sexual Behaviours among University of Cape Coast Female Students.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the risky sexual behaviours of female students in the University of Cape Coast. Exploratory research design was adopted for the study. The study used purposive sampling procedure to select 28 female students within the ages of 19 and 24 years who had been sexually active over a period of time. The study adopted semi-structured interview guide as the data collection instrument and the interview sessions recorded were transcribed in full. In the study, it was revealed that female students were knowledgeable about sexual behaviours acquiring their knowledge about risky sexual behaviours through peer interactions, from traditional media (radio and television), social media and internet as a whole, personal reading and experience as well as from school. Again, it was revealed from the study that most of the respondents perceived their sexual behaviours as risky. Finally, the study showed that the risky sexual behaviours of the respondents were attributed to unplanned nature of sexual intercourse, the fun in sexual activities and the satisfaction derived from the sexual affairs as well as the influence of alcohol. Therefore, the study concluded that female students in the University of Cape Coast engaged in risky sexual behaviours despite their knowledge of the risky sexual behaviours. The researcher recommended that the University Health System as well as other health advocacy agencies should continue the education on proper sexual behaviours among young people.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of senior high school girls in the new Juaben Municipality on Legalisation of abortion in Ghana

The study investigated the perceptions of Senior High School girls in the New Juaben Municipality on legalisation of abortion in Ghana. Four research questions were posited to guide the descriptive survey design. A combination of purposive, stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample size of 455 girls from the schools in the municipality. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages and tables. The study revealed that SHS girls had inappropriate knowledge of methods of abortion, but adequate knowledge of safety methods (mixture of sugar and Guinness, n = 235), venues (clinic, n = 408) and providers of abortion (medical doctor, n = 419). They resort to abortion to enable them continue with their education (n = 218). They considered abortion not to be a right and suggested that it should not be legalised but only provided at the government hospital (n = 272) without the NHIS covering it (n = 370). The students’ perception about legalisation of abortion is that abortion is not a right and should not be legalised. It is recommended that the Government through the National Commission for Civic Education should educate SHS students on the abortion law in Ghana so that individuals will know what is required of them on issues connected with abortion.

Source: UCC
Perceptions of Senior High School Students towards E-Learning Platform in Some Selected Senior High Schools in Cape Coast Metropolis

With the emergence of the internet, e-learning have enhanced and improve the quality of education delivery on equitable basis in second cycle institutions. This change in the learning experience could not have come at a better time. This has made it imperative that students not only need to use e-learning platform, but they need to become comfortable and competent in it use.This paper examines the perception of Senior High Schools students towards the use of e-learning platform in Cape Coast Metropolis. Probability sampling technique was used to select 600 respondents from three mixed Senior High Schools. Questionnaire was used in collecting data. SPSS version 20.0 was the software used. Frequency tables and chi-square were used in presenting the data.The study revealed that majority of the students has heard of e-learning platform. Challenges in the use of e-learning platform include irregular internet access, technical know-how and lack of feedback from peers and teachers. However, there were significant relationship between students’ perceived ease of use and perception towards e-learning platform and a significant relationship between technology accessibility and computer ownership. We recommend that classrooms and laboratories in Senior High Schools should be fully equipped to support patronage of e-learning.

Source: UCC