ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Community response to intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in infants (IPTi) delivered through the expanded programme of immunization in five African settings.

BACKGROUND: IPTi delivered through EPI has been shown to reduce the incidence of clinical malaria by 20-59%. However, new health interventions can only be effective if they are also socially and culturally acceptable. It is also crucial to ensure that attitudes to IPTi do not negatively influence attitudes to and uptake of immunization, or that people do not misunderstand IPTi as immunization against malaria and neglect other preventive measures or delay treatment seeking. METHODS: These issues were studied in five African countries in the context of clinical trials and implementation studies of IPTi. Mixed methods were used, including structured questionnaires (1,296), semi-structured interviews (168), in-depth interviews (748) and focus group discussions (95) with mothers, fathers, health workers, community members, opinion leaders, and traditional healers. Participant observation was also carried out in the clinics. RESULTS: IPTi was widely acceptable because it resonated with existing traditional preventive practices and a general concern about infant health and good motherhood. It also fit neatly within already widely accepted routine vaccination. Acceptance and adherence were further facilitated by the hierarchical relationship between health staff and mothers and by the fact that clinic attendance had a social function for women beyond acquiring health care. Type of drug and regimen were important, with newer drugs being seen as more effective, but potentially also more dangerous. Single dose infant formulations delivered in the clinic seem to be the most likely to be both acceptable and adhered to. There was little evidence that IPTi per se had a negative impact on attitudes to EPI or that it had any affect on EPI adherence. There was also little evidence of IPTi having a negative impact on health seeking for infants with febrile illness or existing preventive practices. CONCLUSION: IPTi is generally acceptable across a wide range of settings in Africa and involving different drugs and regimens, though there is a strong preference for a single dose infant formulation. IPTi does not appear to have any negative effect on attitudes to EPI, and it is not interpreted as immunization against malaria.

Source: UG
Community service for misdemeanours in Accra: Preferences of offenders, victims, judiciary and community members.

Taking religiosity into account, the study explored preferences for community service sentencing by victims, offenders, judiciary, and community members from Accra, Ghana. One hundred and ninety respondents were sampled (females = 38.42%, offenders = 5.26%, victims = 58.95%, law enforcement = 10.52%, members of the Judiciary = 4.74%, and general community members = 65.26%). They responded to the Attitude Towards Community Service Questionnaire, and the data were analysed utilising ANOVA between group difference tests. Offenders expressed a higher preference for community sentencing than victims and members of the judiciary. Religion aligned participants supported community sentencing. Community sentencing seems a preferred sentencing option by a cross section of Ghanaian community members for adult non-violent offenders.

Source: UG
Community service providers’ roles in supporting communication disability rehabilitation in Majority World contexts: An example from Ghana

Purpose: In Majority World countries, where speech-language pathology services are extremely limited, people with communication disabilities may seek help from a range of 3 service providers. This qualitative research aimed to explore the nature of community services offered to people with communication disabilities who seek help in Accra, Ghana. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine individuals from three professions: pastors (3), doctors (3), and herbalists (3) exploring services that they may offer to PWCD seeking help. Interviews were analysed using Thematic Network Analysis. Result: Six global themes described beliefs about communication disability, types of intervention, explanations provided to people with communication disabilities, promoting communication, processes for selecting treatments, and links between service providers. Interventions encompassed physical, spiritual, psychosocial and environmental approaches, with the notion of plural beliefs interwoven through a number of themes. Conclusion: In Ghana, and other Majority World contexts, service providers in sectors not commonly associated with communication disability rehabilitation may have important roles to play in supporting people with communication disabilities. Understanding the contributions of other service providers may assist the growing profession of speech language pathology to collaborate across sectors, to develop specific, culturally responsive approaches to service development.

Source: UG
Community service providers' roles in supporting communication disability rehabilitation in Majority World contexts: An example from Ghana

Purpose: In Majority World countries, where speech-language pathology services are extremely limited, people with communication disabilities (PWCD) may seek help from a range of service providers. This qualitative research aimed to explore the nature of community services offered to people with communication disabilities who seek help in Accra, Ghana. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine individuals from three professions: pastors (3), doctors (3), and herbalists (3) exploring services that they may offer to PWCD seeking help. Interviews were analysed using Thematic Network Analysis. Result: Six global themes described beliefs about communication disability, types of intervention, explanations provided to people with communication disabilities, promoting communication, processes for selecting treatments, and links between service providers. Interventions encompassed physical, spiritual, psychosocial and environmental approaches, with the notion of plural beliefs interwoven through a number of themes. Conclusion: In Ghana, and other Majority World contexts, service providers in sectors not commonly associated with communication disability rehabilitation may have important roles to play in supporting people with communication disabilities. Understanding the contributions of other service providers may assist the growing profession of speech-language pathology to collaborate across sectors, to develop specific, culturally responsive approaches to service development.

Source: UG
Community vulnerability assessment index for flood prone savannah agro-ecological zone: A case study of Wa West District, Ghana

The savannah regions of Northern Ghana are characterized by small holder farming systems and high levels of poverty. Over the past two decades, communities in the regions have become more prone to climate and human-induced disasters in the form of annual floods and droughts. This study evaluates the degree and magnitude of vulnerability in four communities subjected to similar climate change induced flood events and propose intervention options. The study employs rural participatory research approaches in developing four vulnerability categories namely socio-economic, ecological, engineering and political; whichwereusedtodevelopindicatorsthataidedthecalculationoftotalcommunityvulner-ability index for each community. The findings indicate that the state of a community’s vulnerability to flood is a composite effect of the four-vulnerability index categories which may act independently or concurrently to produce the net effect. Based on a synthesis of total vulnerability obtained in each community, Baleufili was found to be the least vulnerable to flood due to its high scores in engineering, socio-economic and political vulnerability indicators. Baleufili and Bankpama were the most ecologically vulnerable communities. These lections of vulnerability index categories and associated indicators were grounded in specific local peculiarities that evolved out of engagement with community stakeholders and expert knowledge of the socio ecological land scape. Thus, the Total Community Vulnerability Assessment Framework (TCVAF) provides an effective decision support for identifying communities’ vulnerability status and help to design both short- and long-term interventions options that are community specific as a way of enhancing their coping and adaptive capacity to disasters.

Source: UG
Community, cohesion and context: Agrarian development and religion in eastern region, ghana

The role of community based dynamics in successful agrarian development is considered through comparing two neighbouring villages in Ghana, with similar agro-ecological conditions and market access: one, Gyedi, is a religious community and the other, Apaa, is not. While the direct role of religion in promoting agrarian development is limited, interaction with extension staff in Gyedi enables farmers to avoid problems characteristic of smallholder realities in Africa in general. Skills intensive technologies and internal market co-ordination promoted by community cohesion are key explanations for diverging development trajectories. The role of tenancy arrangements in diverging trajectories, pointing to the potential challenges for pro-poor agricultural growth strategies in other settings. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Source: UG
Community-based cluster surveys on treatment preferences for diarrhoea, severe diarrhoea, and dysentery in children aged less than five years in two districts of Ghana.

Hospital-based surveillance for severe diarrhoea has been recommended to assess the burden of disease due to rotavirus. However, information on healthcare-seeking patterns of residents in the hospital catchment area is needed first to obtain the burden of disease in the community using the hospital data. A community-based cluster survey was conducted in two districts of Ghana, each served by a single district hospital, to determine the prevalence of severe diarrhoea among and treatment preferences for children aged less than five years. Caretakers of 619 children in Tema, an urban district, and caretakers of 611 children in Akwapim South, a rural district, were interviewed. During the month preceding the survey, the prevalence of severe diarrhoea in children aged less than five years was similar in the two districts (13.6% urban and 12.9% rural), as was the proportion of mothers who sought care outside the home (69.0% urban and 70.9% rural). 48.8% of urban mothers of children with severe diarrhoea visited public/private clinics, 9.5% pharmacies, and 3.6% the district hospital. Whereas, 22.8% of rural mothers visited public/private clinics, 19.0% pharmacies, and 13.9% the district hospital. Results of the study suggest that rotavirus surveillance should be guided by community studies on healthcare-use patterns. Where hospital use is low for severe diarrhoea, rotavirus surveillance should include other health facilities.

Source: UG
Community-based Conservation in Ghana: A Case of Local Management of the Afadjato and Agumasta Conservation Area in Ghana

This chapter analyses how people living in the Afadjato and Agumatsa Conservation Area, a globally Important Bird Area, can effectively be involved to attain conservation objectives by local people under the Afadjato-Agumatsa Community Forest Conservation Project (AACFCP). Consequently, I assessed the perceptions and attitudes of local people towards conservation vis-a-vis the importance of the site to local people, the role of the people living in the surrounding villages in the conservation of the site, and the expectations of local people in terms of benefits. Individual interviews using semi-structured questionnaires and group discussions were held to collect information on local people’s perceptions and attitudes in five major villages. The results were analysed using a logistic regression model, which showed that local perceptions and expectation varied significantly among villages and was highly dependent on where people lived. However, there were generally very high expectations of benefits and this could be a recipe for disappointment by local people, which could in turn, lead to withdrawal of local support for conservation. Hence, it is important for local people to be involved in all aspects of management for them to understand what can and cannot be achieved, thereby ensuring their support under various conditions. Finally, a carefully planned management strategy that outlines full participation of local people will enhance the conservation of the natural resource of the area. With a possible spill-over into adjoining communities in the Hohoe District of Ghana.

Source: UG
A community-based feasibility study of National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

In a community based study at Legon in 1997, a valuation method was used to assess the willingness of students on study leave to pay a percentage premium of their income towards a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Thirty-five percent of the respondents were aged 30-40 years, 97% were males, 45% were resident in Accra, 17% in Kumasi and 12% in Cape Coast. Respondents were 84% in formal public employment with 44% majority as teachers. Their monthly income was distributed as 33% earned below currency 200,000, 50% between currency 200,000-currency 400,000 and 7% above currency 400,000. More than 74% were willing to contribute to the scheme with 38% and 37% willing to pay 1% and 2 of their income as monthly premium respectively. Those willing to pay 2% premium, 14 (n=33) earned below currency 200,000, 18 (n=50) between currency 200,000-currency 400,000, and 5 (n=17) above currency 400,000. Malaria was the commonest disease with 86% incidence, however 30%of respondents revealed they did not spend money on hospital services except 39% who spent currency 20,000-currency 100,000 on hospital laboratory services. Over 65% of respondents indicated they self financed their health expenditure. The premium level was found to be influenced positively by financier, sex, age, income, and negatively by health expenditure, but not occupation. In an elite community with inadequate infrastructure and water supply problems but probably with better personal hygiene and sanitation, although respondents hardly spend on health services they were willing to contribute 2% of their incomes as premium towards an insurance scheme.

Source: UG
Community-based geographical distribution of Mycobacterium ulcerans VNTR-genotypes from the environment and humans in the Nyong valley, Cameroon

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
Community-Based Health Planning and Services Plus programme in Ghana: A qualitative study with stakeholders in two Systems Learning Districts on improving the implementation of primary health care

In 1999, Ghana introduced the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) as the key primary health care strategy. In this study, we explored the challenges, capacity development priorities, and stakeholder perspectives on improving the CHPS concept as it has been fraught with a myriad of challenges since its inception. Our study is the outcome of the national programme for strengthening the implementation of CHPS Initiative in Ghana (CHPS+) introduced in 2017. Methods This exploratory research was a qualitative study conducted in two Systems Learning Districts (SLDs) of CHPS+ in the Volta Region of Ghana from March to May, 2018. Four focus group discussions and two general discussions were conducted among 60 CHPS+ stakeholders made up of health workers and community members. Data analyses were conducted using conceptual content analysis. Statements of the participants were presented as quotes to substantiate the views expressed. Results Negative attitude, high attrition, inadequacy and unavailability of health professionals at post when needed were challenges associated with the health professionals. Late referrals lack of proper community entry and engagement, non-availability of essential logistics, distance of CHPS compounds from communities, and inadequate funding were challenges associated with the health system. Lack of community ownership of the CHPS programme, lack of security at CHPS compounds, and late reporting of cases by the community members were also realised as challenges emanating from the community members. Priority areas for capacity development of health workers identified included logistics management, community entry and engagement, emergency delivery, managing referrals at the CHPS level, and resuscitation of newborns. Conclusion Health-worker, community, and health systems-based challenges inhibit the implementation of CHPS in Ghana. Capacity development of health professionals and continuous community engagement are avenues that can improve implementation of the programme

Source: UG
Community-based integrated natural resource management in Okyeman traditional area of the Eastern region, Ghana: Socio-economic profile of the Okyeman traditional area

The Akyem Abuakwa State, otherwise referred to as the Okyeman traditional area, in historic times, struggled against dominant groups like the Ashantis to gain self recognition. In present times, the state has remained resolute and constitutes a strong and influential traditional authority in Ghana. The Okyeman traditional area is located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It is endowed with rich natural resources including forest, mineral and water resources. In a survey to examine the socio-economic profile of the area and how traditional practices and taboos affect natural resource use, 426 respondents from 33 communities were randomly sampled and interviewed through questionnaire administration. The results of the analysis indicated that about 72% of the population was engaged in farming. The results also showed that traditional practices and taboos had played significant roles in natural resource management in the past, but being abandoned presently because of divergent beliefs. It was further revealed that rapid population growth from the 1960s to date and its associated production pressures was a major underlying factor in resource exploitation in the area. The activities of small-scale miners in particular were observed to be the major source of stream pollution and flow regime disturbance. The hitherto rich biodiversity of the area is at risk of being eroded if urgent steps are not taken to stop illegal activities in surrounding forest reserves. The study recommended the provision of alternative livelihood opportunities to the farming population to safeguard the rich forest resources and water bodies from further degradation.

Source: UG
Community-Based Interventions as Opportunities to Increase HIV Self-Testing and Linkage to Care Among Men Who Have Sex With Men – Lessons From Ghana, West Africa

MSM in Ghana encounter challenges in accessing HIV services and may experience barriers to HIV self-testing due to multiple forms of stigma present in health care settings. We worked with community-based organization partners to implement three interventions that successfully engaged and retained MSM which provides an opportunity for linkage to self-testing and medical care. These interventions were (1) Many Men Many Voices (3MV) a locally-led culturally grounded group-level HIV prevention program, (2) Auntie’s Corner: a mobile-app based connecting MSM to health monitoring by a registered nurse and (3) HIV Education, Empathy, & Empowerment (HIVE3): a mobile-app based peer support intervention for MSM living with HIV. The 3MV intervention may be effective in improving HIV self-testing due to its effectiveness in engaging MSM, increasing HIV testing, and improving MSM understanding of the need for HIV testing. The utilization of apps like Auntie’s Corner could positively impact HIV self-testing among MSM because it increases contact with nurses and reporting of symptoms. In HIVE3, participants expressed appreciation of the security and privacy that protects their identities as MSM and the peer mentors’ abilities to make referrals to the nurses in Auntie’s Corners. The confidentiality component has proven key among MSM and connecting MSM to self-testing through apps to report their process and receive care could increase utilization. Together, we show the efficacy of using the community-engaged process in reaching and engaging highly stigmatized populations like Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa, and its potential in increasing HIV self-testing and linkage to HIV care.

Source: UG
Community-based mass treatment with azithromycin for the elimination of yaws in GhanaÐResults of a pilot study

Introduction The WHO yaws eradication strategy consists of one round of total community treatment (TCT) of single-dose azithromycin with coverage of > 90%.The efficacy of the strategy to reduce the levels on infection has been demonstrated previously in isolated island communities in the Pacific region. We aimed to determine the efficacy of a single round of TCT with azithromycin to achieve a decrease in yaws prevalence in communities that are endemic for yaws and surrounded by other yaws-endemic areas. Methods Surveys for yaws seroprevalence and prevalence of skin lesions were conducted among schoolchildren aged 5±15 years before and one year after the TCT intervention in the Abamkrom sub-district of Ghana. We used a cluster design with the schools as the primary sampling unit. Among 20 eligible primary schools in the sub district, 10 were assigned to the baseline survey and 10 to the post-TCT survey. The field teams conducted a physical examination for skin lesions and a dual point-of-care immunoassay for non-treponemal and treponemal antibodies of all children present at the time of the visit. We also undertook surveys with non-probabilistic sampling to collect lesion swabs for etiology and macrolide resistance assessment. Results At baseline 14,548 (89%) of 16,287 population in the sub-district received treatment during TCT. Following one round of TCT, the prevalence of dual seropositivity among all children decreased from 10.9% (103/943) pre-TCT to 2.2% (27/1211) post-TCT (OR 0.19; 95%CI 0.09±0.37). The prevalence of serologically confirmed skin lesions consistent with active yaws was reduced from 5.7% (54/943) pre-TCT to 0.6% (7/1211) post-TCT (OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.25±0.35). No evidence of resistance to macrolides against Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue was seen. Discussion A single round of high coverage TCT with azithromycin in a yaws affected sub-district adjoining other endemic areas is effective in reducing the prevalence of seropositive children and the prevalence of early skin lesions consistent with yaws one year following the intervention. These results suggest that national yaws eradication programmes may plan the gradual expansion of mass treatment interventions without high short-term risk of reintroduction of infection from contiguous untreated endemic areas.

Source: UG