ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Reduced egfr, elevated urine protein and low level of personal protective equipment compliance among artisanal small scale gold miners at Bibiani-Ghana: a cross- sectional study

Background: Mercury is a toxic metal with its effects on human health ranging from acute to chronic in a very short time of exposure. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the main source of direct human exposure to mercury. Aim: To access the effect of mercury exposure on the renal function and level of personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance among small-scale gold miners in Bibiani District of the Western Region of Ghana Method: 110 consenting male gold miners were purposively recruited for this study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information from the participants. Work place assessment and interviews were conducted. Urine samples were analysed for protein; blood was analysed for mercury and creatinine. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the chronic kidney disease-epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Results: Of the 110 participants, 61(55.5%) exceeded the occupational exposure threshold (blood mercury <5μg/L). Urine protein (41.72±68.34, P<0.0001), serum creatinine (2.24±1.19, P<0.0001) and blood mercury (18.37±10.47, P<0.0001) were significantly elevated among the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. However, the exposed group had a significantly reduced eGFR (P<0.0001). There was a significant correlation (r=0.7338, p<0.0001) between blood mercury concentration and urine protein concentration. An increase in blood mercury correlated negatively (r = −0.8233, P<0. 0001) with eGFR among the exposed group. High urine protein (P< 0.0001) and high serum creatinine (P< 0.0001) were significantly associated with increased mercury exposure. Increased mercury exposure was significantly associated with burning of amalgam (P=0.0196), sucking of excess mercury (P=0.0336), longer work duration (P=0.0314) and low educational background (P=0.0473). Conclusion: Small scale miners at the Bibiani work site are exposed to excess mercury. Proteinuria and reduced eGFR is common in mine workers exposed to excess mercury. We found poor PPE compliance among the study population

Source: UCC
Reduced Haematopoietic Output in Automobile Mechanics and Sprayers with Chronic Exposure to Petrochemicals: A Case-Control Study in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background. Automobile mechanics and sprayers are at a higher risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals which may cause adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to use reticulocyte count as an indirect measure of the haematological output in automobile mechanics and sprayers in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. Method. This cross-sectional study recruited 130 participants: 90 cases (57 automobile mechanics and 33 automobile sprayers) and 40 controls (nonautomobile workers). Venous blood samples were drawn from the participants and examined for full blood count and absolute reticulocyte count. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic and occupational safety information from participants. Results. 75.6% of cases had never received occupational safety training. Whereas 35.1% of automobile mechanics routinely siphoned fuel, 36.4% of automobile sprayers never used nose masks in the discharge of their duties. Controls had significantly higher WBC counts compared to mechanics (𝑝 = 0.0001; 5.04 ± 1.7 versus 3.81 ± 1.1), or sprayers (𝑝 = 0.0004; 5.04 ± 1.7 versus 3.74 ± 0.9). Lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts were also significantly higher in controls compared to cases. Whereas RBC counts were significantly higher in controls compared to automobile mechanics (4.85 versus 4.66; 𝑝 = 0.034), haemoglobin levels were significantly higher in automobile sprayers compared to controls (15.13 versus 14.1 g/dl; 𝑝 = 0.0126). Absolute reticulocyte count was significantly higher in controls compared to cases [𝑝 < 0.0001; (56.88 ± 32.14) × 109 /L (controls) versus (25.31 ± 15.75) × 109 /L (sprayers) or (33.27 ± 24.42) × 109 /L (mechanics)]. Among the cases however, only RBC counts were significantly lower in automobile mechanics compared to automobile sprayers (𝑝 = 0.0088; 4.66 ± 0.4 versus 4.85 ± 0.5). Conclusion. It was evident that both automobile mechanics and sprayers had significantly reduced haematopoietic output. Occupational safety training is not given priority and must be addressed.

Source: UCC
Reducing distance learners’ attrition rate at the university of cape coast: tutors’/students’ perception

The goal of Distance Education in Ghana is to make quality education, especially at the tertiary level, more accessible and relevant to meeting the human resource needs of the country. This is to improve performance as well as the quality of lives of Ghanaians. This dream can only be realised if students enrolled on the programmes graduate on schedule. Students’ enrollment on the Distance Education Programme at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) currently is over 24,000. However, not every student enrolls on the programme graduates on schedule for various reasons. This paper examines tutors’ and students’ perception on the attrition rate of distance learners. Survey research method was used to gather data and analysis done using frequency count, simple percentages, mean and standard deviation. Factors identified as causes of attrition and measures to reduce the problem were significant as perceived by tutors and learners. However, this paper concludes that the complexity of causes of attrition and measures to reduce it allow for few practical or readily applied solution. Most of the significant causes were evolutionary issues that can be resolved as time goes on through improvement in technology, effective course designing, better understanding of learner characteristics and appropriate learner support systems. Some recommendations were made as interim measures to help reduce the high attrition among UCC distance learners.

Source: UCC
Reducing rural poverty through microfinance intervention: A case study of Lower Pra rural bank limited Shama

The aim of the study was to ascertain how the introduction of microfinance programs by the Lower Pra Rural Bank in the rural areas of their catchment area has helped to alleviate the poverty situation in the Shama, Mpohor Wassa East Districts and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Area. It was also to establish whether or not the program has had any effects on the business operations of the beneficiaries and their livelihoods. In all 10 groups were sampled out of which 60 respondents made up six members from each group were selected. The books of the bank were also examined to ascertain the number of people who have benefited from the program between 2004 and 2008. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Products and Services Solutions (SPSS). The statistical tools employed in analyzing the data were cross tabulation, frequencies and percentages. The results indicate that there have been some improvements in the living standards of the households of people who have joined the microfinance scheme. There have also been improvements in the business operations of the beneficiaries. It is recommended that the bank should increase its lending program to other economic sectors, especially agriculture and other cottage industries in the district. Non-governmental Organizations and the local authorities must also get involved by offering grants to the others who are unable to access the bank’s programs.

Source: UCC
Reduction mechanism of hexavalent chromium by functional groups of undissolved humic acid and humin fractions of typical black soil from Northeast China

Soil organic which act as the main electron donors for Cr(VI) reduction; however, Cr(VI) reduction mechanism y different SOM fractions is still unclear, such as undissolved humic acid (HA) and humin (HM). In this study, HA and HM fractions extracted from typical lack soil from Northeast China were used to investigate the reaction mechanism etween humus functional groups and Cr(VI). According to the results, henol and hydroxyl were determined as the main electron donors for Cr(VI) reduction y HA and HM instead of carboxyl and carbonyl, which were more likely involved in Cr complexation. Furthermore, Cr(VI) reduction was more dependent on aromatic carbon, rather than aliphatic carbon, and functional groups on the article surfaces of HA and HM were much more active for Cr(VI) reduction than their interior art. Additionally, HM was found to have a relatively low Cr(VI) reduction capability compared with HA resulting from its high content of cellulose structures that are quite resistant to Cr(VI) oxidation. These results suggest that in the soil environment, undissolved HA tends to lay a much more important role than HM in Cr(VI) reduction and retention in the condition that their mass contents are comparable

Source: UCC
Refined multidimensional hardy-type inequalities via superquadracity

Some new refined multidimensional Hardy-type inequalities for p ≥ 2 and their duals are derived and discussed. Moreover, these inequalities hold in the reversed direction when 1 < ≤ 2. The results obtained are based mainly on some new results for superquadratic and subquadratic functions. In particular, our results further extend the recent results in [J.A. Oguntuase and L.-E. Persson, Refnement of Hardy’s inequalities via superquadratic and subquadratic functions, J. Math. Anal. Appl., 339 (2008), no. 2, 1305– 1312] to a multidimensional setting

Source: UCC
reflections of feminism in the plays of euripides and aristophanes

The works of Aristophanes have caused some modern writers to refer to Euripides as a misogynist and, at the same time, Aristophanes has not been taken seriously when it comes to the presentation of women in a misogynistic or feministic perspective because he is a comic writer. Due to this, scholars have refused to put these two writers on the same platform to see the underlining intentions of their presentations. Even though Aristophanes’ works are comedies and every depiction cannot be taken as factual, his presentation of women cannot be ignored since, in fact, the laughter is directed quite as much against women themselves as it is against Euripides and also because his work has a basis on societal happenings of his time. This work used feminism as a modern concept to analyze Euripides’ and Aristophanes’ presentation of women. The main emphasis is on the primary aim of feminism in the classical Greek context – to point out features of inequalities, disadvantages and marginalization among the genders. This is because during the classical period, the concept of feminism as an advocacy was apparently non-existent; however, due to some characteristics in their writings, the concept of feminism is used as a pillar in analyzing their works. Also, even though literature books are used, literary devices are discussed only when their relevance is important to the discussion of the work. Firstly, the work analyzed the poets’ presentation of female characters, revealing whether they gave feministic or otherwise interpretation to the characters. Secondly, from a feminist perspective, the work analysed the speeches made by the characters. Thus, the main aim of this research is to bring out the feminist projections in Euripidean and Aristophanic literature. It concludes by showing that the poets’ plays contained elements of feminism. Euripides can be called a feminist but Aristophanes cannot due to his mockery of women.

Source: UCC
Reflections on the bright and dark sides of free education in sub-Saharan Africa

Governments in sub-Saharan Africa have, over the years, acknowledged school education as the driver through which the achievement of their countries’ development goals can be accelerated. Indeed, as Amaele (2004) puts it in the Nigerian context, ‘education has ranked as the best legacy any conscious leader, government or parent could leave for his/her people … the quality of education given to a people determines the standard of growth achieved’. Thus, education is seen as key to the development needs of the region.

Source: UCC
Reflections on the outcomes of Ghana Baptist convention’s rural projects: Application of the integrative quality of life theory

The goal of all development is to help people attain high quality of life. People living in rural areas need more attention in the realisation of this goal because they are more disadvantaged. The socio-economic development approach, which is the major approach to development and driven by modernisation, overlooks other important factors of quality of life. From the literature, integrative quality of life (IQOL) theory addresses these challenges when adopted in project planning. The purpose of the study was to reflect on the outcomes of Ghana Baptist Convention’s (GBC) rural projects applying the IQOL theory. A total of 271 beneficiaries including 32 key informants were randomly and purposively selected respectively for the study. The findings showed that income, health, education, fulfilment of basic needs, realisation of life potential, meaning in life, happiness, satisfaction with life and wellbeing were necessary and cherished components of quality of life. In all, GBC’s interventions have been seen as positive by the beneficiaries. They also recommended that these interventions should be sustained. This study recommends that the measurement of development outcomes and indicators should shift from the economic growth approach to the holistic approach. Development interventions should seek to expand the scope beyond the economic to the other components of well-being and the churches such as GBC should lead the way.

Source: UCC
Reflections on tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Ghana

Background: Available evidence in Ghana shows the implementation of tuberculosis (TB) control activities efforts since the beginning of the 1900s. In spite of that, B continues to be one of the common diseases in the country. In 1994, local and international policy windows opened for renewed strategies for the control of B. his paper explores some of the approaches which have been in place since 1994 and their implications for treatment outcomes. Methods: The study combines quantitative and qualitative data. he quantitative data consist of treatment outcome from 1997–2010 and the qualitative data are derived from in-depth interviews with some staff of the B control programme. Poisson regression and inductive coding were applied to the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Results: Reported cure rates increased from 43.6% to 87.7% between 1997 and 2010. he data from the in-depth interviews (IDIs) suggested that improvements in diagnosis, community B care, stigma reduction among community and health workers towards B patients, the public-private partnership, and the enablers’ package contributed to the improved better treatment outcomes, particularly from 2008. Conclusions: Lessons learnt include the achievement of objectives with varying strategies and stakeholder interventions. Further studies would be needed to quantify the contributions of the various interventions to help determine those that are cost effective as well as efficient and effective for B control

Source: UCC
Reflective practice in teacher education in ghana

This paper examined the import of adopting reflective practice in the preparation of teacher trainees in the colleges of education in Ghana. It looked at the various dimensions of the knowledge base of teacher education curriculum in Ghana and various policy documents, especially the Colleges of Education Act, Act 847, which elevated the status of training colleges to tertiary institutions. Data from varied documents were explored and analysed from a discourse analytic perspective to ascertain how reflective practice is integrated into the pedagogy of teacher education in Ghana. The paper identified the adoption of reflective practice, with emphasis on artistry, which is reflection-in-action, as a suitable pedagogical skill to complement what the colleges of education are currently doing to actualize their mission. Policy recommendations included the restructuring of the curriculum of the colleges of education to address the development of students’ tacit knowledge by interfacing theory and experience. Research recommendations included an action research on teacher effectiveness using reflective practice.

Source: UCC
Refugee-host interaction: Case of Krisan refugee settlement in Ghana

Views on host-refugee interactions are as varied as the activities of refugees. Some studies consider the outcomes of these interactions as symbiotic. To some, host populations take advantage of the vulnerable situation of refugees and exploit them. Yet others consider refugees as the beneficiaries because of having humanitarian assistance. This study assessed the nature of interactions between refugees of the Krisan Refugee Settlement in Ghana and the host population (Sanzule, Krisan and Eikwe communities) and the effects of such interactions on both populations. Probability and non-probability methods were used to select and collect data from 180 respondents each from the host population and the refugees. Four opinion leaders from the host communities and five representatives of UNHCR and its partners were also interviewed. Binomial logistic regression model was used to analyse the determinants of change of goals of refugees and refugees earning additional income. The study observed that the indigenes had mixed perceptions of refugee behaviour. Some had positive perception about refugee behaviour indicating that refugees were friendly while others had negative perception of refugees based on the view that they were environmental degraders. Both populations indicated that interactions were symbiotic. But refugees' relationship with camp administration was rather not healthy with refugees citing misunderstanding over resettlement and general abuse of refugee rights as the reasons for this unhealthy relationship. The Ghana Refugee Board needs to involve all stakeholders in decision making. This could be done through education and the institution of periodic meeting for stakeholders.

Source: UCC
Refugees’ reflections on their stay in the Buduburam Camp in Ghana

Since the 1990s, Ghana has been hosting refugees from neighbouring West African countries and other parts of Africa but not much information is available on their experiences in the country. The main objective of this paper therefore is to examine the experiences of the refugees using the Liberian refugees in the Buduburam Refugee Camp as a case study. Using an in-depth interview guide, 44 refugees of both sexes were interviewed through a convenient sampling procedure based on their consent and willingness to participate in the study. The study employed the structuration theory of migration to examine their experiences and the Kunz’s (Int Migr Rev 15:42–51, 1981) typology of refugees to classify the refugees. Through their own capabilities and opportunities offered by both structure and institution, some refugees were able to sustain themselves through petty trading and artisanship while others were unemployed and had to depend occasionally on their social networks for economic support. Cultural shocks, acculturation, tension and occasional quarrels with the indigenes, stigma and discrimination against refugees in schools and at health centres, inaccessibility to formal sector employment, poor security and inadequate infrastructural facilities were some of their experiences in and outside the camp. The need for proper identification of refugees for security reasons, provision of better security and adequate infrastructural facilities and skills training for refugees to engage in livelihood activities were some of the recommendations from the refugees themselves.

Source: UCC
Regenerative capacity and factors influencing the management of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis live-mulch

The regenerative capacity of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis live-mulch and factors affecting its management were investigated. Six plots of mucuna (each measuring 48 m2) were established at an intra-row spacing of 40 cm and inter-row spacing of 80 cm. The number of days to canopy closure after planting and after the first, second and third trimmings were recorded. The trimming frequency for early-maturing and late-maturing maize varieties and the biomass yield and number of active nodules per plant were determined. Mucuna pruriens attained complete canopy closure 55 days after planting (DAP). The number of days required for complete canopy closure after the first, second and third trimmings were 34, 32 and 26, respectively. The number of trimmings (60 to 90 DAP) varied from 0-1 (for early maturing maize) to 1-2 (for late-maturing maize). The fresh biomass yields at the first, second and third trimmings were 12364, 5941 and 7209 kg ha–1, respectively; while litter yield ranged from 469 to 914 kg ha–1. The effective nodule count per plant varied from 4 (45 DAP) to a maximum of 63 (120 DAP). The N yield (90 days after planting mucuna) was 179 kg ha-1 of which 60 kg ha-1 mineralizable N could be provided for an intercrop. Significant positive relationships were established between biomass yield, N content of mucuna plant, days after planting, and number of effective nodules per plant. The study showed that it would be appropriate to trim M. pruriens two times (at 60 DAP and 34 days after first trimming) during the intercropping of a late maturing maize crop to reduce competition between maize crop and live-mulch for water and plant nutrients in the soil

Source: UCC
A regional analysis of corn yield models: comparing quadratic versus cubic trends

This study investigates county-level corn yield trend models using quadratic and cubic trend estimations. The study empirically revealed that the cubic trend is more appropriate for yield data from the West, Midwest and South regions. The linear and the quadratic trend models were respectively found to be more appropriate for yield data from the Plains and Atlantic regions. Results suggest that the data should be allowed to determine the appropriate trend relationships to avoid trend misspecification. Additionally, the yield trends are found to be inconsistent across all the regions. Different locations tend to exhibit different yield trends. It is therefore recommended that differences between regions be recognized when we conduct yield trend tests and not to generalize our results to other regions

Source: UCC