ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus among fishermen in Cape Coast: a comparison between the FINDRISC score and the metabolic syndrome

Background Studies over the past decades have observed a sharp rise in the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A highly sensitive and specific predictive tool for risky populations is essential. This study assessed two significant diabetes mellitus predictive tools for effectiveness and accuracy among people living in fishing communities in Cape Coast, Ghana. Method In April 2019, we recruited one hundred and thirty-five (135) fishermen from three fishing communities in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. Each participant underwent a standard metabolic procedure including clinical examination as well as taking of anthropometric variables such as weight, height, waist and hip circumference were also measured. The FINDRISC questionnaire was used to gather data from the respective participants. Serum glucose and lipids were estimated with enzymatic techniques, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) screened with the international diabetes federation (IDF) criteria. Results Of the 135 participants, 71 (52.6%) were women. The average age of study participants was 52 ± 16 years with females averagely older (56.6 ± 15.0) than the males (47.3 ± 15.0). This study recorded 31.1% and 8.9% prediabetic and diabetic fishermen respectively. Frequency of both prediabetes and diabetes was significantly predominant among females (71.4% vs 83.3%) than males (26.2% vs 25.0%) (p < 0.001) respectively. Prevalence of MetS according to the IDF criteria was 18.5%, significantly higher among females (92.0%) than recorded among the males (18.5%). The discriminatory accuracy of FINDRISC [aROC = 0.76 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.83); sensitivity = 58.3% and specificity = 86.9%; p = 0.003; optimal cut-off point = 13.50] and the MetS [aROC = 0.74 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.81); sensitivity = 75.0% and specificity = 71.5%; p = 0.002] despite demonstrating a significantly good capacity to detect T2DM were statistically comparable [aROC = 0.018 (95% CI -0.152 to 0.189); p = 0.834] in our study. Conclusion Our findings indicate that both FINDRISC (with a suitable cut-off value of 13.5) and MetS screening tools possess a good predictive capacity for the detection of T2DM. Additionally, FINDRISC can be employed to detect MetS in a high-risk population.

Source: UCC
Prediction of organ and effective dose with known mas and kvp for dose optimisation protocol and recommendations in CT

In medical exposure dose to patients are determine by input parameters including mAs, kVp, pitch factor among other factors. The aim of this study is to provide procedure and protocol of how to assess patients’ dose (organ and effective dose) estimates with preset eff mAs and standard kVp. This is to determine a tradeoff between patient’s dose and the image quality before imaging. In addition to providing appropriate clinical recommendation for clinicians for dose management during CT scan. MVL DICOM application software was used to access image data during abdominal CT scan. Organ and effective dose estimates were estimated as developed by ICRP 103 recommendations. Where on the image data, using MVL platform detail information of the mAs, kVp, CTDIvol and DLP were available for recording. The weighted CTDI (CTDIW) was estimated by multiplying the volume CTDI (CTDIVOL) by the pitch factor. Which was used to estimate organ dose using the normalized organ dose factor and the effective dose was estimated by the product of the region-specific normalizing constant and the dose length product. The mAs is the effective Milliameter per second, which were calculated by dividing the mAs by the pitch factor. The relationship between input and output parameters were modeled as the final component of the modeling process in a form of GUI applications format. This was done to establish the various process and procedures involve in abdominal scan for dose managements. The coding process involve the use of written visual basic code to design an interface and integrated on the MVL application platform for clinical application. The GUI has been recommended for use by various stake holders in CT operations

Source: UCC
A predictive model of finance claims rejection under the national health insurance scheme( A case study of selected health service providers in Ashanti region)

Access to quality healthcare is fundamental to economic progression as healthy populations live longer, are more productive, and save more. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was established by the Government of Ghana in 2003 through an Act of Parliament to provide accessible and quality Healthcare services to residents of Ghana. It replaced the Cash and Carry system which took a toll on healthcare delivery in the country. The scheme has however been facing claims management and financing challenges. This study provides a predictive model based on factors that affect claims rejection. An explanatory research design was employed, and a multiple linear regression model developed to evaluate the impact of identified factors namely; errors, fraud, adequacy of personnel, the level of bureaucracy and adequacy of logistics on claims rejections for a stipulated period of a year. The regression model revealed that the identified factors account for approximately 89% of the variations in claims rejection. The model showed that errors and inadequacy of personnel account significantly for claims rejection under the National Health Insurance Scheme. As a result, the study recommends among others, increased advocacy, sensitization and training of health service providers and subscribers of the scheme on the impact of fraud and abuse on the health insurance system as well as institution of a sophisticated E-claims system to minimize duplications and errors which lead to Claims rejection.

Source: UCC
Predictive Model on Digital Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study examined the nexus between digital financial inclusion (DFI) and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The research aimed at analysing trends in DFI and exploring its impact on economic, social, environmental, and overall sustainability across 28 SSA economies with complete data from 2009 to 2023. Using three key indicators the study assessed DFI's role in promoting sustainable development. The two-step System Generalized Methods of Moment (GMM) approach is employed to address endogeneity and improve the accuracy of panel data estimations. Key findings reveal significant disparities in DFI across the region, with notable progress in some countries but ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable access, especially in rural and underserved areas. Moreover, the study provides strong evidence that higher levels of DFI positively influence all the dimensions of sustainable development. These findings emphasize the role of digital financial services in promoting sustainable development by enhancing economic participation, reducing poverty, and fostering social inclusion and environmental sustainability. The study recommends that governments in SSA integrate DFI into economic growth strategies, promote public-private partnerships to expand digital infrastructure, and enhance financial literacy and inclusivity, especially among marginalized populations. Future research could expand this analysis to other emerging economies and examine country-specific dynamics to inform more tailored policy interventions.

Source: UCC
Predictive Performance of Renal Function Equations Among Ghanaians Presenting with Chronic Kidney Disease

This study specifically evaluate the predictive performance and accuracy of the six renal function equations in patients presenting with CKD in our community. The results of these predictive equations for 50 patients using stage of CKD and/or with serum creatinine >200 μmol L<sup>-1</sup> were compared with the recommended methods (4v-MDRD and CG). Another 55 subjects with similar age group and sex distributions but without kidney pathology were studied as control. The most accurate results were obtained with the reference equations (4v-MDRD and CG) with CG having a slight edge over 4v-MDRD equation. The sensitivity and specificity of the 4v-MDRD equation to detect Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) values < 60 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2 </sup>were 67.3 and 63.9%, respectively; that of CG was 62.9 and 71.3%, respectively. These results suggest that measurement of GFR with predictive equations might be a prudent strategy for the assessment of renal function among the CKD population.

Source: UCC
Predictive probabilities of access to clean cooking: evidence from the demographic and health surveys in 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Access to clean cooking fuels is critical for human health and features, prominently in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, our understanding of the probabilities of access to clean cooking across sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is emergent. A pooled regression analysis of the compositional and contextual factors that cumulatively influence access to clean cooking fuels in 31 SSA countries, between 2010 and 2016, was carried out. Household access to clean cooking fuels across the 31 countries was just 10%. Access of urban households to clean cooking fuels was 26% and it was 2% for rural households. Higher probabilities of access were observed for households that were rich and highly educated compared with households that were either rich but with low education or poor but highly educated. Middle households with heads educated to secondary level or higher in both urban and rural areas almost have the same chance with the rich households with uneducated heads or educated to primary level regarding access to clean cooking fuels. The average probability of poor households with heads educated to secondary level or higher is twice that of poor households with uneducated heads or educated to primary level. The average probability of access to clean cooking of rich households with heads educated to secondary or higher level is ten times higher than for poor households with uneducated heads. These findings are mediated and attenuated by compositional and contextual factors, giving credence to the fact that the challenge of access to clean cooking fuels in SSA is multifaceted and requires interdisciplinary research and policy interventions encompassing health, environment, culture, and economics

Source: UCC
Predictive Validity of Basic Education Certificate Examination Results on Students’ Academic Achievement in West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination in Upper Denkyira East Municipality

The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive validity of BECE results in students’ achievement on WASSCE in Upper Denkyira East Municipality. The target population for this study was students from the two selected public SHS who participated in the 2016 BECE and sat for their 2019 WASSCE. In total, a sample size of 300 students was considered for this study (165 students from Boa-amponsem Secondary Technical School and 135 students from and Dunkwa Secondary Technical School). Purposive, proportionate, and simple random sampling were used in selecting the participant for the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. Student inventory was used for the data collection and was analyzed with simple and multiple linear regression. Findings from this study revealed that, on the whole, student’s achievement on BECE across the four core subjects under investigation were poor predictors of their WASSCE achievement. It was recommended that School authorities should pay serious attention to students’ preparations at the BECE level to enhance larger progressive possessions on their achievement at the WASSCE level.

Source: UCC
Predictive validity of senior high school (SHS) aggregate of students' grade-point average (GPA) at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana

The study was conducted to investigate the predictive validity of students’ senior high school certificate examination (SHSCE) entry aggregate on their final year cumulative grade-point average (GPA) at the University of Cape Coast. The study covered the year groups from 1999 to 2001 involving five departments under the Faculty of Education at the University of Cape Coast. A total of 1,216 subjects consisting of 403 females and 813 males formed the study population. The research design used final year cumulative GPA as the criterion, and SSCE aggregate, gender and end of first year GPA (FYGPA) as predictor variables. Bivariate and regression analyses were carried out to investigate the relationships between variables. The correlation coefficient, r was also used to describe the extent of relationships and the regression equation used to estimate the predicted variable. There were significant differences in the relationships between SHSCE grades and end of first year GPA as well as the final year cumulative GPAs. The key finding was that SHS students’ entry grades did not determine their final year GPA with certainty. Rather, the end first year cumulative GPA was found to be the best predictor of the final year cumulative GPA with the other predictor variables having relatively little predictive effect on the criterion variable. The study concludes that it is best to predict students’ grade point average with their first year cumulative GPA and recommends that the departments in the Faculty set aside 5% of admission vacancies for students with low aggregates.

Source: UCC
Predictive value of perceived leadership styles of selected polytechnic principals on polytechnic teacher job satisfaction

The purpose of the study was to determine the leadership styles of polytechnic principals as perceived by polytechnic teachers and find out whether there was any relationship between the perceived principals' leadership styles and polytechnic teachers' job satisfaction. From a population of 484 polytechnic teachers, a random sample of 260 was surveyed. The Leader Behaviour Description Questionnaire (LBDQ) was used to measure the leadership style of the principal while the Mohrman-CookeMohrman Job Satisfaction Scale (MCMJSS) was used to measure teacher job satisfaction. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Enter Method Regression Analysis were used to test for significance of the correlation and regression coefficients. The study showed that generally, teachers rated their principals above the norm on initiating structure leadership style and below the norm on consideration leadership style. There was a significant relationship between polytechnic principals' consideration leadership style, as perceived by teachers, and teacher job satisfaction at an alpha level of 0.01. There was also a significant relationship between polytechnic principals' initiating structure leadership style, as perceived by teachers, and teacher job satisfaction at an alpha level of 0.01. Leadership style predicted 31 % of the variation in intrinsic teacher job satisfaction and 23.8% of the variation in extrinsic teacher job satisfaction. The consideration leadership style better predicts teacher job satisfaction than the initiating structure leadership style. Thus, the leadership styles of polytechnic principals influence the job satisfaction of their teachers. It has therefore been recommended that principals should periodically allow their staff to tell them what they think about their style of leadership. In addition, principals should pay attention to issues that affect the welfare of staff by organising regular durbars during which the problems of staff will be discussed so that solutions will be found to them.

Source: UCC
Predictors of adherence to test construction principles: the case of senior high school teachers in Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis

The study examined teachers’ test construction skills, commitment to work, and attitude towards test construction as predictors of adherence to test construction principles among SHS teachers in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis. The study was carried out employing the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The study targeted teachers who teach mathematics, integrated science, and English language, numbering 346. The census method was used to engage all the 346 teachers in the study. Questionnaire validated using IRT and CFA was used for the study. The data collected were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation, Structural Equation Model (SEM), and mediation analysis with Hayes’ PROCESS, with bootstrap samples. It was revealed that the teachers had high level of skills in test construction, and they were somehow committed to their work. The teachers also had positive attitude towards test construction. It was further revealed that commitment to work and attitude towards test construction do not serially mediate the relationship between test construction skills and adherence to test construction principles. However, attitude towards test construction, but not commitment to work solely mediates the relationship between test construction skills and adherence to test construction principles. It was concluded that positive attitude towards test construction is a requirement for adherence to test construction principles. The Ministry of Education, Ghana (MoE), Ghana Education Service (GES), and heads of the various SHSs, as part of their training programmes or workshops for teachers, are entreated to continue and intensify the acquisition of skills by teachers in test construction to improve their skills

Source: UCC
Predictors of alcohol consumption among inschool adolescents in the Central Region of Ghana: A baseline information for developing cognitive-behavioural interventions

Despite a recent shift in school going adolescents’ engagement in health compromising behaviours and their related socio-economic implications on developing societies, it is surprising that baseline information for planned interventions is sparse. The purpose of thisstudy was to investigate the prevalence of alcohol drinking and related behaviours among in-school adolescents in the Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Central Region of Ghana. Descriptive cross-sectional design was employed with multistage sampling procedures to sample 1400 school going adolescents in JHS in the Central Region. Preliminary findings using simple frequencies and percentages revealed 42% alcohol drinking prevalence in the region. High prevalence of drunkenness (73%, n = 406) and early exposure to alcohol drinking when students were in primary school (52%, n = 286) were noted. Community festivals and use of alcohol as a form of medicine were enabling factors of alcohol consumption in the region. Binary logistic regression analysis also showed that geographical location was a significant predictor of alcohol drinking among school going adolescents, with students in the southern and central part of the region at greater risks of drinking alcohol than those from the northern part (OR = .696, 95% CI = 0.52–926, p = .013). However, no statistical significant variations were found in the odds of drinking alcohol for age (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.86–1.48, p = .370), gender (OR = .81, 95% CI = 0.65–1.01, p = .06), religious affiliation (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.94–1.89, p = .10), parental communication (OR = .86, 95% CI = 0.66–1.06, p = .13), academic performance (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.79–1.45, p = .05) and socioeconomic status (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.95–1.53, p = .12). With this baseline data, it was recommended that schools’ curricula should include preventive cognitive-behavioural interventions that teach drug resistance skills and anti-drug norms. These interventions would foster the development of requisite knowledge and social skills (e.g., developing competence) for resisting social and peer influences that may trigger alcohol use and perhaps other drugs. Potentially, the motivation for alcohol use among school going adolescents in the region would be minimized, if not prevented.

Source: UCC
Predictors of cervical cancer screening intention of HIV-positive women in the central region of Ghana

Cervical cancer affects women, especially those with HIV-positive status. This study hypothesised that more HIV-positive women with high cues about cervical cancer screening, high perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer, high perceived seriousness of cervical cancer, high perceived benefits of cervical cancer screening, and low perceived barriers about cervical cancer screening have intention to seek cervical cancer screening than HIVpositive women with low cues, low perceived susceptibility, low perceived seriousness, low perceived benefits, and high perceived barriers. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 660 HIV-positive women aged 20 to 65 years using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages and binary logistic regression analysis. The findings showed that 82% (n = 540) of the respondents had intention to seek cervical cancer screening. The determinants of cervical cancer screening intention by HIV-positive women were cues, perceived seriousness and perceived benefits. Specifically, HIV-positive women with high cues were 3.48 times more likely to have intention to screen than those with low cues (95% CI, 1.43–8.49). Those with high perceived seriousness were 2.02 times more likely to have intention to screen than those with low perceived seriousness (95% CI, 1.24–3.30). Similarly, those with high perceived benefits were 1.7 times more likely to have intention to screen than those with low perceived benefits (95% CI, 1.05–2.71). However, perceived susceptibility (p = 0.063, OR 2.57, [95% CI, 0.95–6.93]) and perceived barriers (p = 0.969, OR = 1.01, [95% CI, 0.54–1.88]) were not statistically significant predictors of intention to seek cervical cancer screening in the sample studied. Cervical cancer screening interventions for HIV-positive women need to have a strong focus on explaining the seriousness of the disease, benefits of screening, and increase cues about screening, as these factors could improve attitude towards cervical cancer screening and promote the health of high risk women.

Source: UCC
Predictors of cervical cancer screening intention of HIV-positive women in the central region of Ghana

Background: Cervical cancer affects women, especially those with HIV-positive status. This study hypothesised that more HIV-positive women with high cues about cervical cancer screening, high perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer, high perceived seriousness of cervical cancer, high perceived benefits of cervical cancer screening, and low perceived barriers about cervical cancer screening have intention to seek cervical cancer screening than HIV positive women with low cues, low perceived susceptibility, low perceived seriousness, low perceived benefits, and high perceived barriers. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 660 HIV-positive women aged 20 to 65 years using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The findings showed that 82% (n = 540) of the respondents had intention to seek cervical cancer screening. The determinants of cervical cancer screening intention by HIV-positive women were cues, perceived seriousness and perceived benefits. Specifically, HIV-positive women with high cues were 3.48 times more likely to have intention to screen than those with low cues (95% CI, 1.43–8.49). Those with high perceived seriousness were 2.02 times more likely to have intention to screen than those with low perceived seriousness (95% CI, 1.24–3.30). Similarly, those with high perceived benefits were 1.7 times more likely to have intention to screen than those with low perceived benefits (95% CI, 1.05–2.71). However, perceived susceptibility (p = 0.063, OR 2.57, [95% CI, 0.95–6.93]) and perceived barriers (p = 0.969, OR = 1.01, [95% CI, 0.54–1.88]) were not statistically significant predictors of intention to seek cervical cancer screening in the sample studied

Source: UCC