ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviour and breast cancer screening practices in Ghana, West Africa.

Background: Late presentation has been observed as the hallmark of breast cancer in Ghanaian women where over 60% of patients report with either stage 3 or 4 of the disease. This cross-sectional study aimed at exploring breast cancer related knowledge and practices in order to develop an appropriate socio-economic and cultural specific model to improve breast cancer care in Ghana. Methods: The study which was conducted in Accra and Sunyani in Ghana used both quantitative and qualitative methods and employed the theory of planned behavior as a communication and educational model. Information was collected from 474 women using questionnaires. In addition semi-structured interviews were conducted on 10 breast cancer patients; 10 breast clinic attendants; 3 Oncology Consultants and 2 herbalists. Results: Generally, the respondents displayed knowledge deficit about the disease. However, higher levels of education was associated with better appreciation of the disease (rs =0.316, N= 465, p < 0.001). The respondents' attitudes include fear of the disease which was linked to death in most cases; denial and guilt; as well as supernatural attributes. The self-reported breast cancer screening rate (BSE 32%, CBE 12% and mammogram 2%) was poor, however, higher educational of the respondents was very significant for breast cancer screening practices. Conclusion: The study found that routine mammography screening is not feasible in Ghana at the moment which therefore requires a different approach.

Source: UG
Knowledge, behavior, perception and attitudes of University of Ghana students towards HIV/AIDS: What does behavioural surveillance survey tells us?

This study assesses knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in respect of risk of HIV infection of students’ through behavioral surveillance survey. The study used the systematic sampling approach to select 375 students. Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to solicit information from respondents. The study found out that the students engaged in pre-marital sex, although this was more common among the male than female students. Students did not use condoms consistently and were not likely to use condoms when the relationship was considered as stable because of trust. Students revealed that they were all at risk of infection; however, a significant number of them did not know their HIV status and were not ready to take the test for fear of stigmatization. There were low levels among female students of the different types of STI. The results suggest that there is need for an appropriate education program for students. Peer education clubs need to be established to provide education on condom management. In addition, edutainment-education through entertainment program on HIV/AIDS – needs to be an integral part of the university’ curriculum. More recreational centres need to be established to allow students to channel their energies towards sports.

Source: UG
Knowledge, expectation and fears of oil activities in fishing, farming and market communities in Sekondi -Takoradi

As the capital of the Western Region and one of Ghana's fastest growing cities, Sekondi -Takoradi has become the hub of oil activities since the discovery and production of the resource. Majority of economic activities center on fishing, farming, trade and service. Activities in mining and lumbering from other areas in the Western region have also generated growth in the metropolis. With the discovery of oil in 2007, however, there has been some expansion of the port facilities as well as plans to restore the rail system. The coastal location of most of the communities has given room for the development of the vibrant fishing sector which still persists. Local and commercial fishing activities are undertaken by both indigenes and migrants. Farming has been on the decline as farmlands close to the city center consistently give way to the spread and need for residential facilities in response to the increasing costs of land. This paper looks at 3 communities engaged in fishing, farming and trade in service within the metropolis. Qualitative and quantitative data from interview and household surveys conducted in March 2013 are used in discussing the knowledge, expectations and fears of households in regard of oil activity. Knowledge on products derived from crude oil refinement is appreciably high, especially in the trade service community. In contrast knowledge on the laws governing the sectors activities is not appreciable in any of the three communities. The level of fear is low as many respondents are affirmative on the positive benefits of oil activity. The paper concludes that with dissemination of information through the right channels and improved knowledge sources, high expectations can be appropriately managed

Source: UG
Knowledge, perception and attitude of patient safety amongst clinical year physiotherapy students in Ghana

Background: Patient safety is a part of healthcare that is not only important in the delivery of healthcare but also in the training of healthcare professionals. It is a key component of physiotherapy treatment which, when underrated, can result in more harm than good. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge, perception and attitude of patient safety amongst physiotherapy students. Method: Eighty clinical year physiotherapy students from the University of Ghana and the University of Health and Allied Sciences were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Data were obtained using the World Health Organization Medical School Curricular Guide for Patient Safety questionnaire. Pearson Chi-square was used to test for association between the level of study of participants and their knowledge on patient safety. Results: Of the eighty (80) respondents, there were 41 women (52.1%) and 39 men (48.8%) in our study. Majority of the respondents (97.5%) had a moderate level of knowledge on patient safety. There was no significant association between the level of study and knowledge of clinical year physiotherapy students on patient safety (p = 0.712). Conclusion: Clinical year physiotherapy students in Ghana have a moderate level of knowledge on the concept of patient safety. Restructuring of the physiotherapy curriculum to specifically cover the concept of patient safety would be beneficial to its promotion in the healthcare system. Clinical implications: The outcomes of our study may motivate physiotherapy students to put in additional effort that could facilitate the translation of positive attitudes that have been shown to be effective in reducing errors and promoting patient safety.

Source: UG
Knowledge, perception, and pesticide application practices among smallholder cocoa farmers in four Ghanaian cocoa-growing regions

Pesticides are widely used in Ghana, especially in cocoa farming. However, the practice is suboptimal and un supervised. Incorrect use of these chemicals can seriously harm human health, the environment, and economies that rely on these farmers’ output. The study assessed cocoa farmers’ pesticide knowledge, practices, and risk perception. Four hundred and four cocoa farmers were chosen randomly from 26 communities in four cocoa growing regions of Ghana to answer questions about their risk knowledge, awareness, and practices, including personal protective equipment, storage and disposal of leftover pesticides, and used containers. The study revealed that 87% of the respondents belonged to cooperatives and certification groups. There was a significant positive relationship between group membership and benefits derived from inputs and training in pesticide use. About 70% of insecticides used were approved by the Ghana Cocoa Board, with neonicotinoids and pyrethroids being the most highly used insecticide classes in cocoa farms. Although farmers claimed adequate pesticide knowledge, this did not translate into practice, with the majority exhibiting improper pesticide storage, application, and disposal practices. Farmers appeared to know a lot but lacked the skills and attitude to put their knowledge to use. The improper practices appear to manifest in a variety of health symptoms experienced by farmers as a result of chemical exposure. The findings from this study suggest that cocoa farmers in Ghana require adequate practical training and support on pesticide use to reduce their associated health risks, protect the environment and ensure sustainable cocoa production in the world’s second-largest cocoa bean exporter.

Source: UG
Knowledge, perceptions and attitude of a community living around a colony of straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Ghana after Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa

A large population of straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) colonizes a prime area in the city of Accra where several public amenities are located. Although the colony is positive to several zoonotic viruses including the Ebola virus, there is limited information on the social dimensions of the existence of the bats. As a step towards effective response to health risk and conservation of the bats, this study assessed the knowledge and attitude of the community living around the bats and determined their level of environmental and public health consciousness. The community generally lacks interest in bat bushmeat consumption but had low knowledge and disease risk perception of the bats. Despite major campaigns during the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, elements of risky behaviour including disbelief and disregard for some preventive measures and lack of interest in post-bat exposure prophylaxis were recorded among a limited proportion of the community. There was the need to focus public health education on the community and possibly others that may have E. helvum colonies in West Africa.

Source: UG
Knowledge, perceptions and ever use of modern contraception among women in the ga east district, ghana.

A survey of 332 women, ages 15-49 years, was carried out in the Ga East district of Ghana to identify community knowledge, perceptions, and factors associated with ever using modern family planning (FP). Knowledge of modern FP was almost universal (97 percent) although knowledge of more than three methods was 56 percent. About 60 percent of all and 65 percent of married respondents reported ever use of a modern method. Among ever users, 82 percent thought contraceptives were effective for birth control. However, one-third did not consider modern FP safe. About 20 percent indicated their male partner as a barrier, and 65 percent of users reported at least one side effect. In a multivariate model that controlled for age, education, religion, and occupation, being married remained significantly associated (OR = 2.14; p=0.01) with ever use of a modern contraceptive method. Interventions are needed to address service- and knowledge-related barriers to use.

Source: UG
Knowledge, practices and challenges of intermittent malaria preventive (IPT) treatment during pregnancy in Ghana.

Malaria contributes significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality rates in Ghana. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge, practices and challenges encountered in the implementation of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as a measure to prevent malaria occurrences among pregnant women. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were utilised to select 88 women attending antenata / postnatal clinics and 22 midwives working in these clinics in New Juabeng district in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Questionnaires were used to collect data and analysis was performed using the SPSS program. The findings indicated that the majority of women and midwives knew how malaria is acquired. Most women (92%) knew about SP. The majority learnt about it at the antenatal clinic and some through radio and television programmes. While most women took SP under directly observed therapy, a few were allowed to take their drugs home. Midwives identified challenges such as women's failure to complete the SP regimen; some women receiving the first dose during advanced stages of their pregnancies whilst others received the first dose and never returned for subsequent doses. The findings indicate that nurses' and midwives' education on malaria prevention during pregnancy should be enhanced.

Source: UG
Knowledge-based Service for African Traditional Herbal Medicine: A hybrid approach

Globally, the acceptance and use of herbal and traditional medicine is on the rise. Africa, especially Ghana, has its populace resorting to African Traditional Herbal Medicine (ATHMed) for their healthcare needs due to its potency and accessibility. However, the practice involving its preparation and administration has come into question. Even more daunting is the poor and inadequate documentation covering the preservation and retrieval of knowledge on ATHMed for long-term use, resulting in invaluable healthcare knowledge being lost. Consequently, there is the need to adopt strategies to help curtail the loss of such healthcare knowledge, for the benefit of ATHMed stakeholders in healthcare delivery, industry and academia. This paper proposes a hybrid-based computational knowledge framework for the preservation and retrieval of traditional herbal medicine. By the hybrid approach, the framework proposes the use of machine learning and ontology-based techniques. While reviewing literature to reflect the existing challenges, this paper discusses current technologies suited to approach them. This results in a framework that embodies an ontology driven knowledge-based system operating on a semantically annotated corpus that delivers a contextual search pattern, geared towards a formalized, explicit preservation and retrieval mechanism for safeguarding ATHMed knowledge.

Source: UG
Kola nut value and supply chains in Ghana, a qualitative study

The study assessed the value and supply chain of kola nuts in Ghana through key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) in eighteen communities. Key actors, flow of products and product information, and relationship among actors were assessed using content analysis. Results suggest that the nuts are picked or harvested from either wild or cultivated kola trees by farmers or pickers. The nuts are then processed or cured for storage by either the farmers, pickers or brokers who buy harvested kola pods for assemblers. The assemblers either sell to local consumers or on large markets in neighbouring countries like Nigeria. The business model for the kola nut industry in Ghana is such that transactions are usually on mutual trust and verbal agreements without any documented evidence. There is limited market information, which often hinders price negotiation, and this affects especially producers and processors. For improving the value chain for mutual benefit among the actors, especially for producers, we recommend the formation of a strong horizontal linkage through avenues, such as associations as well as strong vertical and consistent linkages between the actors.

Source: UG
Kpejigaou: An indigenous, high-protein, low-fat, cowpea-based griddled food proposed for coastal West Africa

Griddled cowpea paste foods have high nutritional potential because they are low in fat but high in protein. A good understanding of process and product characteristics of kpejigaou is necessary to improve its quality and enhance acceptability. To describe the product, evaluate critical variables in traditional processing, and determine consumer quality criteria and preferences for kpejigaou. A survey of kpejigaou processing was carried out among processors and regular consumers of kpejigaou. Kpejigaou is flat and circular in shape, with uniform thickness and porous structure. The production process of kpejigaou was found to be simple and rapid, but the quality of the finished product varied among processors and among batches. Critical processing variables affecting quality were dehulling of the cowpeas, type of griddling equipment, and griddling temperature. Texture (sponginess) is the most important quality index that determines the preference and acceptability of kpejigaou by consumers. Traditionally processed kpejigaou does not meet current standards for high-quality foods. This study provides the basis for efforts to standardize the kpejigaou process to ensure consistent product quality and enhance the acceptability of kpejigaou among consumers. Kpejigaou has a potential for success if marketed as a low-fat, nutritious fast food.

Source: UG
The Kusasis: A short History

That part of the Kusasi Tribe which lives in English Territory occupies the fertile lands which lie north of the Gambaga Scarp and East of the Red Volta. Unlike some of their neighbours further west they are blessed with an ample food supply, while their cattle are considered among the best in the country. The area these people inhabit is known as the Kusasi District, though actually now-a-days, owing mostly to immigration from French Country, the Kusasis only from about two thirds of the total population and even many of these are only Kusasis in name.

Source: UG
Kwame Nkrumah His Rise to Power

In Africa today, the inexorable laws of human progress are in operation. The revolution now taking place has commanded the attention of the world. But nothing has given a greater force, inspiration and cohesion to the liberation movement in Africa, than the achievements of the Chiefs and people of the Gold Coast. Much has been written about Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister of the Gold Coast, in the world’s press, but the story of the man as he really is, of his difficulties, his good qualities, his shortcomings, and his philosophy of life, has never been fully told. Hence the writing of this book.

Source: UG
L’approche communicative dans l’enseignement des langues quels impacts sur les apprenants du FLE au Ghana

This article seeks to shed light on the communicative approach to language teaching and also to examine the impact of such an approach on French learners in three Municipalities in the Volta Region of Ghana. If communicative approach is aimed at developing learners’ oral skills, the performance of learners who were taught through this approach leaves much to be desired during the French Orals Exams from 2010 to 2014. The article therefore seeks to assess the communicative competence of French learners in classroom practices, the difficulties that confront both teachers and learners of French as a Foreign Language using the communicative approach in an Anglophone system. It seeks also to outline the impact of this approach on French learners in the Senior High schools in Volta Region. Through questionnaire based on K. Orecchioni’s conversational theory (1990), the research conducted among 30 teachers reveals that the poor communicative competence observed among French learners is, on the one hand, due to the non-effective application of the communicative approach in class and, on the other hand, due to lack of motivation on the part of learners. Strategies were therefore proposed to improve the communicative approach to Teaching and learning French as a Foreign Language in an Anglophone environment.

Source: UG
L’éthique de la différence en traduction : le cas de deux romans africains francophones et de leur restitution en anglais

Translation advances the cause of the international community as it plays a vital role in global development and understanding. The literary text needs to be translated before readers from diverse linguistic communities can apprehend and enjoy it. To a large extent, the success of the translation enterprise is a function of the accuracy of the target text. With illustrations drawn from two Francophone African masterpieces, Ahmadou Kourouma’s Les soleils des indépendances and Mariama Bâ’s Une si longue lettre, this article seeks to determine the extent to which the target texts in English respect the spirit and the letter articulated by the source texts. The article will, in the main, be underpinned by the principle of the ethics of difference as enunciated by Venuti.

Source: UG
L’intérêt du Moi Commun chez Rousseau, Diderot et Voltaire : le cas des Accords de Partenariat Économique aujourd’hui

One cannot over emphasise the role of the literature and ideas of the age of enlightenment which, far from being purely literary, were involved in the debate on topical issues while at the forefront of the search for solutions to human problems in order to establish the happiness of man on earth. Our topic adopts the same perspective and aims at establishing the relevance of 18th century literature to some topical issues of the 21st century. While in Rousseau’s Social Contract the theory of the Collective Self (the State) is accompanied by the notion of common interest, Diderot’s Supplément au Voyage de Bougainville demonstrates that self-interest is the actual « motive of the State ». Does this not explain the position of the European Union (EU) which, far from sacrificing any of her interests, rather pushes the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between unequal partners? This research aims at establishing the linkage between the philosophy of self-interest in the 18th century and the economic and trade issues around which the EU is negotiating today with the ACP countries.

Source: UG
L’intérêt du Moi Commun chez Rousseau, Diderot et Voltaire : le cas des accords de partenariat économique aujourd’hui

One cannot over emphasise the role of the literature and ideas of the age of enlightenment which, far from being purely literary, were involved in the debate on topical issues while at the forefront of the search for solutions to human problems in order to establish the happiness of man on earth. Our topic adopts the same perspective and aims at establishing the relevance of 18th century literature to some topical issues of the 21st century. While in Rousseau’s Social Contract the theory of the Collective Self (the State) is accompanied by the notion of common interest, Diderot’s Supplément au Voyage de Bougainville demonstrates that self-interest is the actual « motive of the State ». Does this not explain the position of the European Union (EU) which, far from sacrificing any of her interests, rather pushes the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between unequal partners? This research aims at establishing the linkage between the philosophy of self-interest in the 18th century literature and the economic and trade issues around which the EU is negotiating today with the ACP countries.

Source: UG
La contribution des Philosophes des Lumières à la méthodologie de recherche universitaire

This paper proposes to today’s researcher a historical, philosophical and literary perspective of research methodology, based on the reflection of some enlightened minds of the Age of Enlightenment in France (beginning 1600 to late 1700). It argues that by way of proposing to the researcher an intellectual posture and a method for directing the mind, the Enlightenment philosophers such as Descartes, Fontenelle, Voltaire and Rousseau, resorted to justifications and arguments that were particularly striking and therefore enabled one to better apprehend the depth and import of a proper research methodology. The paper provides insights about the special importance the Age of Enlightenment gave to research methodology, at a time when, following the renaissance, there remained the need to clear the minds of the general public of some measure of obscurantism. These intellectual research methods, still valid today, were particularly applied to the search for truth, which for those times, naturally and happily led to the condemnation of aberrations, fanaticism, intolerance, prejudices and all manner of atrocities committed, especially by institutions: the State and the Church.

Source: UG