ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Predictors of primary and secondary sexual abstinence among never-married youth in urban poor Accra, Ghana

Background: Sexual abstinence is a key component of the strategy to address unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and HIV among youth in sub-Sahara Africa. But contextual pressures make abstaining from sex a formidable task for urban poor youth in the sub-region. Nevertheless, some youth in these settings still manage to resist the pressure to initiate sex early, while others choose abstinence after an initial sexual debut. Few studies in the sub-region have examined sexual abstinence among urban poor youth. We therefore examined the factors that predict primary and secondary sexual abstinence among youth in urban poor Accra. The findings highlight the protective factors associated with sexual intercourse and should help to address the needs of youth at risk of unprotected sex. Methods: The study analysed pooled data from two rounds of the Urban Health and Poverty Survey. The surveys analysed were conducted in 2011 and 2013. The analysis was restricted to unmarried youth between age 20 and 24 years. The total sample comprised 235 female and male youth. We conducted multinomial logistic regression analysis to examine the predictors of primary and secondary abstinence relative to current sexual intercourse. Results: The results showed that being female, sexual communication with only fathers, sexual communication with only friends and slum residence were negatively associated with primary sexual abstinence. Contrarily, being in school, attaching importance to religion, residing in a household that received social support and sexual communication with both parents were positively associated with primary abstinence. Regarding secondary abstinence, only the sexual communication variables had significant effects. Sexual communication with both parents positively predicted secondary abstinence while communication with fathers-only and friends-only had a negative effect. Conclusion: Sexual abstinence is predicted by factors which range from individual through household factors to the locality of residence. Despite the importance of all the predictors, the study found that sexual communication with both parents was the only factor that predicted a higher likelihood of both primary and secondary sexual abstinence. We therefore recommend sexual communication between parents and youth as a key strategy for promoting sexual abstinence among urban poor youth in Accra, Ghana

Source: UG
“Predictors of satisfaction with child birth services in public hospitals in Ghana.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between experiences during childbirth and satisfaction with childbirth services. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A cross-sectional analytical approach using a structured questionnaire and exit interviews was employed to gather data from 885 women who delivered vaginally in two public hospitals. Data were analysed by generating frequencies and chi-square which was used in running a binary logistic regression using a stepwise backward elimination approach. FINDINGS: With a response rate of 78.75 percent the key predictor variables of satisfaction with care were: friendliness of staff (OR = 15.12, p = 0.00); the amount of information provided on the condition and treatment of women (OR = 9.3857, p = 0.007); the feeling of being treated with respect (OR = 3.5581, p = 0.023); and the provision of information about channels of complaint about care (OR = 50.0839, p = 0.000). It is therefore recommended that steps be instituted to improve client-/health worker interpersonal relationships, to improve the amount and quality of information provided to clients, and also to establish formal structures for complaint management in hospitals. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The study sampled only women with vaginal deliveries, considering the fact that women with caesarean deliveries have different experiences. Thus views of those with caesarean deliveries are excluded. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Several studies have been conducted in Ghana on issues of health service satisfaction and quality, but this is about the first, critically looking at satisfaction with child birth services in Ghana.

Source: UG
Predictors of self-reported health among the elderly in Ghana: A cross sectional study

Background: Self-reported health is a widely used measure of health status across individuals. As the ageing population increases, the health of the elderly also becomes of growing concern. The elderly go through life facing social, economic and financial hardships. These hardships are known to affect the health status of people as they age. The purpose of this study is to assess social and health related factors of self-reported health among the elderly in Ghana. Methods: A multivariate regression analysis in form of a binary and ordinal logistic regression were used to determine the association between socioeconomic, demographic and health related factors, on self-reported health. The data used for this study was drawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 1. Results: In total, out of 2613 respondent, 579 (20.1%) rated their health status as poor and 2034 (79.9%) as good. The results showed that the odds of reporting poor health was 2.5 times higher among the old-old compared to the young old. The elderly with one or more than one chronic condition had the odds of 1.6 times and 2 times respectively, of reporting poor health. Engaging in mild to moderate exercise increased the chances of reporting poor health by 1.8 times. The elderly who had never worked in a lifetime were 2 times more likely to report poor health. In the same way, residents of Eastern and Western parts of Ghana were 2 times more likely to report poor health compared to those in the Upper West region. Respondents with functional limitations and disabilities were 3.6 times and 2.4 times respectively, more likely to report poor health. On the other hand, the odds of reporting poor health was 29, 36 and 27% less among respondents in the highest income quintiles, former users of tobacco and those satisfied with certain aspects of life respectively. Also, current alcohol users were 41% less likely to report poor health. Conclusion: The health status of the elderly is to an extent determined by the circumstances in which they are born, grow and live. The findings suggest that addressing social issues faced by individuals in youthful age will go a long way to achieving good health in the future. People with physical limitations and disabilities are most vulnerable to unmet healthcare needs and support system from government, policy makers and family. © 2017 The Author(s).

Source: UG
Predictors of skilled attendance at delivery among antenatal clinic attendants in Ghana: A cross-sectional study of population data

Objective: To identify demographic, maternal and community predictors of skilled attendance at delivery among women who attend antenatal clinic at least once during their pregnancy in Ghana. Design: A cross-sectional study using the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data. We used frequencies for descriptive analysis, χ2 test for associations and logistic regression to identify significant predictors. Predictive models were built with estimation of area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). Setting: Ghana. Participants: A total of 2041 women who had a live birth in the 5 years preceding the survey, and attended an antenatal clinic having a skilled provider, at least once, during the pregnancy. Outcome: Skilled attendance at delivery. Results: Overall, 60.5% (1235/2041) of women in our study sample reported skilled attendance at delivery. Significant positive associations existed between skilled attendance at delivery and the variables such as maternal educational level, wealth status class, ever use of contraception, previous pregnancy complications and health insurance coverage (p<0.001). Significant predictors of skilled attendance were wealth status class, residency, previous delivery complication, health insurance coverage and religion in a model with AUC (95% CI) of 0.85 (0.83 to 0.88). Conclusions: Women less likely to have skilled attendance at delivery can be identified during antenatal care by using data on wealth status class, health insurance coverage, residence, history of previous birth complications and religion, and targeted with interventions to improve skilled attendance at delivery. © 2015, BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Predictors of tax compliance intentions among self-employed individuals: the role of trust, perceived tax complexity and antecedent-based intervention strategies

This study examines the tax compliance intentions of self-employed individuals in the informal sector and evaluates the effect of antecedent-based intervention strategies, trust and perceived tax complexity on tax compliance intention. Using the extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical base, the study additionally investigates whether attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and moral obligation may be good predictors of tax compliance intention. Data were gathered from 725 self-employed individuals in Ghana using a structured questionnaire, and analysed using the structural equation modelling technique. We find from our empirical analysis that, although our respondents exhibit greater intention to comply with tax payment duties, most respondents consider non-compliance to be justifiable if the tax rates are too burdensome. Our results further suggest that trust in the tax system, perceived tax complexity, antecedent-based intervention strategies, attitude, subjective norms, and moral obligation relevant predictors of tax compliance intention.

Source: UG
Predictors of underachieved and overachieved fertility among women with completed fertility in Ghana

A woman’s ability to achieve her preferred family size is critical in addressing issues of high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. The socio-cultural context in sub-Saharan Africa presents some difficulty for the attainment of preferred fertility for many women. Few studies in subSaharan Africa have examined the extent to which women are unable to achieve their preferred family sizes. This study, therefore, examines the factors that are associated with the non-attainment of women’s preferred fertility by the end of their reproductive years. The study analyzed pooled cross-sectional data with a sub-sample of 1,888 currently married women aged 45–49 years from five rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 1993 to 2014. Test of associations and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to examine the predictors of underachieved and overachieved fertility relative to achieved fertility. Results The results indicate that 44 per cent of the women recorded overachieved fertility while about 36 per cent underachieved their fertility. Partner wants more, experiencing child loss and married more than once were significantly associated with overachieved fertility. Nonetheless, increased years of a woman’s education and delaying her at first birth were negatively associated with overachieved fertility. On the other hand, underachieved fertility was significantly associated with having a partner with fewer fertility preference, being of the Islamic faith and ever use of modern contraception. Partner’s fertility preference, child loss experience, marrying more than once and ever use of modern contraception were important predictors of a woman’s inability to achieve her fertility preference. Policies to regulate men’s fertility behaviour, delaying age at first birth, use of modern contraception, encouraging longer years of education, and reducing infant and child mortality are important strategies to achieve fertility preference in Ghana.

Source: UG
Predictors of undernutrition and anemia among children aged 6–24 months in a low-resourced setting of Ghana: a baseline survey

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of child undernutrition and anemia among children 6–24 months old in the East Mamprusi district, Northern region, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – This cross-sectional study recruited 153 children and their mothers. Weight, height and hemoglobin levels of the children were measured. A structured questionnaire based on the World Health Organization’s indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices was used to collect data on parents’ socioeconomic status, household characteristics, hygiene and sanitation practices, mothers’ knowledge on feeding practices such as child’s meal frequency and dietary diversity and child morbidity within the past two weeks. Predictors of child nutritional status were determined using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Findings – Underweight in the children was significantly predicted by maternal knowledge on protein foods (AOR 5 0.045, p 5 0.008), time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR 5 0.222, p 5 0.032) and maternal age (AOR 5 9.455, p 5 0.017). Feeding child from separate bowls (AOR 5 0.239, p 5 0.005), minimum meal frequency per child’s age (AOR 5 0.189, p 5 0.007) and time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR 5 0.144, p 5 0.009) were significant determinants of stunting among the children. Exclusive breast feeding (AOR 5 7.975, p 5 0.012) and child’s past morbidity (AOR 5 0.014, p 5 0.001) significantly contributed to anemia among the children. Research limitations/implications – This is a cross-sectional study and cannot establish causality. The small sample size also limits the generalizability of study findings. However, findings of the study highlight factors which could potentially influence the high rate of child undernutrition in the study setting. Practical implications – This study identifies determinants of undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district, an underresourced area in Ghana. This information could inform the development/reformulation of locally sensitive key messages and targeted intervention strategies to curb the high levels of child undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district of Ghana. Originality/value – This study identifies maternal care practices as key potential drivers of undernutrition in a low-resource setting known for high prevalence of child undernutrition. It suggests insight for large-scale studies on the predictors of child undernutrition in Northern Ghana and other resource-poor settings.

Source: UG
Prednisone for prevention of paradoxical tuberculosis-associated iris

The article by Meintjes and colleagues (Nov. 15 issue)1 on the use of prednisone for the prevention of paradoxical tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) provides evidence to improve the treatment of persons who are coinfected with tuberculosis and the human immunodeficiency virus. Nevertheless, I have concerns about the inclusion in the trial of patients with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis and those with positive findings on smear microscopy. Many nontuberculous mycobacteria have morphologic and structural characteristics2 that are similar to those of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and cause a cavitary tuberculosis-like disease3 that is similar to tuberculosis. A diagnosis of tuberculosis that is based on smear microscopy methods or clinical manifestations could therefore be a misdiagnosis. In addition, although antituberculosis medications are usually not effective against nontuberculous mycobacteria, they may be an effective treatment in some patients.4 As such, the investigators’ approach of enrolling patients with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis who had a response to antituberculosis treatment, as a way of ensuring that patients with potentially misdiagnosed tuberculosis were excluded, may not be the best. Future studies should be restricted to patients who have positive findings on culture or molecular tests, since these provide a definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis. This could improve the validity of the trial results.

Source: UG
Preface and acknowledgements

5 Preface and Acknowledgements Is globalization beneficial to Africa? Does it open infinite opportunities for economic growth, development and social transformation of the continent? So far, the controversy regarding globalization’s implications for the continent has raged from platforms whereAfrican voices are drowned byan orchestrated chorus of voices of academics, politicians and technocrats from the developed world who parade policy corridors of African states as experts, combining the role of advocates as well as public policy doctors prescribing solutions to African governments. A common prescription for the development crisis facing the continent is that African governments must pursue policies that would effectively adjust their economies into the global economy. The alternative to adjustment to the logic of the global economy is the calamitous collapse of the continent’s economy, political and social institutions. Clearly, the triumph of the Western idea of human progress is forcefully articulated by Western scholars who dominate existing spaces for research and scholarship, and marginalize African voices. African researchers and scholars are unable to compete effectively on this global stage with alternative diagnoses of Africa’s development crisis, enunciate alternate thinking about the continent’s condition, and propose alternative paradigms for solving the crisis. Hence, the relevant academic and policydiscourse persistentlyrepresent globalization as panacea to Africa’s development crisis. Its principal proponents conveniently ignore the fact that globalization benefits the most powerful; and leaves the weak ones in a quagmire of crisis. The contributions in this volume are intended to complement the emerging African voices in the discourse, academic and policy discourse, on globalization and Africa. The collection has had a long and chequered history. It was originally commissioned bytheAfricanAssociation of Political Science (AAPS) months before it went into coma. Since then several of the authors have had opportunity to revise and update their contributions. Others have not; because in the interregnum we lost contact. Preface and Acknowledgements 6 Globalized Africa I am grateful to AAPS for its initial support of this idea of an anthology interrogating globalization with respect to Africa. I must also commend the contributors for responding to the invitation to prepare a chapter for the collection, and to the good number of them who kept faith and in diverse ways encouraged this publication. I share their faith in the timeless value of the contributions. Kwame A. Ninsin May 9, 2012. ...

Source: UG
Preference of and Damage to Processed Cassava Chips by Araecerus fasciculatus (Degeer)

Laboratory studies were conducted on the preference and extent of deterioration of differently processed cassava chips caused by A. fasciculatus. The trials were carried at temperature of 25-30oC and relative humidity of 61-92%. Statistical analysis of insect preference to the processed chips in a choice test revealed that adults of A. fasciculatus significantly (p< 0.05) preferred fermented and sun-dried chips to parboiled and plain chips. A susceptibility test and insect developmental study were conducted to further understand the factors responsible for the differences in the processed chips. Weight losses caused by A. fasciculatus on plain, sun-dried and fermented chips across varieties at 79 days of storage were 20.6%, 16.3% and 16.9% respectively. However, parboiled chips sustained lower loss of 2.6%. Adult population density was also significantly lower (P<0.05) on parboiled chips (36.8±2.3) than on fermented chips (108.5±8.6) at 79 days of storage. The developmental period of this pest was similar on all the different processed chips, although it was slightly prolonged on sun-dried chips. The study has shown that parboiling of cassava chips before storage reduces their susceptibility to A. fasciculatus infestation.

Source: UG
Preference of Sheep for Three Forms of Mucuna Forage and the Effect of Supplementation with Mucuna Forage on the Performance of Sheep

Assessment of the preference of sheep for fresh, dried or ensiled forms of mucuna (Mucuna pruriens var utilis) forage was followed by investigations into the effect of supplementing straw-based diets with the forage. Four sheep were offered fresh, dried and ensiled forms of the forage in a cafeteria style to assess their preference. In the second experiment, 20 sheep were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, namely, alkali-treated straw only (M0), treated straw supplemented with mucuna forage at 0.3% (M10), 0.6% (M20) or 0. 75% (M25) of body weight (approximately 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively, of the total dry matter intake). The daily feed intakes were determined and the sheep were weighed weekly for 10 weeks. The sheep showed a marked preference for fresh mucuna forage over either the dried or ensiled forms. The total dry matter intake increased by 15% and 21%, respectively, with M20 and M25. All the groups lost weight over the feeding period. However, only M0 gave weight losses during the second half of the feeding period. The feed conversion efficiency followed a trend similar to that for weight gains. M20 had the greatest effect on growth and feed conversion efficiency.

Source: UG
Preferences for groundnut products amongurban residents in Ghana

The present study identifies factors influencing preferences for common groundnut products using information about product perceptions from residents in Ghana's cities collected in 2011. In Ghana, domestically produced groundnuts, processed into a variety of groundnut products, are a vital source of protein and other nutrients. RESULTS: Response summaries provide insights about the eating frequency of various products, whereas a bivariate ordered probit model identifies factors influencing preferences for groundnut paste and roasted groundnuts. Attributes such as taste, protein content and healthfulness are important for roasted groundnuts, whereas aroma, taste and protein content are associated with a preference for groundnut paste. Large households prefer paste, whereas the less educated and those from households with children prefer roasted groundnuts. Adding a child (4-12 years old) increases probability of 'liking very much' roasted groundnuts and an additional adult at home changes that probability regarding groundnut paste. College-educated consumers prefer groundnut paste less than those with less education. Consumers from Tamale and Takoradi prefer roasted groundnuts and groundnut paste more than Accra households. CONCLUSIONS: Taste and protein content are attributes of groundnut paste and roasted groundnuts preferred by consumers. Location is a significant factor shaping preference for roasted groundnuts and groundnut paste. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Source: UG
Preferential infection and depletion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells after HIV-1 infection

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG