ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
United States – Mexico Bilateral Relations Under President Donald Trump.

United States-Mexico bilateral relations can best be described as a ‘bromance’ – a love-hate relationship; their ‘rich’ history bears that out. Donald J. Trump during the early days of his presidency was a major threat to U.S.-Mexico bilateral relations. The threat posed by President Trump to U.S.-Mexico relations occurred along three main dimensions – his utterances/ rhetoric, foreign policy agenda, and personality. The economic benefit of US-Mexico relations appeared to be one-sided in favour of Mexico, prior to Trump becoming president, as reflected by the 100-billion-dollar trade deficit with Mexico. To top it all up, Mexico through its immigration policies was making the United States also feel unsafe at its southern border, by allowing migrant caravan to pour into the United States’ southern border. These coupled with other factors prompted Trump’s strong stance against Mexico. The study, thus, sought to examine U.S.-Mexico bilateral relations under President Donald Trump. The results of the study showed that prior to Trump becoming President, the status of U.S.-Mexico relations remained relatively stable. In the last two decades, domestic changes in the United States included but not limited to a (1) shift in the U.S.’ traditional view of immigration as an economic and cultural issue to now viewing illegal border crossings as a national security threat especially fueled by the crisis of 9/11. Although doom and gloom, triggered by domestic changes in both countries, were predicted for U.S.-Mexico relations under President Donald Trump; the bilateral relations between both countries seemed to have rather strengthened to the amazement of onlookers. 100 days post-Trump presidency was a total mess on the immigration and narcotics front, with the drug cartels being emboldened and making more money than they have ever made in a long while. There is, therefore, the need to re-evaluate policies to determine effective policies, so that ineffective ones can be discontinued, while maintaining effective ones regardless of which political party brought into force.

Source: UG
A United States of Africa: Insights from antifragility

I revisit in this article the question of the possibility of political integration of the Afri- can continent, something ﬁrst proposed by Kwame Nkrumah and then re-proposed by Muamar Gaddafﬁ. My focus here is not to examine the extent of African leaders’ willing- ness to bring about integration, nor will I concentrate on the political intrigues surround- ing it (though these will be brieﬂy acknowledged). Further, I will not contest Nkrumah’s economic argument (which is commonsensically correct and in line with mainstream eco- nomics) but will, instead, take up the more normative question of the possibility, and thus practicability, of political integration in light of cultural and ethnic heterogeneity on the continent. I argue that political integration is possible, and I support the gradualist view- point by drawing lessons from Nicholas Taleb’s concept of antifragility and pointing out that there is almost as much heterogeneity at individual and simpler society levels as there is in ethnically diverse societies.

Source: UG
Universal coverage and utilization of free long-lasting insecticidal nets for malaria prevention in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Background: Malaria continues to be one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, especially among children and pregnant women. The use of LongLasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) has been recognized and prioritized as a major intervention for malaria prevention in Ghana. This study aims to establish the factors influencing the universal coverage and utilization of LLINs in Ghana. Methods: The data used for this study was from a cross-sectional survey carried out to assess LLINs ownership and use in 9 out of the 10 old regions of Ghana from October 2018 to February 2019 where free LLIN distribution interventions were implemented. The EPI “30 × 7” cluster sampling method (three-stage sampling design) was modified to “15 × 14” and used for the study. A total of 9,977 households were interviewed from 42 districts. Descriptive statistics using percentages as well as tests of associations such as Pearson Chi-square and the magnitude of the associations using simple and multivariable logistic regression were implemented. Results: Of the 9,977 households in the study, 88.0% of them owned at least one LLIN, universal coverage was 75.6%, while utilization was 65.6% among households with at least one LLIN. In the rural and urban areas, 90.8% and 83.2% of households, respectively, owned at least one LLIN. The was a 44% increase in universal coverage of LLINs in rural areas compared to urban areas (AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02–2.02). There were 29 higher odds of households being universally covered if they received LLIN from the PMD (AOR: 29.43, 95% CI: 24.21–35.79). Households with under-five children were 40% more likely to utilize LLIN (AOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26–1.56). Respondents with universal coverage of LLIN had 25% increased odds of using nets (AOR: 1.25 95% CI: 1.06–1.48). Rural dwelling influences LLIN utilization, thus there was about 4-fold increase in household utilization of LLINs in rural areas compared to urban areas (AOR: 3.78, 95% CI: 2.73–5.24). Household size of more than 2 has high odds of LLINs utilization and awareness of the benefit of LLINs (AOR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.18–1.71). Conclusion: About nine in 10 households in Ghana have access at least to one LLIN, three-quarters had universal coverage, and over two-thirds of households with access used LLIN. The predictors of universal coverage included region of residence, rural dwellers, and PMD campaign, while households with child under-five, in rural areas, and with universal coverage were positively associated with utilization.

Source: UG
Universal health coverage and NCD prevention and control

Universal health coverage (UHC) is a central part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the WHO Global NCD Action Plan. Achieving UHC means that all people would have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. UHC includes health protection and promotion, as well as disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care, across the life-course.1 There will always be trade-offs in allocating resources between each of the UHC dimensions (i.e. population covered, services provided, and direct costs to patients) (Figure 38.1). What levels of coverage can be provided for the population? Or should more services be covered by enlarging the benefits package to include other health services and if so which ones? Or should cost sharing and fees for patients be reduced? In addressing these questions, it is clear that UHC is more of a political than a technical construct, with governments having to make decisions and trade-offs across: (i) levels of taxation on income, salaries and goods, and levels of public sector financing to improve access to healthcare, promote population health, and more broadly improve social determinants of health (e.g. education, housing and social care – Chapter 17); (ii) the responsibility of government and the individual in accessing and financing the costs of healthcare, includ ing the acceptable level of household out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure (e.g. cost-sharing, self-medication and other expenses paid directly by households to the health provider) and the importance attached to preventing people from going into debt and as a result experiencing poverty and/or catastrophic health expenditure; and (iii) issues around levels of healthcare afforded to groups and communities that are marginalized or suffer from discrimination. UHC poses important governance challenges,2 including making decisions around health equity, social cohesion, the efficiency of resource allocation and sustainable human and economic development.3 In this sense, the path to achieving UHC has been viewed as a political struggle and is not value-free.4 The political importance of UHC was highlighted in 2019 when world lead ers committed to ensuring UHC (including for the prevention and control of NCDs) was available in their countries.5 An effective health financing system is essential to achieve UHC. This con sists of: (i) raising sufficient funding to cover the costs of the health system; (ii) pooling resources to protect people from the financial consequences of ill health; and (iii) purchasing or providing health services to ensure greater efficiency in the allocation of available resources. Most healthcare financing schemes receive transfers from the government, social insurance contributions, voluntary or compulsory prepayments (such as insurance premiums), other domestic revenues, and revenues from abroad (for example, as part of development aid and remittances). Chapter 39 provides more detail on financing for NCDs.

Source: UG
Universal health coverage in emerging economies: Findings on health care utilization by older adults in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa

Background and objective: The achievement of universal health coverage (UHC) in emerging economies is a high priority within the global community. This timely study uses standardized national population data collected from adults aged 50 and older in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa. The objective is to describe health care utilization and measure association between inpatient and outpatient service use and patient characteristics in these six low- and middle-income countries. Design: Secondary analysis of data from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health Wave 1 was undertaken. Country samples are compared by socio-demographic characteristics, type of health care, and reasons for use. Logistic regressions describe association between socio-demographic and health factors and inpatient and outpatient service use. Results: In the pooled multi-country sample of over 26,000 adults aged 50-plus, who reported getting health care the last time it was needed, almost 80% of men and women received inpatient or outpatient care, or both. Roughly 30% of men and women in the Russian Federation used inpatient services in the previous 3 years and 90% of men and women in India used outpatient services in the past year. In China, public hospitals were the most frequently used service type for 52% of men and 51% of women. Multivariable regression showed that, compared with men, women were less likely to use inpatient services and more likely to use outpatient services. Respondents with two or more chronic conditions were almost three times as likely to use inpatient services and twice as likely to use outpatient services compared with respondents with no reported chronic conditions. Conclusions: This study provides a basis for further investigation of country-specific responses to UHC. © 2014 Karl Peltzer et al.

Source: UG
Universal health coverage necessitates a system approach: an analysis of Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) initiative in Ghana

Abstract The 9th Global conference on health promotion (Shanghai 2016) reaffirmed the role of primary health care (PHC) in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Gaining much international recognition, the community-based health planning and services (CHPS) initiative is considered one of the pragmatic strategy in delivering on the promise of universal health coverage (UHC) through the PHC strategy, in Ghana. Yet, certain key factors threaten its successes – renewing the relevance of this study to present the barriers to and facilitators of the initiative. According to our findings, CHPS contribution particularly in bridging geographical access to health cannot be demeaned. Nevertheless, the full functioning of the initiative is limited by factors centered on the following themes: health governance and leadership, provision of services of quality, financial risk protection strategies targeting public health, information and care continuity, and the right mix of trained health professionals of even distribution across communities. Addressing the challenges of CHPS demand a system-approach. Substantial progress is more likely to emerge with improved leadership especially on the part of Governments to take bold political step to provide adequate financial and material resources. However, much will be achieved when stakeholders including the community work in synergies, to manage competing priorities by focusing on the core values and goals of CHPS.

Source: UG
Universal influenza DNA vaccine encoding conserved CD4+ T cell epitopes protects against lethal viral challenge in HLA-DR transgenic mice

The goal of the present study was to design a vaccine that would provide universal protection against infection of humans with diverse influenza A viruses. Accordingly, protein sequences from influenza A virus strains currently in circulation (H1N1, H3N2), agents of past pandemics (H1N1, H2N2, H3N2) and zoonotic infections of man (H1N1, H5N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N7, H9N2) were evaluated for the presence of amino acid sequences, motifs, that are predicted to mediate peptide epitope binding with high affinity to the most frequent HLA-DR allelic products. Peptides conserved among diverse influenza strains were then synthesized, evaluated for binding to purified HLA-DR molecules and for their capacity to induce influenza-specific immune recall responses using human donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Accordingly, 20 epitopes were selected for further investigation based on their conservancy among diverse influenza strains, predicted population coverage in diverse ethnic groups and capacity to recall influenza-specific responses. A DNA plasmid encoding the epitopes was constructed using amino acid spacers between epitopes to promote optimum processing and presentation. Immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine was measured using HLA-DR4 transgenic mice and the TriGrid in vivo electroporation device. Vaccination resulted in peptide-specific immune responses, augmented HA-specific antibody responses and protection of HLA-DR4 transgenic mice from lethal PR8 influenza virus challenge. These studies demonstrate the utility of this vaccine format and the contribution of CD4(+) T cell responses to protection against influenza infection.

Source: UG
The &quot;universal&quot; in UHC and Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme: Policy and implementation challenges and dilemmas of a lower middle income country

Background: Unsafe abortion is an issue of public health concern and contributes significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality globally. Abortion evokes religious, moral, ethical, socio-cultural and medical concerns which mean it is highly stigmatized and this poses a threat to both providers and researchers. This study sought to explore challenges to providing safe abortion services from the perspective of health providers in Ghana. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted. The study was conducted in three (3) hospitals and five (5) health centres in the capital city in Ghana. Participants (n = 36) consisted of obstetrician/gynaecologists, nurse-midwives and pharmacists. Results: Stigma affects provision of safe-abortion services in Ghana in a number of ways. The ambiguities in Ghanaian abortion law and lack of overt institutional support for practitioners increased reluctance to openly provide for fear of stigmatisation and legal threat. Negative provider attitudes that stigmatised women seeking abortion care were frequently driven by socio-cultural and religious norms that highly stigmatise abortion practice. Exposure to higher levels of education, including training overseas, seemed to result in more positive, less stigmatising views towards the need for safe abortion services. Nevertheless, physicians open to practicing abortion were still very concerned about stigma by association. Conclusions: Stigma constitutes an overarching impediment for abortion service provision. It affects health providers providing such services and even researchers who study the subject. Exposure to wider debate and education seem to influence attitudes and values clarification training may prove useful. Proper dissemination of existing guidelines and overt institutional support for provision of safe services also needs to be rolled out.

Source: UG
Universities’ Role in Regional Development: A Case Study of University for Development Studies, Ghana

This study, employing an interpretive research paradigm, sought to investigate into how University for Development Studies (UDS) is responding to its regional development mandate with a specific focus on how it is responding to human capital development, innovation capabilities, and social and environmental development in northern Ghana. A study of this nature was deemed relevant and appropriate since UDS was established in 1992 under the PNDC Law 279 with an explicit mandate to blend its academic work with that of the community in order to provide constructive interaction between the two for the total development of northern Ghana. Despite the deplorable state of development in Northern Ghana, the regional development mandate of UDS in such a challenging environment has not attracted much attention in the literature. Findings from the study suggest that while UDS has appreciably linked its teaching, research, and service roles to the development needs of northern Ghana, it has a stronger link with the human capital development and social, cultural, and environmental development compared to developing the innovation capabilities of northern Ghana. It is, therefore, recommended that if UDS is seen as a key player in the development of Northern Ghana through its policy mandate, then, government and regional authorities need to create an enabling environment and put in place appropriate policy support structures to stimulate an effective engagement of UDS with the industrial sector and local businesses.

Source: UG
University learners’ educational experience survey: a gender dimensional analysis

Intense competition among universities, with its negative consequences, has necessitated the investigation of students’ academic experiences as it influences students’ university choices. To bridge this gap, this study seeks to examine students’ satisfaction with their educational experience at two selected universities in Ghana. Utility Maximisation Theory was deployed to guide the study. Relevant research ethics principles were duly observed. We used a cross-sectional survey of 309 students to estimate an ordered probit econometric model as well as cross-tabulation descriptive and graphical analyses. Based on the robustness of the results, we found that male students are quantitatively more satisfied with their academic performance than female students. The results also demonstrate consistent and significant associations between instructional delivery and feedback, and students’ academic satisfaction; there was a positive and statistically significant relationship between enabling conditions and the level of student satisfaction across both males and females; furthermore, the results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between learner support systems and the level of students’ satisfaction among both males and females; additionally, females have shown that they demonstrate a quantitatively greater appreciation for instructional delivery and feedback compared to males. Policymakers and educational institutions can better target support and intervention programmes for students with satisfaction scores that are close to the average by identifying these students. It is also suggested that universities focus on and keep improving upon the services and educational facilities they provide, as well as correcting any inefficiencies in the services so as to meet students’ satisfaction

Source: UG
University of Ghana Customer Service Policy

This Customer Service Policy is a code of customer service conduct that deliberately spells out how all University of Ghana employees should work so as to improve the overall customer experience for all our various stakeholders. It is a social contract that delineates the service delivery and compliance standards between the University of Ghana and its various stakeholder (customer) audiences. A customer service policy ensures that each member of the University of Ghana community fully realises the utmost importance of serving their customers consistently with the same high quality of service commitment - irrespective of which department or unit the employee may work in; or at what rank they are currently operating at. The ability of the University of Ghana to improve its global relevance in the attraction of international students and faculty will be greatly enhanced if we all display the customer-oriented attitudes enshrined in this Customer Service Policy. The University of Ghana Customer Service Policy has as its overriding objective, the desire to get University of Ghana employees to always strive to put the needs of external customers before their own and that providing empathetic, consistent and responsive service is everyone’s responsibility. This Customer Service Policy will be one of our key strategies for improving the professionalism of the service we deliver as a leading tertiary institution in Africa. The University of Ghana will constantly strive to build and maintain positive relationships with its esteemed stakeholders and this customer service policy serves as a set of rules and path, which when followed will lead to the achievement of service excellence at the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
University of Ghana Distance Education Programme and Female Students: Implications for family Well-Being

Globally, governments are educating their people by increasing student intake into universities through distance education. This approach of increasing access to universities has the potential of increasing the number of students in universities, including females. In the 2007/2008 academic year, out of a total of 906 students enrolled in the University of Ghana Distance Education (UG-DE) programme to pursue undergraduate degree courses, only 270 were females. In the 2011/2012 academic year, however, out of a total of 8,163 students enrolled, 2,938 were females, and 5,225 were males putting the female students’ enrolled figure more than half the number of male students admitted. This exploratory study examined the implications of increasing female student enrolment on the UG-DE programmes for their families’ well-being. Views were solicited from 30 female students through semi-structured interviews. Female students held the view that their education would impact positively on their children’s education, health status and future prospects. It recommends that the University of Ghana should expedite work on the re-introduction of the access courses to encourage more female enrollment into undergraduate degree programmes through UG-DE to engender family well-being.

Source: UG