ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Ethnic and Religious Diversity as Determinants of Health Insurance Uptake in Ghana

Health insurance has been reckoned as an important health policy that serves to protect households from the direct financial consequences of health care use. In developing countries, health insurance, indeed, has emerged as an important mediating factor in providing relief to poor households hit by illness and requiring substantial health expenditure outlays. Uptake however has been a major problem for sustenance. We used a zero-inflated Poisson model which captures two decisions simultaneously; the decision to join an insurance scheme, and the number of people to insure in a household, to study the determinants of participation in Ghana’s health insurance scheme. The results show that ethnic and religious diversity are important factors that affect participation in a social health insurance scheme that is voluntary in participation and based on solidarity. With Ghana getting more and more diversified each passing day, due largely to internal migration and urbanisation, new ways of including people in the development process is imperative and studies such as this is important in providing the needed information. This result is instructive and shows that if Ghana is to make the health insurance policy benefit majority of its people especially in it’s largely less educated and increasingly urbanising societies, there is the need to massage the current design of the scheme to incorporate the sociocultural diversity of the communities which was neglected at the onset.

Source: UG
Ethnic differences in the frequency of prostate cancer susceptibility alleles at SRD5A2 and CYP3A4

Objectives: Ethnic differences in prostate cancer incidence are well documented, with African-Americans having among the highest rates in the world. Ethnic differences in genotypes for genes associated with androgen metabolism including SRD5A2 and CYP3A4 also may exist. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in these genotypes by ethnicity. Methods: We studied cancer-free controls representative of four groups: 147 African Americans, 410 Caucasian-Americans, 129 Ghanaians, and 178 Senegalese. PCR-based genotype analysis was undertaken to identify two alleles (V89L, A49T) at SRD5A2 and *1B allele at CYP3A4. Results: Differences were observed for V89L (variant frequency of 30% in Caucasians, 27% in African Americans, 19% in Ghanaians, and 18% in Senegalese, p =0.002) and were observed for CYP3A4*1B (variant frequencies of 8% in Caucasians, 59% in African Americans, 81% in Ghanaians, and 78% in Senegalese, p =0.0001). Pooled data combining the present data and previously published data from from Asian, Hispanic, and Arab cancer-free controls showed significant ethnic differences for SRD5A2 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms. Overall, Asians were least likely to have alleles associated with increased prostate cancer risk, while Africans were most likely to have those alleles. Conclusions: These results suggest that ethnicity-specific differences in genotype frequencies exist for SRD5A2 and CYP3A4. Africans and African-Americans have the highest frequency of those alleles that have previously been associated with increased prostate cancer risk. Future studies should address whether allele frequency differences in part explain differences in prostate cancer incidence in these populations. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Source: UG
Ethnic Land Rights in Western Ghana: Landlord-Stranger Relations in the Democratic Era

In Citizen and Subject (1996), Mahmood Mamdani denounced the 'bifurcated nature' of the African state which, in his account, imposed ethnic hierarchy and chiefly despotism on rural dwellers while reserving democratic citizenship for the urban minority. Have twenty years of 'decentralized democracy' in many countries washed away these distinctions? This article takes up this issue in an analysis of the politics of land allocation and landlord-stranger relations in Western Ghana. An analysis of historical trajectories, and our own field observations and interviews in two Western Region districts, suggest that at the local level, the bifurcated character of political authority that was identified by Mamdani persists in the domain of economic rights. The record also shows that state policies and institutions, rather than working to chip away at ethnic hierarchy and chiefly authority, work at least in part to reproduce these features of the local political economy. In both non-democratic and democratic eras, Ghana's central government has played an important role in shoring up chiefly and ethnic privilege in the land domain. These local hierarchies influence the practical meaning of democracy and economic liberalization for rural citizens, and should be explored more systematically in future studies of democratic and electoral politics in Ghana and elsewhere. © 2012 International Institute of Social Studies.

Source: UG
Ethnic Residential Clusters in Nima, Ghana

The global debate on ethnic residential segregation has focused more on the developed world, and little is known about similar patterns and processes in African cities. This is in spite of the fact that many African cities are now ranked among the world’s most rapidly growing and least regulated urban areas. Indeed, the dynamics of ethnic residential segregation have scarcely been studied in African cities. The little literature available has looked at ethnic segregation between the neighbourhoods of major cities. This paper goes beyond current literature by examining the pattern and processes of ethnic clustering within a multi-ethnic community. Our goal in this paper is to answer the question as to whether within a multi-ethnic urban neighbourhood the major ethnic groups are residentially clustered, isolated or dispersed. The focus is on Nima, a major slum community of Accra, Ghana. The findings of the study show that even though Nima is a multi-ethnic community, some level of ethnic clustering can be discerned. These patterns are linked to the history of settlement formation, religious affiliation and ethnic or place of origin of earlier house owners.

Source: UG
Ethnic variation in the HER-2 codon 655 genetic polymorphism previously associated with breast cancer

HER-2, a protooncogene located on chromosome 17q21, encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein (p185) with tyrosine kinase activity, Alterations of the HER-2 gene have been implicated in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of breast cancer and other solid tumors. It is also a cancer-therapeutic target for antibody-based therapy against the HER-2 protein. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at codon 655, resulting in a G-to-A transition (Ile655Val) in the transmembrane domain-coding region of this gene has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, particularly among younger women. To understand the importance of this finding throughout the world, we evaluated this polymorphism in Ghanaian, Kenyan, Sudanese, Caucasian, African-American, Saudi, and Filipino subjects using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The frequency of the Val allele, which is associated with increased breast cancer risk, was highly variable between populations (0%-24%). Continental African populations had a lower frequency of the Val allele than did Saudi, Chinese, Filipino, Caucasian, and African-American subjects. The data suggest that this SNP has variable frequency in different ethnic groups. The findings in this study correspond with the lower incidence and lower risk of breast cancer in African women compared with Caucasian and African-American women.

Source: UG
Ethnicity and cardiovascular health research: Pushing the boundaries by including comparison populations in the countries of origin

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are major health problems in most ethnic minority and migrant populations living in high income countries. By the same token, CVD is a looming threat that is creating a double burden in most of the countries where these populations originate from. The causes of the rising burden are unclear, but they are likely to be multifaceted. Traditionally, ethnicity and health research have mostly concentrated on comparing the health of ethnic minority groups with the majority populations of the countries in which they live. This is an important area of research which illuminates ethnic inequalities in health. However, a few studies on international comparisons show that a lot can be learned from comparing similar ethnic groups living in different industrialised countries. Equally, comparing ethnic minority and migrant populations to similar populations in their countries of origin will generate new knowledge about factors that predispose them to poor health outcomes. Thus, to make progress in the field of ethnicity and health research, we need a new conceptual framework that simultaneously studies migrant/ethnic groups in the country of settlement, in similar countries of settlement, and in the countries of ancestral origin. Such studies need to go beyond the commonest design of cross-sectional studies to include more cohort studies, interventions and linkage studies. This article discusses (1) the burden of CVD in ethnic minority and migrant populations; (2) approaches to understanding predisposing factors; and (3) application of the results to give insight into the potential threats that their countries of origin are likely to face. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Source: UG
Ethnicity and fertility desires in Ghana

The extant literature shows that fertility desires are an important indicator for understanding and predicting the future course of fertility; however, little work has been done on its relationship to ethnicity among women in Ghana. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between ethnicity and fertility desires among two groups of parous women in Ghana. Using 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data, analyses were conducted with 5548 women between ages 15 and 49 years. Respondents were divided into two groups: 1) women with 1–3 living children (n = 3437), and 2) women with 4 or more children (n = 2111), representing those with children below and above the wanted fertility rate, respectively. Descriptive analyses indicated that 77.5% of women in the lower parity group desired an additional child, whereas 23.6% of women in the higher parity group had the same desires. Binary logistic regression results showed that ethnicity was a significant predictor of fertility desires among the two groups of women. Additionally, ethnicity remained significant when socio-economic factors were controlled for. The study’s findings refute the characteristics hypothesis, signifying that even though certain ethnic groups are assimilated into more modern socio-economic structures, they still maintain their pronatalistic beliefs. More specifically, Mole-Dagbani and “Other” women, who already have a high parity, are more likely to want an additional child. Further qualitative work is required to understand the norms, customs, practices, and beliefs that govern the major Ghanaian ethnic groups regarding their fertility desires and behaviour.

Source: UG
“Ethnicity, conflict and language choice: the sociolinguistics of development communication in Ghana’s Northern Region”

This talk will illustrate the kinds of latent ethnic conflicts that exist in many societies by taking the case of two Ghanaian villages, both located in the Northern Region and both highly multilingual. They differ in the relationships between the ethnolinguistic groups residing within them. In one, Daboya, the land is held by the Gonja following invasions in the eighteenth century, and members of other local groups generally assimilate by showing allegiance to the local Gonja chief and by becoming proficient in the Gonja language. In the other, Pong-Tamale, the land belongs to the Dagomba, a situation which is undisputed. Other groups are not expected to switch to Dagbani or to change allegiances. Ethnic conflicts in the Northern Region in the 1980s and 90s, both between and within several different ethnolinguistic groups, led to many deaths followed by a sharpening of the ethnic divides. This situation exists today. Our case study is a questionnaire-based and ethnographic investigation of language use in the two villages (Mahama 2005). The study thus deals with language choices on two levels, between local people and between members of external elites and local people. The study found that language choices varied between the two villages in ways which uncovered the latent conflicts, and that preferences for communication with development agencies differed considerably, too

Source: UG
Ethnicity, social development and wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa: A conceptual review

In this chapter, we offer a conceptual review and critique of the role of ethnicitywithin the context of social development and well-being of African communities. Webegin by reviewing key definitions of ethnicity offered by social scientists working withAfrican communities and making a case for adopting an amalgamation of socialconstructionist and psychological approaches to operationalising ethnicity. We review theextent to which ethnicity and ethnic communities have been placed at the heart of socialdevelopment through top-down instrumentalist projects by governments. The strengthsand limitations of these projects are outlined. Finally, we consider urbanization, religionand civil society action, as three alternative social categories that play significant roles onthe development and agency of social groups, and by extension on African social life andwell-being. These interacting, and mutually reinforcing, processes demonstrate thechallenges inherent in maintaining ethnicity as a 'resilient paradigm' for the study of fasturbanizing, globalizing and dynamic contemporary African communities. © 2013 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Ethnicity: Theories, International Perspectives and Challenges

Increasing globalisation and technology has made the modern world more interconnected and interdependent than ever before in human history. These shared connections and dependencies have naturally led to increasing internal and international migration in recent times. As a result, many countries today are ethnically and culturally diverse. This new world order of ethnic and cultural diversity has rewards including the enhancement of the well-being of both migrants and the host populations. Immigration is essential for some societies to make up for the falling population growth and skill shortages while at the same time playing a crucial role in émigrés supporting their home communities for social and economic developments through remittances. Migration also poses several challenges for both migrants and the host populations. Among many challenges facing migrants include issues of integration, identity, language difficulties, acceptability or discrimination, and access to social and health care services. For the host populations, the complex nature of modern migration flows with varied groups poses extra challenges in meeting the needs and addressing the well-being of all subgroups in the population. This book addresses some of the important processes associated with migration and their relation to health outcomes from an international perspective.

Source: UG
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants from Ghana; confirmation of ethnobotanical uses, and review of biological and toxicological studies on medicinal plants used in Apra Hills Sacred Grove

The majority of human populations in developing countries rely on traditional medicines but the practice of traditional medicine is not the same across the world. In this study, the authors investigated traditional medicinal uses of plants by the communities living around Apra Hills Sacred Grove, in southern Ghana. A total of 75 households in three communities, namely, Akrampa, Apra and Loye, living in the study area were interviewed about the plants they used for the management of their common human ailments. Data collection was achieved after obtaining prior-informed consent, and using a semi-structured questionnaire. Botanical voucher specimens of the plants reported as being used were collected following standard ethnobotanical practice. A total of 31 species of plants belonging to16 families were reported as being used in the management and treatment of diseases. Approximately 65% of the plants were collected from degraded areas outside the protected area of the grove whereas 35% were obtained from inside the protected area of grove (wild). The majority (81%) of the plants reported were non-cultivated plants while 19% were semi-cultivated plants, and none were cultivated. Leaves formed a major component (57%) of the plant materials being used and most of the herbal remedies were prepared by boiling and the decoctions drunk. The results of the study have also confirmed the ethnobotanical uses of the plants as well as highlighted “new use reports”. The study has confirmed importance of degraded areas as a source of medicinal plants for indigenous communities and that a high proportion of non-cultivated plants is used for such medicines. Plants in need of further investigations based on a survey of the available literature on their ethnobotanical use, biological activity and toxicological studies have been highlighted.

Source: UG
Ethnobotanical study of some Ghanaian anti-malarial plants

An ethnobotanical study was conducted in the Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary area in Ghana, through interviews and quadrate studies, to investigate the range and abundance of species used in the treatment of malaria. Forty-one species belonging to 17 families were encountered during the study. Of the 17 families studied Leguminosae and Anacardiaceae predominated in terms of number of species used to treat malaria. Eight plant species namely, Afraegle paniculata (Rutaceae), Haematostaphis barteri (Anacardiaceae), Indigo era pulchra (Leguminosae), Monanthotaxis sp. (Annonaceae), Ozoroa insignis (Anacardiaceae), Strychnos innocua (Loganiaceae), Strychnos spinosa (Loganiaceae) and Xeroderris stuhlmannii (Leguminosae) have not previously been documented for the treatment of malaria in Ghana. The results are discussed and recommendations made for future research to support the conservation and sustainable harvesting of the species reported to have medicinal properties. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source: UG
Ethnobotanical Survey and Cercaricidal Activity Screening of Medicinal Plants Used for Schistosomiasis Treatment in Atwima- Nwabiagya District, Ashanti Region, Ghana

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
The Ethnography of Akan Speech Play

Language is flexible and dynamic and can therefore be manipulated to fulfil various communicative and sociocultural functions. This paper looks at speech play and considers how language can be manipulated like a playing object and used as a game. The paper poses the following research questions (1) what types of speech plays are predominant in the Akan language? (2) What are the linguistic process involved in transforming the object language into speech play?, (3) what are the social functions of speech play ,and (4) what are the ethnographic situations under which speech play is employed? The paper will seek to answer these questions by looking at riddles, backward and forwarding inventing utterances, tongue twisters, pun, rhyme, quasi euphemisms jokes and humour. It will also consider the basic linguistic tools used in the manipulation of the language such as insertion, deletion, etc. The paper will briefly touch on speech play and gender.

Source: UG
The Ethnography of Surrogate Speech in a Foreign Language: The Case of the Timpani Drum Language among the Dagomba of Ghana

This article presents a study of the timpani drum beats and the akarima drummer among the Dagomba of Ghana, using analysis of audio and video recordings of drumming sessions and interviews with the drummers. Borrowed from the Asantes in the eighteenth century, the timpani transmits limited, oft-repeated messages in Akan, a language that neither the drummer nor his Dagomba patrons understand. In spite of this, the timpani is an integral part of Dagomba culture and rituals. In addition to transmitting messages with the drum, the akarima guards the tradition and cultural heritage, and reinforces Dagomba values and cultural ethos. As a guardian of tradition, the akarima resists innovation of the practices associated with the use of the drum. As a constructor of realities, he creates knowledge and values from the praises of chiefs, imparts them to his patrons and actively moulds their lives to conform to these values. The article argues that, far from being a deficiency, the use of the drum to transmit messages in a language not comprehensible to the people contributes significantly to the success of the akarima, who functions as imparter of values to his listeners.

Source: UG
The Ethnography of Surrogate Speech in a Foreign Language: The Case of the Timpani Drum Language among the Dagomba of Ghana

This article presents a study of the timpani drum beats and the akarima drummer among the Dagomba of Ghana, using analysis of audio and video recordings of drumming sessions and interviews with the drummers. Borrowed from the Asantes in the eighteenth century, the timpani transmits limited, oft-repeated messages in Akan, a language that neither the drummer nor his Dagomba patrons understand. In spite of this, the timpani is an integral part of Dagomba culture and rituals. In addition to transmitting messages, with the drum, the akarima guards tradition and culture heritage, and reinforces Dagomba values and cultural ethos. As a guardian of tradition, the akarima resists innovation of the practices associated with the use of the drum. As a constructor of realities, he creates knowledge and values from the praises of chiefs and imparts them to his patrons and actively moulds their lives to conform to these values. The article argues that, far from being a deficiency, the use of the drum to transmit messages in a language not comprehensible to the people contributes significantly to the success of the akarima, who functions as imparter of values to his listeners

Source: UG