ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Acceptability and experiences with assisted reproduction in Ghana

The use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) has emerged as an alternative option to have children in Ghana. This study aimed at investigating the use of ART as a treatment option for infertility in Ghana. Specifically, the study investigated assisted reproductive technology services delivery, assessed the experiences of infertile individuals/couples undergoing assisted reproduction processes, explored the experiences of individuals/couples who have successfully delivered through the use of ART, and the religious acceptability of the use of assisted reproductive technology services among Ghanaians. A qualitative approach using in-depth interview was utilised to tap into the experiences of respondents. The model of help seeking for infertility was adopted as the conceptual framework for the study. The study revealed that ART services such as IVF, ICSI, GIFT, ZIFT, TESA, gamete donation, embryo freezing and surrogacy were employed by service providers. Key religious figures from the Islamic and Christian religions upheld their religions’ acceptability of the use of ART to treat infertility but condemned the use of third-party reproductive resources. The Traditionalist did not support the use of ART services at all. Infertile women went through challenges such as stigmatisation, abuses and abdominal pains but these challenges ceased when women achieved parenthood. Women who were undergoing treatment reported of health and other implications such as dizziness, nausea, abdominal pains and other psychological challenges. Cost of treatment was also identified to be high. Some clients had to seek financial support from banks. Generally, the use of ART to treat infertility is accepted in Ghana. However, there is the need for the state to streamline policies to guide the use of this technology.

Source: UCC
Acceptability of lexico-grammatical features of Ghanaian English

This study examines the levels of acceptability of some lexical forms and grammatical features identified in the literature as Ghanaian English. It also discusses the recognised or acceptable indexical markers of the variety. The study explains the phenomenon of acceptability through Schneider’s (2007) Dynamic Model of Postcolonial Englishes. Employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, the researcher sampled 400 respondents for a survey and 20 participants for interviews. Respondents indicated their levels of acceptability on a scale of 1-5 where 1=Unacceptable, 2=Unacceptable sometimes, 3=Neutral, 4=Acceptable sometimes and 5=Acceptable. The study revealed that not all the lexical forms identified to be Ghanaian English received the same level of acceptability. The acceptability of lexical items was influenced by its wide and continuous use, the origin of the concept, an individual’s knowledge of Standard English and global recognition or acceptability. It was also found that the grammatical features which are acceptable to Ghanaians are the use of uncountable nouns and idiomatic expressions since these features recorded higher levels of acceptability. The acceptability of these features was attributed to reasons such as their conformity to Standard English rules of grammar, intelligibility and their wide usage. Some of the acceptable and unacceptable lexical and grammatical features were also recognised as being indexical to the variety. Based on Schneider’s model, the study showed that Ghanaians are endonormative in terms of lexical items and exonormative in terms of grammar. The study has implications for theory, codification and further research.

Source: UCC
Acceptability of Lexico-grammatical Features of Ghanaian English

This study examines the levels of acceptability of some lexical forms and grammatical features identified in the literature as Ghanaian English. It also discusses the recognised or acceptable indexical markers of the variety. The study explains the phenomenon of acceptability through Schneider�s (2007) Dynamic Model of Postcolonial Englishes. Employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, the researcher sampled 400 respondents for a survey and 20 participants for interviews. Respondents indicated their levels of acceptability on a scale of 1-5 where 1=Unacceptable, 2=Unacceptable sometimes, 3=Neutral, 4=Acceptable sometimes and 5=Acceptable. The study revealed that not all the lexical forms identified to be Ghanaian English received the same level of acceptability. The acceptability of lexical items was influenced by its wide and continuous use, the origin of the concept, an individual�s knowledge of Standard English and global recognition or acceptability. It was also found that the grammatical features which are acceptable to Ghanaians are the use of uncountable nouns and idiomatic expressions since these features recorded higher levels of acceptability. The acceptability of these features was attributed to reasons such as their conformity to Standard English rules of grammar, intelligibility and their wide usage. Some of the acceptable and unacceptable lexical and grammatical features were also recognised as being indexical to the variety. Based on Schneider�s model, the study showed that Ghanaians are endonormative in terms of lexical items and exonormative in terms of grammar. The study has implications for theory, codification and further research.P

Source: UCC
Acceptability of rapid diagnostic test-based management of malaria among caregivers of under-five children in Rural Ghana

WHO now recommends test-based management of malaria (TBMM) across all age-groups. This implies artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) should be restricted to rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-positive cases. This is a departure from what caregivers in rural communities have been used to for many years. Methods: We conducted a survey among caregivers living close to 32 health centres in six districts in rural Ghana and used logistic regression to explore factors likely to influence caregiver acceptability of RDT based case management and concern about the denial of ACT on account of negative RDT results. Focus group discussions were conducted to explain the quantitative findings and to elicit further factors. Results: A total of 3047 caregivers were interviewed. Nearly all (98%) reported a preference for TBMM over presumptive treatment. Caregivers who preferred TBMM were less likely to be concerned about the denial of ACT to their test-negative children (O.R. 0.57, 95%C.I. 0.33–0.98). Compared with caregivers who had never secured national health insurance cover, caregivers who had valid (adjusted O.R. 1.30, 95% CI 1.07–1.61) or expired (adjusted O.R. 1.38, 95% CI 1.12–1.73) insurance cover were more likely to be concerned about the denial of ACT to their RDT-negative children. Major factors that promote TBMM acceptability include the perception that a blood test at health centre level represents improvement in the quality of care, leads to improvement in treatment outcomes, and offers opportunity for better communication between health workers and caregivers. Acceptability is also enhanced by engaging caregivers in the procedures of the test. Apprehensions about negative health worker attitude could however undermine acceptance. Conclusion: Test (RDT)-based management of malaria in under-five children is likely to be acceptable to caregivers in rural Ghana. The quality of caregiver-health worker interaction needs to be improved if acceptability is to be sustained

Source: UCC
Acceptance And the Use of Technology for Teaching During Covid-19 Pandemic Among Senior High Schools in Lartebiokorshie, Accra

The main aim of the study was to assess Teachers' Acceptance and the use of Technology for teaching during the outbreak of the COVID-19 among Senior High schools in Lartebiokorshie, Accra. The descriptive survey methodology was used as the optimal research, the targeted population used in this study were teachers at the Senior High schools in Lartebiokorshie, Accra. The study found that teachers at Senior High schools in Lartebiokorshie accepted and were well-equipped with the necessary competencies to incorporate Technology in the classrooms. The teachers were able to use Technology regularly in their various classrooms during the outbreak of the COVID-19. The results also revealed challenges to the successful use of Technology in the Senior High schools in Lartebiokorshie. To support the inclusion of technology in the schools during the COVID-19, it was realized that most of the schools in Lartebiokorshie lack infrastructure and infrastructural support to integrate technology. The study therefore recommend that school administrations should allocate resources specifically for technology integration, budgeting for updating hardware, software licenses, and subscriptions, to educational platforms and ensuring consistent access to necessary tools. School administrations should organize training sessions, workshops, and courses tailored to enhance educators' digital skills and proficiency in using various technological tools. Again, school administrations should encourage a culture of collaboration among teachers to share best practices and innovative ways of using technology for instruction. They can again establish a support system or help desk for technical issues to aid teachers in smoothly incorporating technology into their teaching methods.

Source: UCC
Access and utilisation of free maternal health service in the Savelugu-Nanton district in the Northern region

The Free Maternal Health Services Scheme emanated from the conditions and benefits that were outlined in the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative embarked upon by the Government of Ghana to alleviate the plight of the poor and vulnerable in society as well as improve upon the living conditions of the citizenry. As a policy, the essence of the scheme was to ensure easy access and utilization of antenatal care, delivery and post natal care services by women in the rural and deprived communities at no cost to the recipient. In all, 252 respondents, disaggregated as 232 clients and 20 service providers were sampled for the study in the Savelugu-Nanton District. The research examined the access and utilization of free maternal health services in the Savelugu-Nanton District in the Northern Region. It further examined the output of utilization and factors that affect access and utilization of free maternal health services. The study found out that majority of women in the district were aware of the existence of the scheme, thereby culminating in increased antenatal care attendance. Negative staff attitude and the distance to service delivery points were seen as impediments to access and utilization of the services. It is recommended that more Community - based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds be established, equipped and staffed to enable expectant women receive service in their various communities. Also, the District Health Management Team should step up monitoring and supervision to stem the negative working attitude of health staff

Source: UCC
Access to Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Information and Services in Ghana: A Community-Based Case-Control Study

Pregnancy among girls 10–19 years remains a challenge that requires critical resolution all over the world. Despite this worrying sexual phenomenon, research pertaining to prevention information and related services in Sub-Saharan nations like Ghana is sparse. This study sought to determine the influence of access to pregnancy prevention information and services on adolescent pregnancy in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana.

Source: UCC
Access to agricultural production resources and its effect on the household food security of smallholder women maize farmers in the Techiman Municipality and Offinso North district of Ghana

The study investigated access to agricultural production resources and its effect on the household food security of smallholder women farmers in the Techiman Municipality and Offinso North District of Ghana. The study was a descriptive correlation research. A validated interview schedule was used to solicit primary data from three hundred (300) women farmers. Data were analyzed using univariate and parametric statistics. The major findings were that, farmers’ level of access to agricultural production was in the “low access” and “moderate access” categories for Offinso North District and Techiman Municipality respectively which was statistically insignificant. A statistically insignificant differences in maize yield were observed for respondents in the both study areas. Respondents contributed a percentage of their maize yield to their household with 20-29 percent bracket recording the highest. Respondent’s food security status lied on a continuum from “very low” to “high” food security status with only 2.3 percent within the “very low” food security category. A statistically positive relationship was observed between level of access to agricultural production resources and the household food security status of respondents. The most predominant coping strategy adopted by respondents to meet their household food security needs were the production and sale of crops. The study recommends to the Department of Agriculture and NGOs working in the Offinso North District and Techiman Municipality, to implement programmes that targets the provision of women farmers with agricultural production resources such as fertilizers, pesticides, improved seeds, tractor services, extension services, weedicides, hired labour and land.

Source: UCC
Access to and management of portable water in the Ga West municipality

The supply of potable water to the home is vital because water is a prerequisite for existence. Due to the growing scarcity of fresh water which is a result of increased needs for water, management becomes the essential component needed to ensure its sufficient and continuous supply. The Ga West Municipality faces the problem of inadequate potable water supply hence the need to manage the water resources available to them. The study was conducted to assess the mode of obtaining potable water and how the system of accessing it was managed. Data was gathered from a total of 274 respondents using questionnaires and interview guide. It was found that the major sources of water for households were river water, groundwater (wells and boreholes), harvested rainwater and imported tap/sachet water. As a management strategy, these sources were accessed in order to minimize cost, time and energy spent in accessing water. However, thirty percent of households tried to improve upon the water quality by using methods such as filtering and boiling before it is used in the home. Water required for each personal or domestic use must be safe. The District Water and Sanitation Team should educate community members on simple but effective methods of improving upon the quality of the available water sources to ensure efficient domestic utilization of available water sources and also encourage rainwater harvesting in larger quantities.

Source: UCC
Access to and Utilization of eye Care Services in Ghana

Available evidence suggests widespread ocular problems in Ghana, including more than 200,000 cases of blindness in a country of 20 million, which is about the highest rate in any African country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adequacy of access to and utilization of eye care services in Ghana. Methods: A survey involving 600 consumers (aged 18 to 80 years, mean 38 years ± 13.6) recruited from a stratified random sample of food markets in the Cape Coast metropolis was carried out using questionnaire. Health status, eye care usage behavior, and socio-demographic data were collected in a structured interview of the participants. Utilization of eye care services was also measured among 10 ophthalmologists, 10 optometrists, and 10 ophthalmic nurses registered to practice in Ghana by comparing the frequency of eye examinations with professional practice guidelines. Access to eye care services was determined for the eye care providers to population ratio by geographical region. Results: Approximately 68% of the consumer sample had never received an eye examination and only 17% reported having an eye examination at least once in 3 years. The eye care provider to population ratio for ophthalmologists and optometrists was 1:377,661 and 1:324,552 respectively. Conclusion: Access to and utilization of eye care services in Ghana are grossly inadequate. Insufficient eye care personnel and massive imbalance in the distribution of eye care services in the country are the major problems.

Source: UCC
Access to and Utilization of eye Care Services in Ghana

Purpose: Available evidence suggests widespread ocular problems in Ghana, including more than 200,000 cases of blindness in a country of 20 million, which is about the highest rate in any African country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adequacy of access to and utilization of eye care services in Ghana. Methods: A survey involving 600 consumers (aged 18 to 80 years, mean 38 years ± 13.6) recruited from a stratified random sample of food markets in the Cape Coast metropolis was carried out using questionnaire. Health status, eye care usage behavior, and socio-demographic data were collected in a structured interview of the participants. Utilization of eye care services was also measured among 10 ophthalmologists, 10 optometrists, and 10 ophthalmic nurses registered to practice in Ghana by comparing the frequency of eye examinations with professional practice guidelines. Access to eye care services was determined for the eye care providers to population ratio by geographical region. Results: Approximately 68% of the consumer sample had never received an eye examination and only 17% reported having an eye examination at least once in 3 years. The eye care provider to population ratio for ophthalmologists and optometrists was 1:377,661 and 1:324,552 respectively. Conclusion: Access to and utilization of eye care services in Ghana are grossly inadequate. Insufficient eye care personnel and massive imbalance in the distribution of eye care services in the country are the major problems.

Source: UCC
Access to and utilization of health care facilities in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Upper-Denkyira Districts of the Central Region, Ghana

The study examined access to and utilization of health care facilities in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Upper Denkyira districts of the Central Region. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select the two districts capitals and 15 other settlements in the two districts. In all 17 settlements, seven from Upper Denkyira and 10 from Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam were selected. Four hundred and twenty respondents from UDD and 380 from AEED were included in the study. Questionnaire consisting of both open-ended and closed-ended items were administered to the 800 respondents. Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and STATA the collected data were analysed and output displayed in frequencies, percentages and binary logistic regression. It emerged that both orthodox and non-orthodox facilities were available and operated along-side each other. Again, among orthodox facilities, drug stores were the most widely used. It also emerged that socio-demographic characteristics such as sex, age, occupation, formal level of education, income, marital and residential status of heads of households influenced the choice of health care facilities in both districts. Diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, typhoid and skin rashes were some of the diseases reported. However, malaria was the major. Disease reported. Even though the districts differed in their levels of development, use of health care facilities were similar. It is recommended that more health care facilities be provided in order to increase access to health care services. For instance, more CHPS compound could be provided in rural areas to help increase their access to orthodox medicine.

Source: UCC
Access to English Language Acquisition in Ghana Schools for the Deaf: Are the Deaf Students Handicapped?

This paper primarily discusses the challenges deaf students in Ghana are likely to grapple with as they access education provided for them in English language. The arguments discussed in this paper are supported by findings from a multiple site case study of five Schools for the Deaf purposively sampled from four regions of Ghana. Observations were made of 15 classroom teaching and learning processes at the basic school level. Interviews were also conducted with seven teachers to gather qualitative data for the study. The findings were that deaf students in Ghana access education, provided for them in their classrooms and textbooks, in much the same ways as their hearing counterparts whereas they do not have the same abilities as their hearing counterparts to effectively acquire and use English language. The poor access to English language as well as the limitations in technology developed for deaf students in Ghana reflect in some learning difficulties. This stagnation stifles the educational advancements of deaf students in Ghana. It is recommended that the Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service should look into the language policy for deaf students and give, in the interim, concessionary passes in English language to enable deaf students qualify into higher institutions of learning.

Source: UCC
Access to finance and firm productivity in the presence of binding fiscal constraints

We examine two key questions in this paper: does access to finance have an association with firm level productivity? And does the fiscal environment have an effect on the relation between access to finance and firm productivity? Our answers are that restrictions to access to finance leads to lower firm productivity and the fiscal policy environment can affect the relation between access to finance and firm productivity. Firm-level total factor productivity is from a Cobb-Douglas production function, which we regress on firm characteristics and fiscal policy indicators. With controls for country and year fixed effects, we find that firms reporting access to finance as a severe obstacle have lower productivity, and productivity declines with age. In restricting the sample to African countries, the fiscal policy effect is not observed directly while it is evident in the global sample but rather through severity of access to credit. Macro-level analysis shows a negative domestic credit to GDP relation with aggregate total factor productivity growth but the value of manufactured exports has a positive relation with aggregate total factor productivity. African countries need to do more to make fiscal policy an enabling mechanism for economic growth.

Source: UCC