ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
An assessment of working capital management practices in Ghana. A case study of selected supermarkets in Kumasi Metropolis

The study seeks to add to existing literature the working capital management practices of selected supermarkets in Ghana. Problem: This was motivated by the fact that businesses have been noted to rely on banks, the stock market and equity capital. They give less attention to efficient working capital as a viable means of raising capital. They seem not to appreciate the feasibility of raising capital through efficient working capital management. Nonetheless, efficient working capital management is one of the major sources of raising capital, according to Nyamao et al (2012). Methodology: To achieve this, survey instrument was administered on 20 Accountants of leading supermarkets in Kumasi with a response rate of 80%. The data collected was processed by the capability of survey gizmo and Microsoft excel. Findings: The results showed that the supermarkets face liquidity challenges, low profitability, worse competitive position, increased funds tied up in working capital and finally lack of ability to unlock capital to finance growth. Recommendations: It is therefore recommended that the supermarkets reexamine the factors that determine their working capital so that they come up with best practices of working capital that can mitigate against the challenges. The working capital management policy need to be changed from informal to formal to enhance the chances of the supermarkets to be successful in their WCM

Source: KNUST
An assessment on solicitation of offers through international competitive tendering – an examination of challenges faced by Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)

This study sought to examine the challenges faced by procurement entities for effective execution in the solicitation of offers through international competitive tendering. The study population included management, procurement unit and departmental heads, logistics and stores department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. A sample size of forty (40) respondents was selected from management, staff of the procurement unit, head of departments and staff of logistics and stores of the hospital. The study used purposive sampling. Data was collected through questionnaires. Findings showed that, the challenges plaguing international competitive tendering procurement process consist mainly of difficulties in complying with national policies without violating international conventions and Non-Compliance with Policies and Regulations. Other challenges found included; political interferences in the tendering process, Cost Overruns, Contract Variations, Lack of Proper Knowledge, Skills and Capacity in the institution to effectively execute solicitation of offers through international competitive tendering, failure to adhere to public procurement act and irregularities related to purchases not taken on ledger charges. These challenges were found to have significant negative effects on healthcare delivery, hospital management, operations, staff performance and health of the patient. Based on the findings, the study recommended that management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital takes procurement, purchases, management staff, and all other employees active in the procurement process through frequent training programs to update their knowledge and skills, institute operational and punitive measures to halt the perpetuation of corrupt practices in the execution of the procurement process and strict adherence to the Public Procurement Act so as to improve procurement process.

Source: KNUST
Assesssing the prevalence, levels of risk and risk factors for non-communicable diseases [hypertension and diabetes] in the sekyere west district of Ghana.

BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases share common modifiable and preventable risk factors, which are easy to calculate and can contribute to an effective policy planning for interventional purposes. The issue of non-communicable diseases is a growing global public health concern, with little work documented on the magnitude of the effect particularly in the tropics. A community-based study using a cross-sectional design was used to assess the prevalence, levels of risk and the major risk factors for non-communicable diseases in the Sekyere West District. METHODS Three hundred participants were randomly selected based on three main age categories for both sexes; 18-34, 35-51 and 52-68 with 50 respondents from each age category from both sexes. The STEPS Approach of the World Health Organisation was used as the major study instrument. FINDINGS For the socio-economic and behavioural risk profile variables, the study documented 8% prevalence rate of current active smoking, 100% low fruit and vegetable intake (below 500g/daily), 61.5% physical inactivity, 7.7% history of diabetes, 16.3% prevalence of hypertension, 63 % family history of hypertension and diabetes, and 18.3% current active alcohol usage with an increasing level of risk among variables studied with increasing age, being more prevalent among males than females. We measured the anthropometric risk profile variables: overweight prevalence rate was 28.66% and obesity prevalence 10.66%. Waist-to-Hip ratio grater than 1 for males (5.33%) and greater than 0.85 for females (55.0%) were recorded. We recorded a prevalence rate of 49.66% (systolic blood pressure) and 28.00% (diastolic blood pressure) among pre-hypertensives, 17.66% (systolic blood pressure) and 21.33% (diastolic blood pressure) among stage I hypertensives and 13.33% (systolic blood pressure and 27.66% (diastolic blood pressure) among stage II hypertensives. With biochemical risk factor profiles, prevalence rates of 37.00 % for impaired fasting blood glucose and 0.66% for mild hyperglycaemia were documented. CONCLUSION There was high prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases across all age groups and between both sexes in the district. This provides an indication of the disease burden in future. This calls for an immediate action for prevention and control through initiation of lifestyle modification and health promotion programmes that emphasise healthy behaviours in the District

Source: KNUST
An assessment of working capital management practices at Obuoba Group Limited, Nkawkaw

The main aim of this study is to assess the working capital practices of Obuoba Group Limited and determine whether such practices conform to the conventional working capital practices; which offer competitive advantage, as expounded in other literatures on this same topic. The study is purely qualitative in nature so the descriptive and exploratory designs were used. The case study research strategy was used in this study. The sample for the study comprises six (6) top officers of the company who were sampled using the purposive or judgemental sampling technique. The semi-structured interview was used to gather the data for this study which were subsequently categorised into sub-groups with similar themes. The themes were linked and inferences drawn to arrive at the conclusions made in this study. The results from the study highlighted that the kind of working capital policies adopted for an entity depends on the nature of business of that entity. As a result different policies were in place for the different Divisions of the company. The findings from the study show that working capital management practices at Obuoba Group Limited in many aspects conformed to the conventional working capital management. However, there were few deviations especially in the area of investment of its surplus cash. Consequently, it is recommended that the company should start investing in risk free securities like the treasury bills to boost the profits of the company. It was also recommended that training workshops should be organised for its personnel to prepare the grounds for the implementation of computerised accounting system which comes with numerous benefits to an organisation than the manual system.

Source: KNUST
Assessment of weight loss programmes in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Weight loss markets have grown rapidly and have given rise to opportunities for weight loss consultants due to a high level of public awareness and the growing rates of obesity. There are different interventions now realised with weight loss industries today. They may be fitness centres or weight loss consultants or companies who attend to their clients by the introduction of supplements and other health foods. The study sought to assess the weight loss programmes in the Kumasi metropolis. The assessment was limited to the level of public awareness of the weight loss programmes in the Kumasi metropolis and the various interventions in the industry leading to healthy weight loss. The study also sought to identify challenges with weight loss programmes in Kumasi. The convenience sampling technique was used. The study was designed to collect data from 204 registered members but the findings presented were based on 155 respondents from the selected fitness centres and weight loss firms. The majority had a fair knowledge about the gym, weight loss companies, dieting, and some other weight loss programmes. It was realised that certain factors such as motivation, improvement in weight status, and other benefits from the programme such as optimal health and youthfulness, highly influenced one's participation in a particular programme. It was also realised that pricing and programme packaging also influenced the level of patronage. Though all the programmes result in some weight loss especially within the first three months, the gym seemed to have caught the attention of the masses due to its exceeding benefits.

Source: KNUST
Assignment of Vehicles to Routes by Latex Foam Rubber Products Limited-Kumasi

In this thesis we focus on a decision model for a real world problem. The problem reveals itself as assignment of vehicles to routes by Latex Foam Rubber Products Limited-Kumasi. This study addresses the problem of finding efficient assignments of the limited number of trucks at the company’s disposal to the routes they ply while serving the company’s customers outside the metropolis. The thesis seeks to minimize the total number of gallons of fuel needed for the assignments using the Munkres Assignment algorithm, a modified form of Kuhn’s Hungarian algorithm.

Source: KNUST
Association of genetic variants with prostate cancer in Africa: a concise review

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where the genetic contribution has been documented, and knowledge about the molecular genetics of the disease is increasing. However, the extent and aspects to which genetic variants explain PCa heritability in Africa are limited. Main body: In this review, we summarize studies that highlight how identified genetic variants explain differences in PCa incidence and presentation across ethnic groups. We also present the knowledge gaps in PCa genetics in Africa and why Africa represents an untapped potential ground for genetic studies on PCa. A significant number of genome-wide association studies, linkage, and fine-mapping analyses have been conducted globally, and that explains 30–33% of PCa heritability. The African ancestry has a significant mention in PCa incidence and presentation. To date, the candidate gene approach has replicated 23 polymorphisms including dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats in 16 genes. CYP17-rs743572, CYP3A4-rs2740574, CYP3A5-rs776746, CYP3A43-rs501275, and haplotype blocks, containing these variants, are significantly associated with PCa among some population groups but not others. With the few existing studies, the extent of genetic diversity in Africa suggests that genetic associations of PCa to African ancestry go beyond nucleotide sequence polymorphisms, to a level of environmental adaptation, which may interpret genetic risk profiles. Also, the shreds of evidence suggest that evolutionary history contributes to the high rates of PCa relative to African ancestry, and genetic associations do not always replicate across populations. Conclusion: The genetic architecture of PCa in Africa provides important contributions to the global understanding of PCa specifically the African-ancestry hypothesis. There is a need for more prostate cancer consortiums to justify the heritable certainties of PCa among Africans, and emphasis should be placed on the genetic epidemiological model of PCa in Africa.

Source: KNUST
Association between exposure to organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes among children under five years old in Offinso north district of Ashanti region, Ghana.

Pesticide use for agricultural purposes in Ghana has increased over the years with its related health threats to farmers, people living around farming communities as well as the environment due to unsafe handling practices and application. This cross-sectional study conducted at three farming communities in Offinso North District of Ashanti Region, Ghana was aimed at assessing the association between exposure to organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides and neurobehavioral outcomes defined as attention, rule-breaking, social behavior and aggressiveness. The target population was children under five years old. Questionnaire data on exposure practices and child behaviors as well as urine samples were taken for analyses, from 170 children whose parents were vegetable farmers. Majority of the children, 61.18% had contact with pesticide contaminated surfaces at home, 69.41% places thumbs/ fingers in the mouth and 84.29% places contaminated objects in the mouth. In the farm, 55.29% of the children had contact with pesticide contaminated surfaces, 61.76% places thumbs/ fingers in the mouth and 54.12% places contaminated objects in their mouths. There were also significant levels of pesticide residues of five organochlorines and one pyrethroid in their urines. The mean residual concentration of gamma-HCH found was 3.09μg/l (SD = 0.77μg/l); beta-HCH = 2.89μg/l (SD = 0.64μg/l); delta-HCH = 2.42μg/l (SD = 0.43μg/l); heptachlor = 3.55μg/l (SD = 0.90μg/l); lambda cyhalothrin = 3.11μg/l (SD = 0.69μg/l). There was no significant association found between urinary pesticide residues and neurobehavioral outcomes. However, there were significant inverse associations between exposure indicators at home, in the farm or both and Attention, Rule-Breaking, Social behavior and Aggressiveness with the association being strongest among children aged between 3 to 4 years.

Source: KNUST
Asssesing the effectiveness and impact of agricultural water management interventions: the case of small reservoirs in northern Ghana

Agricultural water management, particularly management of multi-purpose small reservoirs (SRs) in drier sa vanna areas of the northern Ghana, is being promoted as a key solution to improve agricultural production, enhance food security and livelihoods of smallholder farm households. However, little empirical evidence exist on how effective these small water infrastructures are in terms of delivering multiple benefits and their impact on the livelihood of smallholder farmers. This study assessed the effectiveness and impact of the small reservoirs on smallholder vegetable farmers in northern Ghana. A participatory rating method using a 5-point Likert-scale was used to assess the effectiveness of SRs in delivering multiple livelihood benefits and an endogenous switching regression model was applied to assess the SRs’ impact using a primary data collected from 328 randomly sampled vegetable farmers. Results from the Likert scale analysis show that most of the SRs are either dysfunctional or underutilized and not effective in delivering multiple benefits. Results from the endogenous switching regression model show that there is only about 3% increase in the income of vegetable farmers participating in irrigated vegetable production using SRs against the counterfactual situation but this change is insignificant statistically. The current low level effectiveness and impact of SRs could be enhanced by improving their management, for example, through the provision of incentive mechanisms such as subsidies to the private sector involvement in rehabilitation, management and irrigation service provision and strengthening the ca pacity of existing water users associations. Furthermore, small reserviors should be recognized not only as water sources for small scale irrigation but also as providers of multiple livelihood benefits to local communities and consequently should attract due attention in public resource allocation in their rehabilitation and management/ institutional capacity building.

Source: KNUST
Association of metabolic syndrome with the risk of developing liver disease in chronic hepatitis B patients

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolic parameter that increases ones risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Metabolic profiles have been linked to progression of varying stages of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B infection. The main objective of this prospective cross sectional study was to establish a link between metabolic syndrome indicators and markers of progression of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B infection. This could provide data leading to an alternative to managing the complications of chronic hepatitis B infection by possibly targeting metabolic precursors and their pathways which will be more targeting, sensitive and has minimal treatment complications than the conventional treatment regimes. In all, 200 chronic hepatitis B patients were sampled of which 100 met the United State National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III (US NCEP ATP III) 2005 criterion for metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric data and biochemistry analysis were performed. Obesity and dyslipidemia markers except HDL were higher in metabolic syndrome while haematological makers except WBC were lower in metabolic syndrome. Markers of liver carcinogenesis were generally higher in metabolic syndrome and strongly associated (p=0.01) with initial hepatocellular necrosis and cirrhosis stages of liver carcinogenesis than the intermediary fibrosis stages suggesting virologic mechanism may be responsible more for the fibrosis than metabolic factors. Metabolic syndrome was associated with the developing of various hepatitis B related liver complications. A long term study to elucidate viral genomic and dietary contributions to liver complications due to hepatitis B is necessary.

Source: KNUST
Association of Household Savings and Expected Future Means with Delivery Using a Skilled Birth Attendant in Ghana and Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Objectives: This study examined the association between household savings and related economic measures with utilization of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at last birth among women living in peri-urban households (n = 381) in Ghana and Nigeria. Methods Data were drawn from the 2011–2014 Family Health and Wealth Study. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of delivery with an SBA for individual and composite measures of household savings, expected financial means, debt, lending, and receipt of financial assistance, adjusting for demographic and reproductive characteristics. Results Seventy-three percent (73 %) of women delivered with an SBA during their last birth (89 %, Ghana; 63 %, Nigeria), and roughly one third (34 %) of households reported having any in-cash or in kind savings. In adjusted analyses, women living in households with savings were significantly more likely to deliver with an SBA compared to women in households without any savings (aOR = 2.02, 95 % CI 1.09–3.73). There was also a consistent downward trend, although non significant, in SBA utilization with worsening financial expectations in the coming year (somewhat vs. much better: aOR = 0.70, 95 % CI 0.40–1.22 and no change/worse vs. much better: aOR = 0.46, 95 % CI 0.12–1.83). Findings were null for measures relating to debt, lending, and financial assistance. Conclusion Coupling birth preparedness and complication readiness strategies with savings-led initiatives may improve SBA utilization in conjunction with targeting non-economic barriers to skilled care use.

Source: KNUST
Associations of financial inclusion with physical activity participation in later life

Physical activity (PA) is a vital modifiable psychosocial intervention for promoting healthy longevity but problematically decreases with age. Innovative community-based strategies are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve PA but prior research has seldom considered the interactive effect of financial inclusion, social networks, and sex differences on PA. In this study, we examine the role of sex differ ences and resourceful social networks in relation to the association of financial inclusion with PA among older Ghanaian people. Methods: The sample included 1201 adults aged 50 years who participated in the 2016-17 AgeHeaPsyWel HeaSeeB study. We assessed financial inclusion with an eight-item Financial Instrument Questionnaire Scale and PA with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Linear regressions and moderation analysis were used to test the hypothesized associations. Results: The mean financial inclusion and PA scores were 1.9( 1.8) and 9.0( 4.4) respectively. After full adjustment for potential confounders, a unit increase in financial inclusion was significantly and positively associated with increases in PA participation (β ¼ .308, p < .005) and also notable among those aged 65 years (β¼ .413, p ¼ .023). Crucially, the positive association between financial inclusion and PA was significantly modified by social networks (β ¼ .151, p < .001). However, the role of sex in this association was not robust. Conclusions: Findings emphasize the effect of financial inclusion on PA in old age, particularly when considering social networks. Programs to improve financial inclusion and social integration may benefit the acceptance andparticipation of PA among older adults.

Source: KNUST
Association between Health insurance and prescribing pattern of Antibiotics in Mampong Municipality

Antibiotics constitute the mainstay of modern health care delivery (Park et al 2005). They play a significant role in disease prevention and treatment in both developed and developing countries in spite of advances in medical science and technology. As essential medicines, they enhance the reduction of morbidity and mortality thus improving health care outcomes and the quality of life. Although they have been described as part of the greatest blessings of modern medicine, antibiotics inappropriate use poses danger to humanity (Radyowijati and Haak, 2002). Over utilization of antibiotics has become a major challenge to health care delivery globally (WHO/HAI, 2011). It has been cited as accounting for numerous global health care problems including increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance and increasing health care bill (Razon et al 2001). The increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance in previously susceptible micro-organism due to over prescription of antibiotics has been described as a threat not only to patient safety and quality of care, but also national security and global stability (WHO/HAI, 2011). Moreover, resistance to antibiotics is a major problem globally thus requiring international as well as national efforts to counteract the emergence of resistance (Davey et al., 2008).

Source: KNUST