ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An exploratory study of instructors' perceptions on inclusion of culturally responsive pedagogy in online education

The rapid growth of diverse learners in online learning has made it imperative for online instructors to incor porate multicultural resource curricula and instruc tional activities. This research aimed to explore online instructors' perceptions of culturally responsive peda gogy in online education; examine how instructors integrate culturally responsive pedagogy strategies in the online learning environment; and explore the chal lenges in facilitating cross-cultural collaborative learn ing for students from different cultural backgrounds. Data were collected following a qualitative multi-site case study method with five academic disciplines (Education, Social Sciences, Engineering, Physi cal Sciences and Health Sciences) in 12 colleges and universities in the United States of America. In all, 60 in-depth and semi-structured interviews with instructors (26 females and 34 males) were obtained and analysed following a constant comparative anal ysis approach. Results reflected that the instructors used cross-cultural interactions to facilitate students' engagement and incorporated culturally responsive teaching. Besides, the findings revealed that most of the instructors integrated diverse and internation alized learning content to support diverse students and addressed the impact of multicultural education in online learning. It was, however, noted, that instruc tors in the physical science disciplines struggled to incorporate culturally diverse contents in their online classes. The findings of this study foster discourse on how best instructors could be aided to engage diverse students online more meaningfully.

Source: UG
An Exploratory Study of Mathematics Teaching and Learning in Ghana: Hearing Students’ Voices

The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore the views of junior high school students (12-14 years) on the nature of their mathematics lessons and some of the challenges they face when learning mathematics. The study involved 21 students from 3 junior high schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. The data collection instrument was a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered to the 21 students. The data from the questionnaire was arranged serially and coded, after which it was fed into the computer and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that most of the students who took part in the study experience mathematics in the traditional way, where they have to sit back and listen to their teacher with little or no active participation in the teaching and learning process. In addition to this, the study revealed that students encounter many challenges learning mathematics both at school and at home, and these challenges were threefold: student, school and home related challenges. Though the respondents indicated that there are some personal and home-related challenges which impact on their learning and understanding of mathematics, there are also common challenges that related to classroom factors. The results from the study suggest that there is the need for further research in the area to understand the holistic views of students on the teaching and learning of mathematics, in our quest for improving the teaching and learning of the subject

Source: UG
An Exploratory Study of Physical Activity and Over Weighti Two Senior High Schools in The Accra Metropolis

Background: Overweight and physical inactivity are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. However, little evidence on physical activity, and overweight exists to support intervention in specific sub-populations including adolescents in low-income settings like Ghana. This study aimed at estimating overweight and determining the pattern and level of physical activity among senior high school students in the Accra Metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Accra Metropolis, among senior high school students, ages 15 to 19 years. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Structured ques tionnaire and anthropometric measurement were em ployed to gather information for the study. Students were considered as overweight if their Body Mass In dex (BMI) ≥ +1SD, and obese if BMI ≥ +2SD. Results: Out of 444 students, 17% were classified as engaging in low level physical activity, 49% in moder ate activity, and 34% in high level of physical activity. Much of the activity in boys was recreational while among girls, was due to domestic chores. The preva lence of overweight was 11.7%. Overweight preva lence was higher among female students (15.6%) com pared to 4.5% in males. Furthermore the risk of over weight was lower among students who engaged in high physical activity than those engaged in low activity. Overweight was independently associated with physi cal activity (p=0.01), sex (p=0.001) and age (p=0.01), after controlling for age sex and physical activity and diet. Conclusion: Majority of students in the study engaged in moderate to high physical activity. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Physical activity was sig nificantly related to overweight among students in the study.

Source: UG
An Exploratory Study of Physical Activity and Over-Weight in Two Senior High Schools in the Accra Metropolis

Background: Overweight and physical inactivity are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. However, little evidence on physical activity, and overweight exists to support intervention in specific sub-populations including adolescents in low-income settings like Ghana. This study aimed at estimating overweight and determining the pattern and level of physical activity among senior high school students in the Accra Metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Accra Metropolis, among senior high school students, ages 15 to 19 years. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement were employed to gather information for the study. Students were considered as overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ +1SD, and obese if BMI ≥ +2SD. Results: Out of 444 students, 17% were classified as engaging in low level physical activity, 49% in moderate activity, and 34% in high level of physical activity. Much of the activity in boys was recreational while among girls, was due to domestic chores. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Overweight prevalence was higher among female students (15.6%) compared to 4.5% in males. Furthermore the risk of overweight was lower among students who engaged in high physical activity than those engaged in low activity. Overweight was independently associated with physical activity (p=0.01), sex (p=0.001) and age (p=0.01), after controlling for age sex and physical activity and diet. Conclusion: Majority of students in the study engaged in moderate to high physical activity. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Physical activity was significantly related to overweight among students in the study.

Source: UG
An exploratory study of physical activity and over-weight in two senior high schools in the Accra Metropolis

BACKGROUND: Overweight and physical inactivity are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases. However, little evidence on physical activity, and overweight exists to support intervention in specific sub-populations including adolescents in low-income settings like Ghana. This study aimed at estimating overweight and determining the pattern and level of physical activity among senior high school students in the Accra Metropolis.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Accra Metropolis, among senior high school students, ages 15 to 19 years. Participants were selected using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement were employed to gather information for the study. Students were considered as overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ +1SD, and obese if BMI ≥ +2SD.RESULTS: Out of 444 students, 17% were classified as engaging in low level physical activity, 49% in moderate activity, and 34% in high level of physical activity. Much of the activity in boys was recreational while among girls, was due to domestic chores. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Overweight prevalence was higher among female students (15.6%) compared to 4.5% in males. Furthermore the risk of overweight was lower among students who engaged in high physical activity than those engaged in low activity. Overweight was independently associated with physical activity (p=0.01), sex (p=0.001) and age (p=0.01), after controlling for age sex and physical activity and diet.CONCLUSION: Majority of students in the study engaged in moderate to high physical activity. The prevalence of overweight was 11.7%. Physical activity was significantly related to overweight among students in the study.

Source: UG
An Exploratory Study of Project Management Competency in Ghana

Project outcomes in Ghana have been adjudged to be poor as a result of how projects are managed, the form project management takes, and the project management approaches used. Low project management expertise has been identified as a contributory factor to how projects have been managed in Ghana. In the current study, the author adopted an exploratory research design approach to investigate project management competency in Ghana, using a purposively selected sample of 200 managers. Competency scores were used to determine organizational project management competency levels. Results showed that Ghanaian managers possess varying degrees of project integration, human resource, communication, quality, risk, and scope management competencies. The study recommends the systematic and deliberate improvement of project management competencies in order to increase the rate of project success in Ghana.

Source: UG
Exploring Adolescents’ (Non‑)Use of Modern Contraceptives in Ghana Through the Lens of the Theory of Gender and Power

Despite the benefts of modern contraceptives, its usage is low among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on the theory of gender and power, this study explored adolescents’ (non-)use of contraceptives in the context of their sexual and reproductive health. Data were collected from adolescents (15–19 years) through focus group discussions as well as through interviews with fve key informants. The collected data were investigated through thematic analysis. The study revealed that gender and power infuenced adolescents sexual behavior. Both young men and young women engaged in risky sexual behavior, which exposed them to unintended pregnancy. Whereas some young women engaged in risky sexual behaviors due to fnancial reasons, young men engaged in such behaviors for pleasure. Lack of knowledge about the correct use of modern contraceptives, type of sexual relationship, and cultural norms of adolescent girls’ appropriate sexual behavior infuenced the use of contraceptives by adolescent girls. Avoiding pregnancy could be easier for adolescent girls if only they could have easy access to more long-term and reliable contraceptive methods. Education on the need to use condoms during sexual intercourse should be intensifed to create awareness about using condoms to avoid sexually transmitted infections in addi tion to unwanted pregnancy

Source: UG
Exploring Africa’s Agency in International Politics

A protracted conventional knowledge within mainstream International Relations (IR) has been that African agents (states, organizations, and diplomats) are consumers of international norms and practices designed in the affluent countries of the Global North. Papers in this special issue present a challenge to this view; they discuss the active role and the influence of African actors in international politics and renew a call for the development of IR theories, concepts, and methods that reflect Global Southern and African experiences, ideas, institutions, actors and processes.

Source: UG
Exploring African-centred social work education: the Ghanaian experience

Through the years, there has been regular discourse among African social work scholars regarding the production of Indigenous knowledge in Africa. Most of the arguments hold that social work knowledge creation and production is often based on Eurocentric approaches due to the dearth of African-centered social work literature from the continent. This paper attempts to explore the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of African-centered social work education and practice. Using Ghana as a case study, information is provided on theoretical and conceptual thought processes about African-centered social work education in response to the shortage of insights about African culture. Using purposive and availability sampling, we recruited three graduate students to be interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using thematic inquiry. We explored African paradigms and argued that the practice of social work education on the continent of Africa should not be based on the Eurocentric approaches only, to the detriment of traditional African ways of knowing. We believe that for social work education in Africa to thrive, we should embrace Indigenous African practices and values of spirituality, collectivity, interconnectedness, and reciprocity

Source: UG
Exploring alternative use of medicinal plants for sustainable weed management

This paper presents the first application of ethnobotanical studies to screen for allelopathic species among medicinal plants for sustainable weed management. This study assesses the possible relationship between ethnobotanical indices and allelopathy of medicinal plants. Ethnobotanical data were collected in 2016 by using semi-structured interviews with 140 informants in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ghana. Data were analysed using statistical tool and ethnobotanical indices including use value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). The Sandwich and Dish pack methods were respectively used to evaluate allelopathy through leachates and volatiles of collected samples. Ninety-five species belonging to 43 families are reported in this study, with leaves (52%) cited the most utilised plant part. Cleistopholis patens (UV = 0.54; FL = 90.7%; RFC = 0.37) and Ocimum gratissimum (UV = 0.37; FL = 38.4%; RFC = 0.35) were among the most cited species. Thirty-two species showed inhibition (≥49.3%) by leachates, while twenty-four species were found with potential volatile inhibitory compounds against lettuce radicle growth. There was a significant positive correlation (Pearson) between the UV and RFC of medicinal plants and allelopathy by leaf leachates (r = 0.639 **; p = 0.01 and r = 0.653 **; p = 0.01 respectively). This systematic documentation of medicinal plants in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality shows medicinal plants with ethnomedicinal values and potential allelopathy that can be utilised in sustainable weed control. © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Source: UG
Exploring Anti-Breast Cancer Effects of Live Pediococcus acidilactici and Its Cell-Free Supernatant Isolated from Human Breast Milk

Current breast cancer treatment options are limited by drug resistance and adverse side effects, which calls for the need for alternatives or complementary remedies. Probiotic bacteria isolated from human breast milk have been shown to possess proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties against breast mastitis in breastfeeding mothers and are being studied as possible anticancer regimens. Thus, this study aimed at exploring the effect of lactic acid bacteria isolated from human breast milk on MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. A total of twenty-two bacteria were isolated from four human breast milk samples. The isolates were characterized and identified using biochemical tests and Sanger sequencing, respectively. For in vitro In experiments, we used isolated P. acidilactici to treat MDA-MB-231 cells, and an MTT assay was used to detect proliferation. RT-qPCR and wound healing assays were performed to determine the effect of the isolated P. acidilactici on breast cancer cytokine expression and migration. Exposure of MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells to live P. acidilactici and its cell-free supernatant (CFS) for 24 hours resulted in a reduction in cancer cell viability. Also, the expression of the cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in the breast cancer cells increased following exposure to P. acidilactici and its CFS for 24 and 72 h. Additionally, the levels of the SLUG gene remained unchanged, while the TWIST1 gene was upregulated following exposure of the cancer cells to bacteria, indicating that P. acidilactici may promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer. Finally, the CFS significantly inhibited cancer cell mobility. These findings serve as a foundation to further investigate the usefulness of P. acidilactici as a potential therapeutic agent in breast cancer therapy

Source: UG
Exploring barriers to accessing physiotherapy services for stroke patients at Tema general hospital, Ghana

Background: Physiotherapy has been shown to reduce the risk of disability among stroke patients. Poor adherence to physiotherapy can negatively affect outcomes and healthcare cost. However, very little is known about barriers especially to physiotherapy services in Ghana. The objective of this study was to assess the barriers to physiotherapy services for stroke patients at Tema General Hospital (TGH). The individual/personal and health system barriers to physiotherapy services at TGH were determined. Method: A cross-sectional study design was employed. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 207 respondents for a face-to-face interview. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on individual/personal barriers of respondents to physiotherapy services and were described using the Likert’s scale. Health system barriers were assessed using a self-structured questionnaire which had section under the following heading: human factors, physiotherapy modalities, physical barriers and material/equipment factors. The time spent waiting for physiotherapy and attitude of physiotherapist towards patients; physiotherapy modality such as electrotherapy, exercise therapy and massage therapy among others were some of the indices measured. Respondents’ adherence to Medication was assessed with the Morisky 8-item medication adherence questionnaire. Data were entered and analysed using Epi info 7 and STATA 12.0. Associations between the variables were determined using a chi-square test and logistic regression model was used to test the strength of associations between the independent and the dependent variables. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The results showed that majority (76.3%) of the respondents had economic barrier as their main individual/ personal barrier to physiotherapy services. For medication adherence level, patients with low medication adherence level were about 21 times the odds of defaulting on accessing physiotherapy services five times or more as compared to those with medium adherence level (OR 20.63, 95% CI 8.96, 42.97). It was concluded in the study that individual/ personal barriers of stroke patients were the significant barriers to accessing physiotherapy services at Tema General Hospital.

Source: UG
Exploring Barriers to Medication Adherence Using COM-B Model of Behaviour Among Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: In 2016, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) led to 17.9 million deaths world wide, representing 31% of all global deaths. CVDs are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and significant barriers to achieving the sustainable development goals. Modern medicines have been significant in improving health outcomes. However, non-adherence to medication is one of the reasons behind adverse health-related outcomes among patients suffering from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries. Patients and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at two tertiary care hospitals in India and Ghana. A total of 35 in-depth interviews were conducted with atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients. The data were analysed thematically using the Capability Opportunity and Motivation (COM-B) framework. Findings: The findings were summarised under three important broad themes of the COM-B framework: capability, opportunity and behaviour. Under capability, comprehension of dis ease, medication schedule, and unplanned travel affected adherence among patients. Cost of medication, insurance and access were the critical factors under opportunity, which negatively influenced medication adherence. Mood, beliefs about treatment and outcome expectations under motivation led to non-adherence among patients. Apart from these factors, some important health system factors such as health care experience and trust in the facilities and reliance on alternative medication also affected adherence in both countries. Conclusion: This study has highlighted that the health system factors have dominantly influenced adherence to medication in India and Ghana. In India, we found participants to be satisfied with their health care provided at the government hospitals. However, limited time for consultation, lack of well-stocked pharmacy and unclear prescription negatively influenced adherence among participants in India and Ghana. The study emphasises that the health system needs to be strengthened, and the patients’ belief system needs to be explored to address the issue of medication adherence in LMICs.

Source: UG
Exploring caregiver experiences of stigma in Ghana: They insult me because of my child

Families of children with disabilities experience stigma by association with their child. This article examines social and internalised stigma experienced in the family by caregivers who participated in a caregiver programme in Ghana. Stigma is pervasive and gendered, with most mothers blamed for bringing disability into the home. Emotional distress, isolation and lack of support are common experiences. We argue that mothers can experience forms of disablism. Stigma is multi-layered, and a range of factors intersect with disability-related stigma, including poverty. A support group model can have a positive impact on caregiver internalised stigma and begin to address isolation. This should be part of a wider package of support to address wider structural issues. Families can play an important role in mediating change, but first we need to better understand the social disruption caused by disability-related stigma at the familial level.

Source: UG