ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Export earnings instability and investment in Ghana from 1980-2011

The study investigates the effect of the instability of export earnings on gross fixed capital formation (total investment) in Ghana over the period, 1981 to 2011, marked by continuous political stability. The analysis employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method of cointegration to evaluate a set of factors, which affect investment as measured by the investment to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio. The results of the analysis confirm the expected negative relationship between export earnings instability and investment. Other factors that significantly influence investment in Ghana are real GDP growth, merchandise trade balance, real interest rate and gross domestic savings ratio. Based on the analysis, we recommend policy measures aimed at increasing the domestic savings ratio and export diversification given the re-emergence of reduced real values of Ghanaian export commodities in the world market after the high values of these commodities during the first decade of the 21st century.

Source: UG
Export performance &amp; investment behaviour of firms in Ghana

Introduction After two decades of macroeconomic stabilization policies, Ghana still has a low GDP per capita and is highly dependent on commodity exports. Specifically, it is one of the countries with the lowest proportion of exporting manufacturing firms in sub-Saharan Africa. To change this situation, a shift towards non-traditional exports with higher demand growth and less price volatility is a precondition. However, the declining terms of trade and external shocks have an impact on macroeconomic variables such as exchange and interest rates and therefore reduce the prospects for investment and growth (UNCTAD, 2004). Therefore at the macro level export and investment performance are closely linked. From previous studies and theoretical considerations, a strong relationship between export performance and investment behaviour at the firm level is also expected (Collier and Pattillo, 2000; Rankin et al., 2002, Söderbom and Teal, 2003). Because of the fixed costs of marketing and access to foreign markets, a certain scale of operations is needed for a firm to be a successful exporter. Furthermore, firms need to invest in equipment and technology, to produce goods of the required quality for exporting, and to exploit economies of scale to produce goods more cheaply. On the other hand, profits from good export performance might be used for subsequent investment, as many firms depend on internally generated funds. © James Currey Ltd 2007.

Source: UG
The Exporter Wage Premium Hypothesis: An Unconditional Quantile Regression and Decomposition Approach

Relying on the World Bank Enterprise Survey dataset in 2012/13, this paper applies the unconditional quantile regression and decomposition estimation techniques to examine the hypothesis that workers in exporting firms receive higher wages than those in non-exporting firms. The results show that the relationship between export and firm’s wage bill is indirect and is transmitted through technology and firm size. Remarkably, these indirect relationships are much more pronounced at the more upper quantiles of the wage bill distribution. However, the net relationships of the interaction between export and technology are relatively larger and positive as compared to that of the interaction between export and firm size which are marginal and mixed. The decomposition analysis indicates that much of the present exporter wage premiums are largely due to the differences in the returns to the characteristics between exporting and non-exporting firms. The findings from this paper suggest directions for future work that can be directly useful for policy.

Source: UG
The Exporter Wage Premium Hypothesis: An Unconditional Quantile Regression and Decomposition Approach

Relying on the World Bank Enterprise Survey dataset in 2012/13, this paper applies the unconditional quantile regression and decomposi tion estimation techniques to examine the hypothesis that workers in exporting firms receive higher wages than those in non-exporting firms. The results show that the relationship between export and firm’s wage bill is indirect and is transmitted through technology and firm size. Remarkably, these indirect relationships are much more pronounced at the more upper quantiles of the wage bill distribution. However, the net relationships of the interaction between export and technology are relatively larger and positive as compared to that of the interaction between export and firm size which are marginal and mixed. The decomposition analysis indicates that much of the pre sent exporter wage premiums are largely due to the differences in the returns to the characteristics between exporting and non exporting firms. The findings from this paper suggest directions for future work that can be directly useful for policy.

Source: UG
Exports of palm oil from Ghana : A demand analysis

Studies have shown that the economy of Ghana cannot afford to rely solely on cocoa exports. It is imperative to diversify the export base of the Ghanaian Economy. In this respect, the Palm Oil sub-sector of the Agricultural sector which until the early part of the 20th century used to be the major agricultural export commodity of Ghana needs to be considered for promotion. Currently the palm oil industry faces the challenge of bleak export potential. In this study, we examine the trend in quantity exported of Ghana’s palm oil; and quantify the effects and magnitudes of the determinants of the export demand. The empirical analysis of Ghana’s palm oil exports over the period 19872006 reveal a general upward growth over the study period at an annual growth rate of 23.2%.This result can be attributed to a large extent by the privatization of state owned oil palm plantations in the 1980s and 1990s. The effects and magnitudes of the determinants of the demand for Ghana’s palm oil were achieved with Ordinary Least Squares regression. The study identifies the following as the significant determinants of the demand for Ghana’s palm oil: real export and real domestic prices of Ghana’s palm oil, real export price of Malaysia’s palm oil (a competing country of Ghana’s palm oil exports), and real exchange rate in Ghana. A percentage fall in the real domestic price of Ghana’s palm oil will bring about 11.9 % increase in the quantity exported (demanded) of Ghana’s palm oil by her trading partners; a percentage increase in the export price of Malaysia’s palm oil will increase the demand for Ghana’s palm oil by 2.1 %; quantity demanded of Ghana’s palm oil will increase by 0.4 % for every percentage decrease in the export price of Ghana’s palm oil; and a percentage depreciation of the Ghana Cedi against the US dollar will bring about 11.1 % increase in the demand for Ghana’s palm oil by her trading partners, all things being equal. The study recommends that a price support system (i.e., maximum price legislation) be instituted in the domestic palm oil market to minimize domestic price increases. Policymakers and stakeholders in the palm oil industry should consider the export price of Malaysia’s palm oil when pricing Ghana’s palm oil in the international market. Exchange rate stabilization policies should be strengthened in order to promote a mutually beneficial trade between Ghana and her palm oil importing countries.

Source: UG
The exposure and adoption of New Rice for Africa (NERICAs) among Ghanaian rice farmers: What is the evidence?

The sustainable development of the rice sector in Ghana is constrained by environmental, socioeconomic, research and development factors. Productivity is generally low, about 1 mt/ha under upland and rain-fed lowland rice ecologies which dominate rice production systems in the country. The release and diffusion of the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties across many countries in Africa (including Ghana) brought renewed hope to both farmers and the research community because of the desirable qualities associated with the NERICAs, and therefore their potential to improve food security on a sustainable basis. This study therefore sought to assess the extent of exposure and adoption of the NERICA varieties across the rice growing districts in Ghana, and determine the key factors that affect adoption. A total of 489 rice producing households from three districts (Ejura-Sekyedumase, Hohoe and Tolon-Kumbungu) were involved in the study. The study employs the average treatment effect (ATE) methodology which provides an appropriate framework for the identification and consistent estimation of the population adoption rate and that of the determinants of adoption. The study finds that exposure to NERICA varieties is generally low in Ghana with an average rate of about 6%. Similarly, the adoption of improved rice varieties is low, and the adoption of NERICA varieties is about 6% of the total sample surveyed. The study shows that experience, education and location are important determinants of exposure, while age and access to extension also affect adoption. It is therefore recommended that much effort and resources should be invested in promotional activities to facilitate both the exposure and adoption of the NERICAs among farmers in Ghana. © 2011 Academic Journals.

Source: UG
Exposure to a Slightly Sweet Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement During Early Life Does Not Increase the Preference for or Consumption of Sweet Foods and Beverages by 4-6-y-Old Ghanaian Preschool Children: Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Whether consuming sweet foods early in life affects sweet food preferences and consumption later in childhood is unknown. Objective: We tested the hypothesis that exposure to a slightly sweet lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) early in life would not increase preference for or consumption of sweet items at preschool age. Methods: We followed up children who had participated in a randomized trial in Ghana in which LNS was provided to 1 group of women during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their infants from ages 6-18 mo (LNS group). The control group (non-LNS group) received iron and folic acid during pregnancy or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum, with no infant supplementation. At 4-6 y, we obtained data from caregivers on children's food and beverage preferences and consumption (n = 985). For a randomly selected subsample (n = 624), we assessed preference for sweet items using a photo game (range in potential scores, 0-15). For the photo game and reported consumption of sweet items, we examined group differences using predetermined noninferiority margins equivalent to an effect size of 0.2. Results: Median (quartile 1, quartile 3) reported consumption of sweet items (times in previous week) was 14 (8, 23) in the LNS group and 16 (9, 22) in the non-LNS group; in the photo game, the number of sweet items selected was 15 (11, 15) and 15 (11, 15), respectively. The upper level of the 95% CI of the mean difference between LNS and non-LNS groups did not exceed the noninferiority margins for these outcomes. Caregiver-reported preferences for sweet items also did not differ between groups (P = 0.9). Conclusion: In this setting, where child consumption of sweet foods was common, exposure to a slightly sweet LNS early in life did not increase preference for or consumption of sweet foods and beverages at preschool age. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00970866.

Source: UG
Exposure to a Slightly Sweet Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement During Early Life Does Not Increase the Preference for or Consumption of Sweet Foods and Beverages by 4-6-y-Old Ghanaian Preschool Children: Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background The impact of feeding a slightly sweet nutrient supplement early in life on later sweet taste preference is unknown. Objective We tested the hypothesis that the level of sucrose most preferred by 4–6-y-old children exposed to a slightly sweet lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) early in life would not be higher than that of children never exposed to LNS. Design We followed up children born to women (n = 1,320) who participated in a randomized trial in Ghana. In one group, LNS was provided to women on a daily basis during pregnancy and the first 6 mo postpartum and to their infants from age 6 to 18 mo (LNS group). The control groups received daily iron and folic acid or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and the first 6 mo postpartum, with no infant supplementation (non-LNS group). At age 4–6 y, we randomly selected a subsample of children (n = 775) to assess the concentration of sucrose most preferred using the Monell 2-series, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking procedure. We compared LNS with non-LNS group differences using a noninferiority margin of 5% weight/volume (wt/vol). Results Of the 624 children tested, most (61%) provided reliable responses. Among all children, the mean ± SD sucrose solution most preferred (% wt/vol) was 14.6 ± 8.6 (LNS group 14.9 ± 8.7; non-LNS group 14.2 ± 8.4). However, among children with reliable responses, it was 17.0 ± 10.2 (LNS group 17.5 ± 10.4; non-LNS group 16.5 ± 10.0). The upper level of the 95% CI of the difference between groups did not exceed the noninferiority margin in either the full sample or those with reliable responses, indicating that the LNS group did not have a higher sweet preference than the non-LNS group. Conclusion Exposure to a slightly sweet nutrient supplement early in life did not increase the level of sweet taste most preferred during childhood. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00970866.

Source: UG
Exposure to Air Pollution and Tobacco Smoking and Their Combined Effects on Depression in Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Background Little is known about the joint mental health effects of air pollution and tobacco smoking in low- and middle-income countries.AimsTo investigate the effects of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) and smoking and their combined (interactive) effects on depression.Method Multilevel logistic regression analysis of baseline data of a prospective cohort study (n=4l785). The 3-year average concentrations of PM2.5 were estimated using US National Aeronautics and Space Administration satellite data, and depression was diagnosed using a standardised questionnaire. Three-level logistic regression models were applied to examine the associations with depression.ResultsThe odds ratio (OR) for depression was 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.17) per 10μg/m(3) increase in ambient PM2.5, and the association remained after adjusting for potential confounding factors (adjusted OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19). Tobacco smoking (smoking status, frequency, duration and amount) was also significantly associated with depression. There appeared to be a synergistic interaction between ambient PM2.5 and smoking on depression in the additive model, but the interaction was not statistically significant in the multiplicative model.Conclusions Our study suggests that exposure to ambient PM2.5 may increase the risk of depression, and smoking may enhance this effect.

Source: UG
Exposure to interparental violence and justifcation of intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to interparental violence is associated with intimate partner violence justification in a variety of contexts. In this study, we examined the association between exposure to interparental violence and justification of intimate partner violence among women in Papua New Guinea. Methods We used data from the 2016–18 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. We included 2839 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in a sexual union (married and cohabiting) in the study. We used a multi‑ variable binary multilevel regression analysis to examine the association between interparental violence and justification of intimate partner violence. We presented the results of the regression analysis using crude odds ratio (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Women exposed to interparental violence were 1.26 (95%CI=1.05, 1.53) times more likely to justify intimate partner violence than those who were not exposed. Women who resided in the Highlands (aOR=2.50, 95%CI=1.78, 3.51), Momase (aOR=1.96, 95%CI=1.40, 2.75), and Islands (aOR=1.42, 95%CI=1.01, 1.99) were more likely to justify intimate partner violence compared to those in the Southern region. Women who were exposed to one (aOR=1.38, 95%CI=1.06, 1.82) mass media were more likely to justify intimate partner violence compared to those who had no exposure to mass media. On the other hand, women aged 25–34 years (aOR=0.66, 95%CI=0.48, 0.91) and 35–49 years (aOR=0.66, 95%CI=0.44, 0.97) were less likely to justify intimate partner violence compared to those aged 15–24 years. Conclusions Our study has shown that exposure to interparental violence is a predictor of intimate partner vio‑ lence justifcation. This study suggests the need for conscious and continuous eforts to identify and assist women who have been exposed to interparental violence to help prevent its transition to later life. Policies and interventions should be developed and implemented to curtail children’s exposure to domestic violence in their households. Also, laws and policies need to condemn any violence and demystify community justification and acceptance of intimate partner violence, taking into consideration the significant sociodemographic characteristics of the women high‑ lighted in the study.

Source: UG
Exposure to Malaria Prevention Messages and Insecticide Treated Bednet Usage Among children under five Years in Ghana.

This paper assesses exposure to messages on malaria prevention among household heads with children 0-4 years in Ghana, and examines whether exposure influences use of ITNs among these children in their households and if certain types of exposure ( television, radio, health worker) are associated with ITN usage. We used data collected in t he 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey for which over 12,000 households were selected for interview. We used a final sample of 1770 households in our analyses . Bivariate and multivariate techniques were employed t o examine t he relationship between household head 's level of exposure to malaria prevention messages and use of ITNs among children under five . Children under five years whose household heads had exposure to malaria prevention messages had over twice the odds of using ITNs as those whose household heads had no exposure. Household heads who were exposed through health workers and the radio had about 40 percent higher odds of using ITNs for t heir children under five years compared to those who did not have exposure through these channels while controlling for other channels . Campaigns must go beyond the production of messages regarding the hanging of bednets t o include information on behaviour of mosquitoes to improve use of I T Ns . Community-based educational campaigns involving health workers are recommended to target universal use of ITNs among under- five children in Ghana. There is also the need to improve literacy y in order for other channels of information such as news papers and posters t o achieve similar results .

Source: UG
Exposure to metal mixtures and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes: A systematic review

Background: Prenatal exposure to metal mixtures is associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes like low birth weight, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. However, prior studies have used individual metal analysis, lacking real-life exposure scenarios. Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the strength and consistency of the association between metal mixtures and pregnancy and birth outcomes, identify research gaps, and inform future studies and policies in this area. Methods: The review adhered to the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist, along with the guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of obser vational studies of etiology (COSMOS-E). Our data collection involved searching the PubMed, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS databases. We utilized inclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. These chosen studies underwent thorough screening and data extraction procedures. Methodological quality evaluations were conducted using the NOS framework for cohort and case-control studies, and the AXIS tool for cross-sectional studies. Results: The review included 34 epidemiological studies, half of which focused on birth weight, and the others investigated neonate size, preterm birth, small for gestational age, miscarriage, and placental characteristics. The findings revealed significant associations between metal mixtures (including mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), barium (Ba), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and chromium (Cr)) and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, demonstrating diverse effects and potential interactions. Conclusion: In conclusion, this review consistently establishes connections between metal exposure during pregnancy and adverse consequences for birth weight, gestational age, and other vital birth-related metrics. This review further demonstrates the need to apply mixture methods with caution but also shows that they can be superior to traditional approaches. Further research is warranted to deeper understand the underlying mecha nisms and to develop effective strategies for mitigating the potential risks associated with metal mixture exposure during pregnancy.

Source: UG
Exposure to neighborhood violence and insufficient sleep among adolescents in the United States: Findings from a population-based study

Although studies have investigated and found an association between victimization and insufficient sleep among adolescents, few studies have examined the association between exposure to neighborhood violence and insuf ficient sleep among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional association between exposure to neighborhood violence and insufficient sleep among adolescents. Data for this study came from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 17,033 adolescents aged 14–18 (51.7 % male) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated was insufficient sleep, and the main explanatory variable was exposure to neighborhood violence. Of the 17,033 adolescents, 76.5 % did not obtain the recommended 8 hours of sleep on an average school night, and 18.7 % were exposed to neighborhood violence. Controlling for the effects of other factors, exposure to neighborhood violence was associated with 1.33 times higher odds of having insufficient sleep (AOR = 1.33, 95 % CI = 1.13–1.58). Adolescents were more likely to get insufficient sleep if they were older, non-Hispanic Black, had poor mental health during COVID, felt sad or hopeless, engaged in excessive screen-time behaviors, or used alcohol. Physical activity, school connectedness, and parental monitoring all had protective effects on insufficient sleep. This study found that exposure to neighborhood violence was associated with insufficient sleep among adolescents over and above demographic and other covariates. Future studies that employ longitudinal designs may offer additional insight into the mechanisms underlying the association between exposure to neighborhood violence and insufficient sleep.

Source: UG