ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
COVID-19, nutrition, and gender: An evidence-informed approach to gender-responsive policies and programs

In addition to the direct health impacts of COVID-19, government and household mitigation measures have triggered negative indirect economic, educational, and food and health system impacts, hitting low- and middle-income countries the hardest and disproportionately affecting women and girls. We conducted a gender focused analysis on five critical and interwoven crises that have emerged because of the COVID-19 crisis and exacerbated malnutrition and food insecurity. These include restricted mobility and isolation; reduced income; food insecurity; reduced access to essential health and nutrition services; and school closures. Our approach included a theoretical gender analysis, targeted review of the literature, and a visual mapping of evidence-informed impact pathways. As data was identified to support the visualization of pathways, additions were made to codify the complex interrelations between the COVID-19-related crises and underlying gender relations. Our analysis and resultant evidence map illustrate how underlying inequitable norms, such as gendered unprotected jobs, reduced access to economic resources, decreased decision-making power, and unequal gendered division of labor, were exacerbated by the pandemic’s secondary containment efforts. Health and nutrition policies and interventions targeted to women and children fail to recognize and account for understanding and documentation of underlying gender norms, roles, and relations, which may deter successful outcomes. Analyzing the indirect effects of COVID-19 on women and girls offers a useful illustration of how underlying gender inequities can exacerbate health and nutrition outcomes in a crisis. This evidence-informed approach can be used to identify and advocate for more comprehensive upstream policies and programs that address underlying gender inequities.

Source: UG
The COVID-19, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS: Ménage à Trois

In December 2019, a novel pneumonic condition, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2), broke out in China and spread globally. The presentation of COVID-19 is more severe in persons with underlying medical conditions such as Tuberculosis (TB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other pneumonic conditions. All three diseases are of global concern and can significantly affect the lungs with characteristic cytokine storm, immunosuppression, and respiratory failure. Co-infections of SARS-CoV-2 with HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have been reported, which may influence their pathogenesis and disease progression. Pulmonary TB and HIV/ AIDS patients could be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to lethal synergy and disease severity. Therefore, the biological and epidemiological interactions of COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, and TB need to be understood holistically. While data is needed to predict the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these existing diseases, it is necessary to review the implications of the evolving COVID 19 management on HIV/AIDS and TB control, including therapy and funding. Also, the impact of long COVID on patients, who may have this co-infection. Thus, this review highlights the implications of COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, and TB co-infection compares disease mechanisms, addresses growing concerns, and suggests a direction for improved diagnosis and general management.

Source: UG
COVID-19—Zoonosis or Emerging Infectious Disease?

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
COVID-19: Time for precision epidemiology

The global COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2, COVID-19) tsunami caused by SARSCoV2 is inundating and often-overwhelming health care systems in most countries and regions. Numbers of infected people and the death toll are increasing, with the fortunate exception of the first hit or the best prepared regions of East Asia. While some governments have had success in containing the spread of the virus, the global situation is constantly changing, usually for the worse, and the measures applied by different countries have often been ineffective.

Source: UG
Cow's-milk-induced erosive gastritis in an infant

A 3 1/2 -month-old male infant presented with hematemesis due to erosive gastritis following whole-cow's-milk feeding. The presence of eosinophilic gastritis, the disappearance of symptoms after withdrawal of whole-cow's-milk feeding, and the association with facial eczema suggest that gastritis was induced by cow's milk. Cow's-milk intolerance should be considered in the etiologic differential diagnosis of hematemesis and gastritis in infancy.

Source: UG
Cowpea Cropping Systems, Traits Preference and Production Constraints in the Upper West Region of Ghana: Farmers’ Consultation and Implications for Breeding

Background Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is used primarily as food for humans and feed for animals. It is also used for soil management within a cropping system. However, cowpea production is confronted with numerous challenges. As such farmers and consumers alike have certain preferences in terms of production and utilization. This present study investigated cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints among farmers in the Nandom, Lambusie and Lawra districts in the northern part of the Upper West Region of Ghana. A total of 306 farming households were sampled from the 3 chosen districts. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The IBM SPSS software, version 22, was employed to analyze the data using descriptive statistics, specifically frequencies, percentages and crosstabulations. Results The study’s results indicated that a majority (58.5%) of the cowpea farmers practice intercropping, whereas a minority (41.5%) practice sole cropping. The farmers intercropped cowpea with maize, millet, sorghum and yam. Farmers preferred cowpea varieties with the following traits: high yield, drought tolerance, early maturing, pest resistance, improve soil fertility, high price, high demand, better taste, less cooking time, storage quality, palatability and fast growing. Farmers indicated that susceptibility to storage pests, high pest incidence, late maturity, difficulty in harvesting, high input cost, small grain size, low yield, high disease incidence, poor colour, lack of improved variety, and drought are some constraints that hinder cowpea production. Conclusion Results indicate a need for behavioural change communication to assist cowpea farmers to adopt improved and appropriate cropping systems. Farmers should be involved in cowpea technology development in order to understand their preferences and constraints to enable subsequent adoption of such technologies. The results from this study call for an interdisciplinary committee to plan and breed cowpea varieties that meet the needs of the farmers.

Source: UG
Cowpeas in Northern Ghana and the Factors that Predict Caregivers' Intention to Give Them to Schoolchildren

The overall goal of the department is to conduct research and provide solutions to nutritional problems in Ghana. In pursuance of this goal, the Nutrition Department since its inception has focused its research in the areas of maternal, infant and young child nutrition, food consumption and food security and micronutrient deficiency and interventions. These are priority food and nutrition problems in Ghana.

Source: UG
Crack behaviour and mechanical properties of thermally treated kaolin based ceramics: The influence of pore generating agents

In this study, the crack behaviour of porous kaolin based ceramics was experimentally investigated. The samples (ceramic bodies) were fabricated with the inclusion of pore formers in determined proportions and subjected to heat treatment. Next, the apparent porosity of the samples was measured using the water immersion method. The values confirmed the increased porosity (up to 47%) for the samples with embedded pores. We speculated that the open pores on the surface of the samples which were quite evident, especially with styrofoam as pore formers, may also have penetrated through, hence the enhanced porosity values for the samples. Acoustic emission (AE) activity which reveals the formation of microcracks in the ceramics due to the different thermal expansion coefficients in the cooling stage was recorded for the samples. The first signals of AE counts appeared at 800 °C, where the compressive stresses between the different phases (particles with different coefficients of thermal expansion) led to an appearance of microcracks. By introducing porosity to the samples, the AE signals were less pronounced. This was evident for the samples with sawdust as pore formers, and it was inferred that in this sample, microcracking was suppressed. As a validation protocol for AE measurements, mechanical measurements on the produced samples were conducted through the indentation technique to obtain the fracture toughness of the samples. The results conformed to the observation made during AE measurements. The samples embedded with sawdust as porogens produced the highest fracture toughness of 4.77 MPa.m1/2 by reason of the suppression of microcracking after heat treatment.

Source: UG
Crafting lifestyles in Urban Africa: Young Ghanaians in the world of online friendship

The Internet in Africa has generated a lively debate in the popular press and among commentators about what its growth will mean for Africa and its people. Through indepth interviews and observations, we consider one aspect of Internet practice in Africa: how use of the Internet for making friends and dating allows young, urban Ghanaians to craft lifestyles, incorporating globally circulating cultural and symbolic forms into their identities. We suggest that when young, urban Ghanaians go online to meet, chat, and form relationships with strangers near and far, they are devising, testing out, and sharing sensibilities; they are bringing situation, mood, and new knowledge to bear on the self or selves that they are exploring and tentatively projecting.

Source: UG
Creating Communities That Care: Social Representation Of Mental Health In Two Urban Poor Communities In Ghana.

Building caring communities is fundamental to achieving a community-based approach to mental health. Understanding how communities perceive mental illness provides critical insight into fostering mental health awareness and care. We explored the perceptions of mental illness among members of two urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. Qualitative data were collected from 77 participants through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and situated conversations. Using theory-driven thematic analysis based on social representations theory, findings revealed cognitive emotional representations of mental illness. The communities demonstrated high awareness of the multilevel factors contributing to mental illness risk and experiences, drawing on five sources of knowledge: embodied, common sense, medical, cultural, and religious. Mental illness representations informed the classification and legitimization of mental illness based on the severity of conditions and the identity of sufferers. These findings provide valuable insights for planning community mental health interventions that address both social and institutional care needs.

Source: UG
Creating property rights: Land banks in Ghana

Insecure property rights over land have multiple ramifications for agriculture and the organization of rural economic activity (Besley and Ghatak 2009). Theriskthatlandwillbeexpropriateddetersinvestment. Insecure property rights reduce the ability of borrowers to pledge land as collateral and thus tighten credit constraints. Ill-defined property right over land can inhibit land transactions – rentals or sales – and potential gains from trade are lost. Scarce resources, like labor, may be devoted to protecting one’s insecure rights over plots (Field 2007). In Ghana, land rights are typically gained by virtue of membership in a corporate group (e.g., extended family), but a robust market is emerging for land purchases and rentals, particularly in urban and periurban areas. Informal land markets in Ghana are beset with a number of problems including land conflicts, protracted litigation and adjudication failures, documentation bottlenecks and uncertainty. Land legislation in Ghana is perceived as incoherent, conflicting and often outdated. An unwieldy public land sector dominates the documentation of land rights, revenue collection and distribution. Land conflicts are becoming more frequent, judicial processes are overburdened, authority is overcentralized and corrupt. Conflict over multiple claims to particular plots occasionally becomes violent. Goldstein and Udry (2008) document the large investment disincentive effects of insecure tenure in agriculture in Ghana. Almost 80 % of the Ghana’s land is held by customary landowners, mainly families, clans and traditional authorities (Kasanga and Kotey, 2001). These owners often do not record transactions; indeed, many are clothed in secrecy. As land transactions gradually move away from their familial/corporate base to short term rental for commercial purposes, multiple simultaneous transactions on the same plot have become

Source: UG
Creating the Nation in Early Post-Colonial West Africa

Although recent years have seen an increased engagement of historians in attempting to write the history of post-independence societies, the number of more profound studies, which would try to unearth and to use empirical material is still very limited. Even more, there is no real consensus what questions should be asked for such new “national” histories (and I put “na-tional” in inverted commas because for the historian, it cannot be the goal to simply endorse the trajectory of a so-called national community, as it has been done in many cases). Should we seek a path of political history, or of social history? How local should these post-independence histories be in the end? And how much should they be concerned with national sentiment, or its creation or invention, in a perspective spanning over the late colonial period and, at least, the first two decades of the postcolonial states and communities? Regarding the source base for such new interpretations, the last years have not brought too much progress. It is frequently argued that post-independence histories of West African societies cannot rely on “classical”, i.e. written documents, or at least not much. Various historians opine that these sources are rare, or impossible to access. Proof is rarely offered on that point – and the whole debate impresses through a lack of explanations. This paper intends to give a comparative reflection on the creation of national sentiment in two pioneer West African societies – Ghana and Senegal – which are characterized by especially vocal intellectual activity in the decades before and those after independence (also, both coun-tries have nowadays academic communities that are amongst the most vibrant in the African continent). It takes as point of departure two debates on the nation: the “citizenship and assim-ilation” debate in Senegal between 1963 and 1965, and Ghanaian debates on the Aliens’ Com-pliance Order and its effects in 1970/71. The idea is to discuss, through a comparative view, how “nation” as an inclusive and exclusive concept was appropriated both by officials who had to decide on administrative processes involving citizenship and its absence, and by individuals who tried to position themselves to the exclusion of “foreigners” from national citizenship. ​The paper also hopes to give some arguments for the importance, or renewed importance, of the regional archives. I am fully aware that the interpretation of written post-independence ar-chives is only one of a mix of methods to approach the social history of the societies in question. But regional archives in Ghana and Senegal constitute treasure chests that should be more ag-gressively taken into account: while the future interpretation of the big political-historical pic-tures can perhaps not be carried out on the basis of these archives, they are most important for a successful interpretation of social processes.

Source: UG
Creatinine based equations and glomerular filtration rate: interpretation and clinical relevance

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is now a major public health problem globally, more so in developing countries with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) being the most affected sub-region.1 A systematic review and metaanalysis estimated CKD prevalence in SSA to be 13.9%.2 In Ghana the true prevalence still remains unknown. The growing burden of CKD in Africa can be largely attributed to the rising prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and chronic glomerulonephritis.1,3 CKD affects people who are economically productive in the African continent1. Aside the heightened cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, CKD imposes huge economic burden on affected individuals and their care takers.1,3 Additionally patients with CKD suffer from various psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction amongst others.4,5 Thus the disease, cost of treatment and these psychological problems may lead to poor quality of life. It is therefore imperative to make accurate diagnosis. The diagnosis of CKD is usually made by estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). Measuring GFR is relatively cumbersome therefore more simple endogenous variables have been used to estimate renal function. The most commonly used variable is serum creatinine

Source: UG
Creative transformation in African art music: a case study

The study examines and analyses the significance of the style of music composition employing traditional and contemporary models noted in the solo voice and piano works of Nketia. It argues that an imaginative African contemporary composer can elect to work within the limitations of selected traditional instruments and create new African music that not only blends their sonorities, but also makes use of appropriate tunes and other materials from traditional or contemporary repertoire. What is of particular interest to us in this paper is the use of new models by the composer to transform the African traditional modes of expression, using techniques that may be foreign or not frequently used in African traditions. The study hopes to contribute to the discourses on African art music as a synthesis of elements of traditional and European resources. It argues that a genuine feeling of African style does not come merely from the use of folk songs and dances. A piece will sound African— Akan, Ewe, Hausa, Yoruba, etc., when the basic characteristics of the source materials feature in the body of the composition. The study is based on analysis and interpretation of three selected solo works of J. H. Kwabena Nketia and on interviews between the author and the composer

Source: UG
Credibility and Accountability in Academic Discourse: Increasing the Awareness of Ghanaian Graduate Students. Practice and Theory in Systems of Education

Drawing from a social constructionist perspective to written scholarly communication, this paper argues that training in academic writing for students in higher education especially in second language contexts should go beyond emphasis on grammatical correctness and paragraphing strategies, and also focus on the rhetorical character of academic discourse together with the mastery of its communicative protocols. Using the University of Ghana as a reference point, the paper reviews a selection of Ghanaian graduate students’ awareness of the protocols that govern academic discourses in scholarly writing, and in consideration of their unique educational and socio-cultural circumstances, the paper proposes strategies, from the pedagogical and institutional standpoints, aimed at increasing students’ awareness of the relevant communicative practices that engender credibility and accountability

Source: UG
Credit constraints and cropland allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso

This paper examined farm households’ cropland allocation decisions under credit constraints in rural Burkina Faso. A fully observed recursive mixed-process model was used to correct for the endogeneity of credit in farm households’ land allocation decisions in a multi-cropping context. Estimating the model with survey data collected in 2011 using the conditional mixed-process estimator, the results showed that credit constraints negatively affect farm households’ decision to allocate land to maize and cotton production in rural Burkina Faso. In contrast, at the expense of maize and cotton, credit constraints encourage farm households to allocate more land to sorghum and millet. The results also showed that socio-demographic characteristics and the use of animal traction significantly determined farm households’ land allocation decisions in rural Burkina Faso.

Source: UG
Credit constraints and smallholder maize production in Ghana

The study examined constraints influencing farmers' access to credit and the effect that credit has on maize productivity, using the endogenous switching regression approach with survey data collected from 595 maize farmers in the Ashanti and BrongAhafo Regions of Ghana. The study revealed that credit constraint has a dampening effect on input use and farm productivity. The results showed that engagement in off-farm incomegenerating activities, farm size and farmers' perception on operational modalities are factors that influence credit constraint conditions for farmers. In addition, the marginal productivity of credit differs between credit-constrained and credit-unconstrained farmers: thus, access to credit would enable creditconstrained farmers to take advantage of the available productive opportunities and increase maize productivity. Therefore, farmers in need of additional credit should be served to increase farm productivity. Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Source: UG
Cretaceous-Palaeogene palynology of the Keta-1 well offshore Keta basin, southeastern Ghana

Cretaceous to Palaeogene miospores and dinoflagellates cysts have been recovered from the Keta-1 well, offshore southeastern Ghana. Based on marker palynomorphs (spores and pollen), four biozones (Biozones I, II, III, and IV) have been recognized corresponding with the Aptian, Turonian-Santonian, Campanian-Maastrichtian and Palaeocene-Eocene stages respectively. The palaeoenvironment is interpreted on the basis of the identified palynomorphs, in the light of their ecological preferences. It fluctuates from marginal, open marine (inner shelf) and swampy freshwater to slightly brackish water environment in a humid, arid/semiarid condition. The absence of the elaterospores is an obvious indication of the absence of Albian and Cenomanian sediments and thus the presence of an unconformity between biozone I and II. © IDOSI Publications, 2013.

Source: UG