ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Role of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Tackling the Problem of Street Children in Ghana

The problem of street children in our societies is very alarming. The ratification of international conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and other formulated domestic laws clearly illustrate Ghana’s attempts to tackle the issue of street children. UNICEF, since 1953, has been the permanent organ of the United Nations, charged with responsibility for children all around the world. This study looks at the role of UNICEF in collaborating with the government of Ghana and other stakeholders to tackle the challenge of street children in Ghana. The objectives of the study are to find out UNICEF’s role in addressing the problem of street children in Ghana, to find out how Ghana has fared in implementing policies as measured by UNICEF, how street children have benefitted and finally, why Ghana continually records increasing numbers of street children despite being the first country in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The study employs a qualitative research approach through semi-structured interviews to answer the research questions. The dissertation further discusses the activities of street children NGOs and the Department of Social Welfare in addressing child protection issues. Some key findings of the study were; UNICEF, in the past, had tried to address the “Kayayei” phenomenon which was then emerging as a new entrant to the street children phenomenon. The perplexing outcome of their intervention informed UNICEF’s subsequent approach of adopting a systems-strengthening model (strengthening child protection systems on the whole), instead of the previous issues-based model (addressing individual child protection issues). Also, the issue of street children has been overlooked by the government of Ghana for so many years which explains why the problem has currently become uncontrollable. To add, Ghana has some of the best governing laws and policies, but implementation has always been the challenge. Key recommendations arrived at include; strengthening the extended family structure, improving the socio-economic standards of families, and setting up special schools for children who are already in street situations in order to train them with skillsets required in key sectors of the Ghanaian economy such as agriculture, technical, and vocational skills, so as to harness their potential and improve their contributions to society.

Source: UG
A study on amoebiasis as an opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
A study on improving employees’ behaviour towards increasing students’ loyalty: The mediating role of need understanding, service quality, and intimacy among students in Kenya

During the past few years, there have been various studies on the relationship between academic behavior, teaching and student retention but not much has been on administration staff and students. This study examined improving employees’ behavioural factors towards increasing students' loyalty. The paper explores the direct mediation and indirect mediation of employee behavioural factors leading to build student loyalty. More specifically the focus is on the constructs of service quality (SQLTY), need understanding (NEEDUND), intimacy (INTIMACY), and student loyalty (STLOY). This study depended on a positivist research paradigm. In this study, over 800 structured questionnaires were administered for research subjects. However, 743 were captured for the final analysis. The analytical tool used in this study is the ADANCO 2.0.1 software and in terms of statistical processing, the PLS-SEM technique was utilized. The two main takeaways from the direct relationships are that INTIMACY is a strong predictor of STLOY, and NEEDUND is also a strong predictor of SQLTY. The indirect mediations of INTIMACY on SQLTY and STLOY, INTIMACY on NEEDUND and STLOY, and SQLTY on NEEDUND and INTIMACY were all not supported. The study, like any academic work, has limitations. Despite these limitations, this study offers theoretical as well as practical values for the research community and administrators of universities and higher education administrators as a whole. For administrators of the universities and the higher education, the study points out the critical needs for administrators to better understand students’ loyalty and behaviours of employees during the service encounter, which could lead to intimacy and eventually student loyalty. The present study is innovated by quantitatively examining how the above mentioned behavioural factors of employees could lead to INTIMACY and STLOY.

Source: UG
A study on the provocative day test effect of ivermectin and albendazole on nocturnal periodic wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia.

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
Studying HIV / AIDS and related issues of prostitution and death

The African AIDS epidemic gave rise to a need for new methods of research and for modifications to existing methods because of the great sensitivity of the subject. The sensitivity stemmed from the fact that in sub-Saharan Africa, the main mode of transmission of the disease is heterosexual relations. Meanwhile, traditional society attempted to ensure that betrothed girls went to their husbands as virgins and that wives remained sexually faithful. Thus, a woman infected with AIDS was, and is still taken to be an accusation of prostitution and a man infected was regard ed as promiscuous. The triad of AIDS, prostitution and promiscuity made the issue even more sensitive and raised many ethical, political and legal concerns when studying them. Thankfully, the AIDS epidemic led to apprehension of infection, and, on the part of many people who feel they may be in danger, to a desire to discuss modes of trans mission and risks even if it does mean divulging why they feel they are at risk and the nature of that risk. It has thus become possible to research the social context of AIDS and the related issues of prostitution and even death. The challenges, ethical and methodological issues involved in studying such sensitive topics have been explored. We further explore what it means to investigate Ghanaian women engaged in prostitution, the experiences of HIV / AIDS patients, their carers and how they perceive their deaths. We argue that in order to achieve the aim of the study, the processes and the methods involved in collecting the data are critical and must be undertaken by experienced researchers. Strict anonymity and confidentiality must be observed and community interest and excitement must be kept to a minimum by not taking the whole community into confidence. In addition, the authors reflect on the emotions involved when researching into the issues. The authors make suggestions for reducing the emotions inherent in studying sensitive issues.

Source: UG
Sub-acute toxicity of a hydro-ethanolic whole plant extract of Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn in rats

Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn (family Asteraceae) is traditionally used in Ghana for the management of epilepsy, hiccup and threatened abortion. The anticonvulsant and other related neuro-pharmacological effects of a hydro-ethanolic extract in murine models have been established. To this end, we evaluated a sub-acute toxicity of the hydro-ethanolic whole plant extract in rats. The effects of a continuous 14-day oral administration of the extract (100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg) on haematological and serum biochemical parameters were measured. The extract produced no mortality in the rats treated during the study period. The extract also did not significantly affect any of the haematological and serum biochemical indices measured. This result suggests that a 14-day oral administration of the hydro-ethanolic extract of Synedrella nodiflora is relatively safe in Sprague-Dawley male rats under the present laboratory conditions.

Source: UG
Sub-genotype phylogeny of the non-G, non-P genes of genotype 2 Rotavirus A strains

The main research focus of the Electron Microscopy and Histopathology Department in the past 20 years has been in the areas of enteric diarrhoeas with special emphasis on rotavirus. Through its diarrhoea surveillance studies, the Department has helped to firmly establish rotaviruses as a major cause of diarrhoea in children, and document the circulation of unusual rotavirus genotypes in Ghana. The Department has also recently expanded its diagnostic repertoire to include the identification and characterization of noroviruses, astroviruses, and other enteric viruses.

Source: UG
Sub-microscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections in matched peripheral, placental and umbilical cord blood samples from asymptomatic Congolese women at delivery

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
Sub-Sahara Africa and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reflecting on Challenges and Recovery Opportunities

How has Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) experienced the COVID-19 pandemic? This article seeks to examine the challenges faced by a region that was earlier expected to be the epicenter of the pandemic. The study identifies three critical stages that pose challenges for governments and development partners operating in SSA try ing to avoid mass infections and the subsequent negative socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. First, the article begins by examining the challenges experienced in restraining the spread of COVID-19 such as the lack of adequate resources and technology to effectively pursue contact tracing, the dilemma of implementing lockdowns, and the impact of fake news. Second, the article looks at the challenges arising from technical and capacity elements of testing, treatment, and the development and access to vaccines. Finally, the study examines the potential obstacles to a smooth post-COVID-19 recovery. The author argues that although some positive actions have been taken by governments in SSA during the pandemic, the challenges that are emerging as a result of the direct and indirect impacts of the disease cannot be overlooked. The authors therefore offer several recommendations that can guide policy responses against pandemics in the short and long-run.

Source: UG
Subchronic toxicity studies of cocoa pod husk pectin intended as a pharmaceutical excipient in Sprague Dawley rats

Context: Excipients play a key role in the quality of medicines and contribute to viable delivery systems. This has intensified the search for new natural polymer pharmaceutical excipients. Cocoa pod husks (CPHs) are a rich source of pectin. A study of CPH pectin showed that it possesses the requisite physicochemical properties to be employed as a multi-functional pharmaceutical excipient. However, the safety of this natural polymer has not been evaluated. Aims: To conduct sub-chronic toxic effects of CPH pectin in Sprague Dawley rats to assess its safety as a pharmaceutical grade excipient. Methods: CPH pectin at doses of 0.714, 7.14, and 71.4 mg/kg were administered to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats by oral gavage over a 90-day period. Parameters assessed were food and water intake, urinalysis, serum biochemistry, wet organ weights, histopathology and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. Results: CPH pectin at the orally administered doses had no significant effects on feed and water intake nor on biochemical parameters, except elevations in alkaline phosphatase at the medium and high dose in the female rat. There were also reductions in creatine kinase in both male and female rats at the medium dose after 60 days, suggesting a potential cardioprotective effect of CPH pectin. Conclusions: There were no adverse effects of CPH pectin on the kidneys, wet organ weights and histopathology of the rat tissues. Subchronic administration of cocoa pod husk pectin therefore, has no significant toxic effects. © 2018 Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research.

Source: UG
Subchronic toxicity studies of the antidiabetic herbal preparation ADD-199 in the rat: Absence of organ toxicity and modulation of cytochrome P450

The Clinical Pathology Department conducts research that contributes to intervention strategies and safeguards of public health in Ghana. In view of this the Department carries out research into plant medicine development, drug interactions and regulation, bio-monitoring and prevention of poisoning from environmental toxicants (e.g. mycotoxins specifically aflatoxins and toxic heavy metals). The Department also provides specialized laboratory services in support of public health programmes.

Source: UG
Subclinical mastitis is common among ghanaian women lactating 3 to 4 months postpartum

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is an asymptomatic inflammation of mammary tissue and has been associated with lactation failure, suboptimal growth in early infancy, and increased risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV via breast milk. A rapid survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of SCM among lactating Ghanaian women between 3 and 4 months postpartum. Bilateral breast milk samples were obtained from 117 lactating women in Manya Krobo, Ghana and analyzed for sodium (Na) and potassium (K). An elevated sodium/potassium ratio (Na/K) above 1.0 was considered indicative of SCM. Overall, SCM prevalence was observed among 45.3% of the women. About 30% of the women had unilateral SCM. Na/K was associated with maternal age. The high SCM prevalence in Manya Krobo suggests the need for lactation support to reduce SCM and the risk of poor infant outcomes. © 2008 Sage Publications.

Source: UG
Subcutaneous basidiobolomycosis: A Case Report

Basidiobolomycosis is an uncommon chronic deep fungal infection in which gradually enlarging granulomas form, usually in the subcutaneous fat tissues of the limbs, chest or trunk of immunocompetent hosts, primarily children and young adults. It is caused by the fungus Basidiobolus ranarum. Definitive diagnosis is by microscopy and histopathology. Effective treatments include ketoconazole, itraconazole, potassium iodide and co-trimoxazole. A 3 year old girl presented with ulcerations on the right thigh for one month, and painful swelling of the right leg and right buttock for six months. The right lower limb and vulva were swollen, tender and hard with hyperpigmentation and inguinal lymphadenopathy. She had severe anaemia, eosinophilia and negative serology for HIV I and II. Histopathological examination showed a dermal chronic granulomatous infiltrate with fungal hyphae and yeast forms suggestive of Basidiobolus ranarum. There was marked reduction in right leg size and inguinal lymphadenopathy after several weeks of oral itraconazole, and complete healing of ulcers after 10 weeks. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of this disfiguring condition which is treatable but, if not correctly diagnosed, could result in inappropriate interventions such as amputation and anti-coagulant therapy.

Source: UG
Subcutaneous basidiobolomycosis: A Case Report.

Basidiobolomycosis is an uncommon chronic deep fungal infection in which gradually enlarging granulomas form, usually in the subcutaneous fat tissues of the limbs, chest or trunk of immunocompetent hosts, primarily children and young adults. It is caused by the fungus Basidiobolus ranarum. Definitive diagnosis is by microscopy and histopathology. Effective treatments include ketoconazole, itraconazole, potassium iodide and co-trimoxazole. A 3 year old girl presented with ulcerations on the right thigh for one month, and painful swelling of the right leg and right buttock for six months. The right lower limb and vulva were swollen, tender and hard with hyperpigmentation and inguinal lymphadenopathy. She had severe anaemia, eosinophilia and negative serology for HIV I and II. Histopathological examination showed a dermal chronic granulomatous infiltrate with fungal hyphae and yeast forms suggestive of Basidiobolus ranarum. There was marked reduction in right leg size and inguinal lymphadenopathy after several weeks of oral itraconazole, and complete healing of ulcers after 10 weeks. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of this disfiguring condition which is treatable but, if not correctly diagnosed, could result in inappropriate interventions such as amputation and anti-coagulant therapy. Funding: None declared Keywords: Deep fungal infection, basidiobolomycosis, itraconazole, chronic ulcer, leg swelling

Source: UG
Subduction-driven heterogeneity of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Cathaysia block, South China

To evaluate the modification of the lithospheric mantle by the Paleo-Pacific Ocean subduction beneath the Cathaysia block, we report major and trace elements, and Li isotopes of olivine from Niutoushan, Mingxi, Xilong and Jiande peridotite xenoliths in South China. Spoon-shaped, convex-upward and highly LREE-enriched chondrite-normalized REE patterns of clinopyroxene in the Niutoushan, Mingxi and Xilong xenoliths reflect the interplay between partial melting and subsequent enrichment by metasomatism. Lithium isotope systematics indicate that at least two different metasomatic events affected these peridotites. High Li concentrations in clinopyroxene (up to 59.1 ppm) are ascribed to diffusive Li influx from silicate melts. Olivine grains with lower diffusivity of Li have much higher Li concentrations (0.56–9.76 ppm) and lighter δ7Li values (−52.75 to +10.49‰) than those in the Jiande and other peridotite xenoliths worldwide, showing a prominent carbonatitemetasomatic signature occurring before silicate metasomatism. In addition, increasing Li concentrations of olivine and clinopyroxene with increasing distance from the present subduction trench is consistent with those of low δ26Mg basalts in South China, indicating that the metasomatic agent was related to the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab. The Jiande lherzolite xenoliths further away from the trench show ‘mantle-like’ Li features and may represent upwelling asthenospheric materials accreted to the continent. Therefore, both types of metasomatism as well as upwelling asthenosphere could have played an important role in the modification of the chemical composition of the mantle beneath the Cathaysia block

Source: UG
Subduction-induced mantle heterogeneity beneath Eastern Tianshan and Beishan: Insights from Nd-Sr-Hf-O isotopic mapping of Late Paleozoic mafic-ultramafic complexes

Extensive late Paleozoic mafic-ultramafic complexes in the Eastern Tianshan and Beishan regions in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) represent an ideal opportunity to assess the characteristics of the mantle in this area. Whole-rock Nd-Sr and zircon Hf-O isotopic data from the mafic-ultramafic complexes of the Jueluotage Belt, Middle Tianshan Massif and Beishan Rift were compiled for isotopic mapping. ε Nd(t) and ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) i values range from +5.5 to +9.5 and 0.702 to 0.706 respectively in the Jueluotage Belt, and from -2 to +11 and 0.703 to 0.710 respectively in the Middle Tianshan and Beishan. Zircon ε Hf (t) and δ 18O values are in the range of +6.0-+17.0 and 4.14%-8.00% respectively in the Jueluotage Belt, +1-+8 and 5.17%-6.30% respectively in the Middle Tianshan, and show large variations of -1-+17 and 4%-12% respectively in the Beishan. Spatially, the ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) i ratios of mafic-ultramafic complexes increase from the Jueluotage Belt and Beishan to the Middle Tianshan, while the ε Nd(t) values show an opposite trend and reflect a mixing character between depleted mantle and EM-II reservoirs. Zircon ε Hf (t) and δ 18O values exhibit an apparent southward decreasing and increasing trends respectively, from the Jueluotage Belt, through Middle Tianshan, to Beishan Rift. Their corresponding Hf model ages increase continuously from north to south. These observations demonstrate that the mantle sources beneath the Eastern Tianshan and Beishan are compositionally heterogeneous, which presumably result from significant and variable degrees of subduction-related modification. We therefore suggest that the late Paleozoic subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Jueluotage Belt was modified by slab-derived melts and fluids during the subduction of the Junggar Ocean, whereas the mantle beneath the Beishan Rift was influenced mainly by slab-derived fluids during the subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean. The unique similarities of the Middle Tianshan mafic-ultramafic complexes reflect a two-stage modification of their mantle source, namely the sequential subduction of the early South Tianshan Ocean, followed by subduction of the Junggar Ocean. Thus, the subduction-induced mantle heterogeneity beneath the CAOB is probably regional in scope. © 2011 Elsevier B.V..

Source: UG
Subgingival bacteria in Ghanaian adolescents with or without progression of attachment loss

Objective: This study describes subgingival bacterial profiles associated with clinical periodontal status in Ghanaian adolescents with or without progression of attachment loss. Materials and methods: Among 500 adolescents included in a cohort study, 397 returned 2 years later for a periodontal re-examination, including full-mouth CAL measurements. At follow-up, a subgroup of 98 adolescents was also subjected to bacterial sampling with paper points at four periodontal sites (mesial aspect of 11, 26, 31, and 46) and analyzed with the checkerboard DNA - DNA hybridization technique against DNA-probes from nine periodontitis-associated bacterial species. Results: The 98 Ghanaian adolescents examined in the present study were similar to the entire group examined at the 2-year follow-up with respect to age, gender, and CAL > 3 mm. A high detection frequency of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia (> 99%) using checkerboard analysis was found, while for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans the detection frequency was < 50%. A strong correlation was found at the individual level between the presence of P. intermedia and the total CAL change, and P. intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis were strongly correlated with a change in CAL and probing pocket depth (PPD) at the sampled sites. In a linear regression model, a significant discriminating factor for the total CAL change in the dentition during the 2-year follow-up period was obtained for P. intermedia and public school. Conclusion: This study indicates that subgingival bacterial species other than A. actinomycetemcomitans, for example, P. intermedia, have a significant association with periodontal breakdown (change in CAL) in Ghanaian adolescents with progression of periodontal attachment loss. © 2014 Gunnar Dahlén et al.

Source: UG