ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The burden of iatrogenic obstetric fistulas in Sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Background Obstetric fistulas are abnormal open connection(s) between the vagina and the urinary tract or the rectum resulting from tragic injuries sustained by mothers during childbirth that lead to urine and/or faecal incontinence. Due to the rapidly growing middle class in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the corresponding quest for hospital delivery and caesarean section, surgery-related (iatrogenic) obstetric fistulas are on the rise. Worryingly, there is scanty data on surgery-related fistulas. This review aims to collate empirical evidence on the magnitude of iatrogenic obstetric fistulas in SSA, generate country-specific data and explore factors that influence obstetric surgery-related fistulas. Methods All relevant databases, PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Google Scholar will be searched from 1st January 2000 to 31st March 2024 using search terms developed from the major concepts in the title without restrictions by language. The Cochrane Library, African Journals Online, Data Base of African Thesis and Dissertations Including Research (DATAD-R D Space) and preprint repositories will also be searched. Reference lists of relevant studies will be searched and experts in the field will be contacted for additional (unpublished) studies. The search output will be exported to Endnote where duplicate studies will be removed. The deduplicated studies will be exported to Rayyan where study screening and selection will be conducted. At least two authors will independently select studies, extract data and assess quality in the included studies using pretested tools. Disagreements between reviewers will be resolved through discussion. Data analysis will be performed with RevMan 5.4. Comparative binary outcomes will be reported as odds ratio (OR) or risk ratio (RR) and for continuous outcomes, mean difference and standard deviations (SDs) will be used. Non-comparative studies will be analysed as weighted proportions. Heterogeneity between studies will be assessed graphically and statistically, and where a significant level is detected, the random-effects model meta-analysis will be performed. All estimates will be reported with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Where data permit, we will conduct sub group and sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of the estimates on key quality domains. The overall quality of the evidence will be assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation).

Source: UG
The charcoal footprint of greater Accra on the Afram Plains: Urban energy consumption and forest degradation in Ghana

Rapid urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa is leading to increased energy consumption and a growing reliance on charcoal as a fuel source, with significant environmental implications. This study examines the impact of charcoal consumption in Greater Accra, Ghana, on the Afram Plains ecosystem. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including geographical analysis, quantitative data collection, and sustainability assessment, we evaluate the charcoal footprint of Greater Accra. Our findings reveal that charcoal remains the dominant cooking fuel in Greater Accra despite increased access to electricity, resulting in an estimated loss of 354,479 trees annually in the Afram Plains. This demand creates an ecological deficit of 18,850 hectares/yr, significantly exceeding the ecosystem’s regenerative capacity. We observe complex dynamics between urban energy needs and rural resource sustainability, highlighting socio-economic factors driving persistent charcoal use. The study proposes a conceptual framework integrating urban demand, rural supply, ecological impact, and natural regeneration. Our research contributes to urban sustainability literature, offering insights for policymakers to develop more sustainable energy strategies, including quota systems for harvesting, promoting alternative cooking fuels, community-based forest management, and improved charcoal production technologies. This case study provides valuable lessons for other rapidly urbanizing regions facing similar sustainability challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.

Source: UG
The Choice Of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Storage Facility Among Farmers In The Sissala East District In Northern Ghana: What Are The Determinants?

Maize (Zea mays L.) is crucial to food security in Ghana but is characterized by high postharvest losses (PHLs) resulting from the use of traditional storage structures. As poverty and food insecurity are rampant in northern Ghana, improved storage of maize, a staple food, is vital for boosting household food security. This study analyzed factors influencing farmers’ choice for improved maize storage facilities in the Sissala East District, a vital supplier of maize to neighboring districts in the Upper West Region and Ghana at large, where maize farming is the main source of income for farmers. Twenty-one communities and 132 maize farmers were sur veyed. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed: purposive selection of the communities followed by a random selection of maize farmers from each community. Traditional storage facilities are still prevalent, while most farmers use small facilities with a maximum stocking capacity of 50 bags of 100 kg of maize. Many farmers used Corchorus olitorius (jute) sacks, while only five communities had a common warehouse. Regression results show that smallholder farmers with access to extension services were more likely to use improved storage fa cilities like warehouses, silos, and improved barns and storerooms. Farm characteristics such as farm size and productivity were strong determinants of the choice of an improved storage facility. Also, socio-economic factors such as age of the farmer, number of years in farming (experience), and access to non-farm income sources were associated with the use of improved maize storage facilities. PHLs, as a share of the average output of maize harvested per annum, were higher for farmers using traditional storage than improved storage. Extension ser vices on improved methods of maize storage to boost adoption, improve maize productivity, and increase food availability are recommended. Community warehouses should be constructed. Sensitization on the extent of PHLs should be emphasized.

Source: UG
The Commitment Of The Human Cell Atlas To Humanity

The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) is a global partnership “to create comprehensive reference maps of all human cells—the fundamental units of life – as a basis for both understanding human health and diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease.” (https://www.humancellatlas.org/) The atlas shall characterize cells from diverse individuals across the globe to better understand human biology. HCA proactively considers the priorities of, and benefits accrued to, contributing communities. Here, we lay out principles and action items that have been adopted to affirm HCA’s commitment to equity so that the atlas is beneficial to all of humanity.

Source: UG
The Confluence of HIV-1 and HIV-2: Implications for Disease Progression and Insights for Therapy

Two distinct types of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), namely, HIV-1 and HIV-2 exist. HIV-1 is responsible for the global pandemic and has an aggressive pathogenesis. On the contrary, HIV-2 is not only less aggressive but also confined to West and Central African regions. Even after four decades of HIV research, a scalable cure or effective vaccine against HIV remains elusive. Consequently, the concept of a functional cure or vaccine, targeting to limit disease progression, allowing sufficient time for the immune response to clear the virus, has gained traction. Efforts to identify new therapeutic targets for development of a functional cure have focused on elite controllers, that is, individuals who naturally control HIV-1 infection in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. However, little progress has been associated with these efforts perhaps due to the scarcity of elite controllers, who make up only 0.15% of HIV-1 infected population globally. A distinct but largely unexplored subset of HIV patients comprise HIV-1 and HIV-2 dually infected individuals. This group of patients naturally presents with an attenuated disease progression phenotype akin to natural controllers. In this review, we discuss the attenuated disease progression phenomenon in dually infected individuals and offer potential explanations for this unanticipated observation. Additionally, we propose potential therapeutic and/or vaccine strategies that could leverage interactions of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Such strategies are likely to inform alternative therapeutics. A thorough understanding of the mechanism underlying the attenuated disease progression phenotype in HIV dually infected individuals is crucial for the design of a functional cure.

Source: UG
The Development Of A Capacity-Strengthening Program To Promote Self-Care Practices Among People With Lymphatic Filariasis-Related Lymphedema in the Upper West Region of Ghana

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
The Effect of Aid on Growth in the Presence of Economic Regime Change

Review books or articles provide a critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. These are considered as secondary literature since they generally do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It also the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field.

Source: UG
The effect of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on health service delivery in mission facilities in Ghana: a retrospective study

Abstract Background In 2004, Ghana began implementation of a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to minimize out-of-pocket expenditure at the point of use of service. The implementation of the scheme was accompanied by increased access and use of health care services. Evidence suggests most health facilities are faced with management challenges in the delivery of services. The study aimed to assess the effect of the introduction of the NHIS on health service delivery in mission health facilities in Ghana. We conceptualised the effect of NHIS on facilities using service delivery indicators such as outpatient and inpatient turn out, estimation of general service readiness, revenue and expenditure, claims processing and availability of essential medicines. We collected data from 38 mission facilities, grouped into the three ecological zones; southern, middle and northern. Structured questionnaires and exit interviews were used to collect data for the periods 2003 and 2010. The data was analysed in SPSS and MS Excel. Results The facilities displayed high readiness to deliver services. There were significant increases in outpatient and inpatient attendance, revenue, expenditure and improved access to medicines. Generally, facilities reported increased readiness to deliver services. However, challenging issues around high rates of non-reimbursement of NHIS claims due to errors in claims processing, lack of feedback regarding errors, and lack of clarity on claims reporting procedures were reported. Conclusion The implementation of the NHIS saw improvement and expansion of services resulting in benefits to the facilities as well as constraints. The constraints could be minimized if claims processing is improved at the facility level and delays in reimbursements also reduced.

Source: UG
The effects of health worker motivation and job satisfaction on turnover intention in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Motivation and job satisfaction have been identified as key factors for health worker retention and turnover in low- and middle-income countries. District health managers in decentralized health systems usually have a broadened &#8216;decision space&#8217; that enables them to positively influence health worker motivation and job satisfaction, which in turn impacts on retention and performance at district-level. The study explored the effects of motivation and job satisfaction on turnover intention and how motivation and satisfaction can be improved by district health managers in order to increase retention of health workers. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in three districts of the Eastern Region in Ghana and interviewed 256 health workers from several staff categories (doctors, nursing professionals, allied health workers and pharmacists) on their intentions to leave their current health facilities as well as their perceptions on various aspects of motivation and job satisfaction. The effects of motivation and job satisfaction on turnover intention were explored through logistic regression analysis. Results Overall, 69% of the respondents reported to have turnover intentions. Motivation (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.74, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.92) and job satisfaction (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.74, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.96) were significantly associated with turnover intention and higher levels of both reduced the risk of health workers having this intention. The dimensions of motivation and job satisfaction significantly associated with turnover intention included career development (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.56, 95% CI: 0.36 to 0.86), workload (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.58, 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.99), management (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.51. 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.84), organizational commitment (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.36, 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.66), and burnout (OR&#8201;=&#8201;0.59, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.91). Conclusions Our findings indicate that effective human resource management practices at district level influence health worker motivation and job satisfaction, thereby reducing the likelihood for turnover. Therefore, it is worth strengthening human resource management skills at district level and supporting district health managers to implement retention strategies.

Source: UG
The effects of public and private health care expenditure on health status in sub-Saharan Africa: new evidence from panel data analysis

Abstract Background Health care expenditure has been low over the years in developing regions of the world. A majority of countries in these regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), rely on donor grants and loans to finance health care. Such expenditures are not only unsustainable but also inadequate considering the enormous health care burden in the region. The objectives of this study are to determine the effect of health care expenditure on population health status and to examine the effect by public and private expenditure sources. Methods The study used panel data from 1995 to 2010 covering 44 countries in SSA. Fixed and random effects panel data regression models were fitted to determine the effects of health care expenditure on health outcomes. Results The results show that health care expenditure significantly influences health status through improving life expectancy at birth, reducing death and infant mortality rates. Both public and private health care spending showed strong positive association with health status even though public health care spending had relatively higher impact. Conclusion The findings imply that health care expenditure remains a crucial component of health status improvement in sub-Saharan African countries. Increasing health care expenditure will be a significant step in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Further, policy makers need to establish effective public-private partnership in allocating health care expenditures.

Source: UG
The epidemiological and economic burden of diabetes in Ghana: A scoping review to inform health technology assessmen

Diabetes remains one of the four major causes of morbidity and mortality globally among non-communicable diseases (NCDs. It is predicted to increase in sub–Saharan Africa by over 50% by 2045. The aim of this study is to identify, map and estimate the burden of diabetes in Ghana, which is essential for optimising NCD country policy and understanding exist ing knowledge gaps to guide future research in this area. We followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework for scoping reviews. We searched electronic databases including Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane and African Index Medicus following a systematic search strategy. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews was followed when reporting the results. A total of 36 studies were found to fulfil the inclusion criteria. The reported prevalence of diabetes at the national level in Ghana ranged between 2.80%– 3.95%. At the regional level, the Western region reported the highest prevalence of diabetes: 39.80%, followed by Ashanti region (25.20%) and Central region at 24.60%. The prevalence of diabetes was generally higher in women in comparison to men. Urban areas were found to have a higher prevalence of diabetes than rural areas. The mean annual financial cost of managing one diabetic case at the outpatient clinic was estimated at GHS 540.35 (2021 US $194.09). There was a paucity of evidence on the overall economic burden and the regional prevalence burden. Ghana is faced with a considerable burden of diabetes which varies by region and setting (urban/rural). There is an urgent need for effective and efficient interventions to prevent the anticipated elevation in burden of disease through the utilisation of existing evidence and proven priority-setting tools like Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Source: UG
The Expanding Membership of the Commonwealth: A Case Study of Gabon and Togo

The Commonwealth of Nations is a unique organization that comprises the former British colonies in history, however, since 1995, their membership has included non-former British colonies. The rationale for this study was to investigate the rationale of the two new countries (Togo and Gabon) for joining the commonwealth; the membership criteria used to adopt them and the possibility of norm tension due to their membership. This research is qualitative study and with the help of thematic analysis, it was realized that Togo and Gabon joined the Commonwealth due to the economic, linguistic, development and access to the pool of other resources the organization provides. Further, the study uncovered that, the membership criteria used was commitment to the 16 principles stated in the 1971 Declaration of Commonwealth Principles of which the two countries had committed to some of the principles and hence guaranteed their qualification for membership. Regarding norm tension, the study discovered that, the tensions had already begun in the Commonwealth over leadership, and commitment to the principles among others, hence, the two countries are not the cause of the tensions but have merely become additional voices to the tensions. The research concludes with a recommendation for the commonwealth to take a final decision on the headship so as to eliminate or rotate the position in other to ensure the continuous relevance of the organization in contemporary time.

Source: UG
The Fight Against Corruption In Africa: The Role Of Women Participation In Governance And In The Labour Market

The controversial debate of associating women with less corruption has been extensively discussed and analyzed with cross-country, micro, and experimental data mostly for the western world. However, this assertion on the impact of women participation in governance and in the labour market on corruption has received less attention in Africa. Using the percentage of women in parliament and in the labour force as proxies for women participation in governance and in the labour market respectively, the study provides evidence on their relationship using a panel data of forty–six (46) countries in Africa for the period, 2012–2016. In accounting for endogeneity issues purported to exist in the corruption literature, the study adopted the two-step system GMM estimation technique to yield consistent and efficient estimates for the effect of women participation on corruption. Like other empirical studies, the study accounts for the regional diversities, time-invariant effects, and unobserved country-specific effects. The study provides robust evidence of a significant negative relationship between women in parliament and corruption. However, the relationship between women in the labour force and corruption was not significant. This findings suggest that women may not necessarily be innately honest but concludes that, the impact of women in fighting corruption is manifested significantly in policy making. Again, the prediction by some scholars that the negative effect of females in parliament on corruption would diminish over time because of their newness in the political space was tested with a long-run analysis. However, women participation in parliament even showed a greater significance and a higher impact on corruption. Meanwhile, other economic and institutional factors like GDP per capita, government effectiveness, press freedom, and urbanization proved to be important factors in the fight against corruption in Africa.

Source: UG
The Impact Of Cluster Resolution Feature Selection On Pattern Recognition And Classification For Detecting Sudan Dye Adulteration In Palm Oil.

This study evaluates the performance of some commonly used chemometric and machine learning techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), artificial neural network (ANN), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), logistic regression discriminant analysis (LRDA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA), support vector machine (SVM), and gradient boosted decision tree (GBDT) on HATR − FTIR data for detecting Sudan dye adulteration in palm oil. We employed the Icoshift for data alignment and Savitzky-Golay smoothing to enhance the data quality. Cluster resolution feature selection (CRFS) selected 2.39 % of 3351 features. Using only the 80 selected features PCA models showed a clear separation between adulterated and pure palm oil samples and an improvement in explained variance which hitherto was not observed. LRDA, PLSDA and SVM showed improved training TPR, ACC and MCC after feature selection. KNN showed improvement all model quality parameters after feature selection.

Source: UG
The impact of COVID-19 social restrictions on culture and psychosocial well-being: The Ghanaian experience

In December 2019 what began as local transmission of a novel coronavirus disease in the Wuhan Province of China escalated into a global pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). The first reported case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana was recorded on 12th March 2020 when two persons tested positive for the virus (MoH, 2020). As of 16th July 2020, the disease had spread exponentially to a new global record of 13,378, 853 cases with 580,045 deaths. In Ghana, as of the same 16th July 2020, 26,125 persons were infected while 139 had lost their lives (WHO, 2020). This chapter looks at the concept of COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions especially their influence on the sociocultural life of Ghanaians. It also evaluates the impacts of corona runs on individuals about social support in a highly communal society. In addition, the chapter reviews the health beliefs and health-seeking attitudes of the people of Ghana considering the threat of coronavirus. Finally, it proffers strategies to help bring coronavirus under control while the people go about their daily activities.

Source: UG