ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Host preference and suitability of some selected crops for two biotypes of Bemisia tabaci in Ghana

The economic importance of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is mainly due to its wide host range, variable kinds of damage, and great intraspecific variation. The delineation of two African biotypes of this pest has been carried by molecular, ecological, and host-affiliation approaches, with largely consistent results. However, an understanding of its intricate host-pest interaction is necessary as a basis of its sustainable integrated control. This study investigated the host preference and suitability of cassava and okra biotypes of B. tabaci, based on multiple-choice landing and oviposition preference assays and stage-specific survival on eight common whitefly hosts. The cassava biotype significantly preferred cassava, Manihot esculenta, for landing and oviposition, but did not oviposit on okra, Abelmoschus esculentus. The okra biotype preferred okra, oviposited on eggplant, Solarium melongena, tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, garden egg, Solanum integrifolium, and cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, but did not oviposit on cassava. The okra biotype developed on all hosts except cassava, but only survived marginally on cabbage, Brassica oleracea, and pepper, Capsicum annum var. grosum, while the cassava biotype did not develop on okra, cabbage, or pepper. Thus the observed host acceptance of the two biotypes is wider than earlier reported by host transfer experiments and molecular genetic surveys. Mortality was highest in the first instar nymphal stage, during which total mortality occurred on non-hosts. Development time was slightly longer on marginal hosts than on the preferred hosts. Cowpea, garden egg, and tomato are additional common hosts of the two biotypes, whose role as reservoir hosts and biotype interbreeding grounds should be investigated further. © 2005 The Netherlands Entomological Society.

Source: UG
Host suitability of two Ghanaian biotypes of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on five common tropical weeds

The sweet potato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a pest of diverse agricultural systems worldwide, owing to its capacity to transmit viruses, both intraspecific and host-associated variations. In Ghana, it is the only known arthropod vector for cassava-infecting begomoviruses (Geminiviridae). Two genetic variants of B. tabaci, previously characterized by RAPD-PCR and subsequently reared on cassava and okra, were allowed access to five weed species in order to examine host preference and suitability: Amaranthus retroflexus, Chromolaena odorata, Desmodium tortuosum, Euphorbia heterophylla and Malvastrum coromandelianum. Overall, the duration of the life cycle ranged between 16.5 and 26.3 days and survival rates were 0-27.5%. The population from field-infested okra reproduced and developed to maturity on C. odorata, D. tortuosum and E. heterophylla. Both populations produced male and female progeny. Amaranthus retroflexus and M. coromandelianum were considered poor hosts for both populations, due to the low fecundity and survival of eggs, pupae and adults. The rearing host did not significantly (P > 0.05) influence survival on subsequent hosts in either case. The host-restriction of the population collected from cassava was not corroborated here, based on the demonstrated ability of the Ghanaian cassava population to complete its life cycle on D. tortuosum and E. heterophylla. It was estimated that B. tabaci could achieve 13-22 generations per year in Ghana. Removal of C. odorata, D. tortuosum and E. heterophylla from the vicinity of susceptible crops is recommended. © ICIPE 2005.

Source: UG
Hot fomentation of newborn fontanelles as an indigenous practice in Ghana: implications for policy and integrated community‑based health care in Covid‑19 pandemic and beyond

Objective African newborns undergo numerous traditional and religious practices ranging from fontanelle fomentation to total head shaving, scalp molding, skin scarification and ano-genital irrigation which can negatively impact the health of neonates. Hot fomentation of fontanelles has been a predominant indigenous home-based postnatal practice in Ghana and among Africans in the diaspora. Mobility restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted direct access to facility-based care as well as home care. The fourishing of newborn traditional practices among African populations during this Covid-19 pandemic offers opportunities to rethink the provision of family healthcare sup‑ port for newborns during the ongoing pandemic and beyond. Hence, the aim of this critical review was to examine and describe a common indigenous practice—hot fontanelle fomentation to inform home birth support, discharge planning, and the delivery of optimal home-based care support. Study design This study is a review of literature on hot fomentation of newborn fontanelles. Methods Literature search in CINAHL, PubMed, African Index Medicus and Scopus, was conducted and evidence synthesised from articles ranging from 1983–2022. Sixty articles were reviewed; however, 10 manuscripts were excluded prior to screening. The other 19 were exempted because they were either below 1983 or were not the best ft for the study purpose. In all, 31 studies were included in the study. The study was guided by Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care Diversity and Universality care theory. Results The current study identifies hot fomentation of newborn fontanelles practices in Ghana, the description of hot fomentation practices and the dangers associated with it. The findings and suggested ways to help overcome this challenge. Conclusion There are several neonatal indigenous practices including fontanelle fomentation which pose threat to the health of the neonate as discussed in this study. Future research needs to investigate innovative ways of fontanelle fomentation where necessary instead of the use of hot water by mothers, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic where health and mobility restrictions impact physical access to timely health care. This research will help educate mothers about the dangers of fontanel fomentation and reduce the practice, especially in rural areas of developing countries. This could help reduce neonatal mortality and unnecessary healthcare costs.

Source: UG
The hot zones are cities: Methodological outcomes and synthesis of surface urban heat island effect in Africa

Global warming and rapid population growth are two of the most pressing issues in today’s world. There is growing evidence of rising temperatures. The urban heat island effect is a significant environmental issue facing cities today. Although this issue has gained much attention from developed countries, countries in Africa are yet to grapple with it on a significant scale. This paper examined the rising research dimensions and major methodological techniques in studying urban heat effects. The paper adopted a systematic review method where peer-reviewed articles formed the trajectory of debate on Urban Heat Island (UHI) in African cities. The paper finds remote sensing the most common method in analysing UHI effect than ground use technology (weather station), which is limited in spatial spread in most African countries. Urbanization and other human-induced factors majorly contribute to UHI and this has an impact on many elements of life, including morbidity, mortality, birth weight decrease, and social strife. The paper recommends research priority on UHI effect in African cities due to the rising population.

Source: UG
The house that Africa built

It's a privilege and an honor to have been invited to be a part of this conversation, a conversation that is, and has been, going on in different sites and among different groups since human beings discovered how to exploit difference, and the framing of difference, to garner resources and power. Here are vibrant conversations filled with possibilities for dismantling old yokes. The conversations are also painful, for the memories and experiences of oppressions (especially those unacknowledged centuries after the effects have been made public) linger, and haunt. These emotions are all the more agonizing for their palpable rawness, and the tenderness that the papers in this collection summon from those places in our hearts and minds that we often close off so we can survive and live to fight another day.

Source: UG
Household air pollution from solid fuel use and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the empirical evidence

Background: About 41% of households globally, mainly in developing countries rely on solid fuels for cooking with consequences for fetal growth and development. Previous reviews were limited in scope, assessing only two outcomes (birth weight, stillbirth). With important evidence accumulating, there is a need to improve the previous estimates and assess additional outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the quality and strength of available evidence on household air pollution (HAP) and the whole range of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: PubMed, Ovid Medline, Scopus and CINAHL were searched from their inception to the end of April 2013. All epidemiological study designs were eligible for inclusion in the review. The random-effects model was applied in computing the summary-effect estimates (EE) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Of 1505 studies screened, 19 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Household combustion of solid fuels resulted in an 86.43 g (95% CI: 55.49, 117.37) reduction in birth weight, and a 35% (EE5 1.35, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.48) and 29% (EE51.29, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.41) increased risk of LBW and stillbirth respectively. Conclusion: Combustion of solid fuels at home increases the risk of a wide range of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Access to clean household energy solutions is the surest way to combat HAP and mitigate their adverse effects.

Source: UG
Household and community poverty, biomass use, and air pollution in Accra, Ghana

Many urban households in developing countries use biomass fuels for cooking. The proportion of household biomass use varies among neighborhoods, and is generally higher in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities. Little is known of how household air pollution varies by SES and how it is affected by biomass fuels and traffic sources in developing country cities. In four neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana, we collected and analyzed geo-referenced data on household and community particulate matter (PM) pollution, SES, fuel use for domestic and small-commercial cooking, housing characteristics, and distance to major roads. Cooking area PM was lowest in the high-SES neighborhood, with geometric means of 25 (95% confidence interval, 21–29) and 28 (23–33) μg/m3 for fine and coarse PM (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10), respectively; it was highest in two low-SES slums, with geometric means reaching 71 (62–80) and 131 (114–150) μg/m3 for fine and coarse PM. After adjustment for other factors, living in a community where all households use biomass fuels would be associated with 1.5- to 2.7-times PM levels in models with and without adjustment for ambient PM. Community biomass use had a stronger association with household PM than household’s own fuel choice in crude and adjusted estimates. Lack of regular physical access to clean fuels is an obstacle to fuel switching in low-income neighborhoods and should be addressed through equitable energy infrastructure.

Source: UG
Household biomass fuel use, blood pressure and carotid intima media thickness; a cross sectional study of rural dwelling women in Southern Nigeria

Background Rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease requires in-depth understanding of predisposing factors. Studies show an association between air pollution and CVD but this association is not well documented in southern Nigeria where the use of biomass fuels (BMF) for domestic purposes is prevalent. Purpose This study aimed to explore the association between household BMF use and blood pressure (BP) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) among rural-dwelling women. Methods A cross-sectional study of 389 women aged 18 years and older. Questionnaires were used to obtain data on predominant fuel used and a brief medical history. Wood, charcoal and agricultural waste were classified as BMF while kerosene, bottled gas and electricity were classified as non-BMF. Blood pressure and CIMT were measured using standard protocols. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between fuel type and BP, CIMT, pre-hypertension and hypertension after adjusting for confounders. Results There was a significant difference in the mean (standard deviation) systolic BP (135.3, 26.7 mmHg vs 123.8, 22.6 mmHg; p < 0.01), diastolic BP (83.7, 18.5 mmHg vs 80.1, 13.8 mmHg; p = 0.043) and CIMT (0.63, 0.16 mm vs 0.56, 0.14 mm; p = 0.004) among BMF users compared to non-BMF users. In regression analysis, the use of BMF was significantly associated with 2.7 mmHg higher systolic BP (p = 0.040), 0.04 mm higher CIMT (p = 0.048) in addition to increased odds of pre-hypertension (OR 1.67 95% CI 1.56, 4.99, P = 0.035) but not hypertension (OR 1.23 95% CI 0.73, 2.07, P = 0.440). Conclusion In this population, there was a significant association between BMF use and increased SBP, CIMT and pre-hypertension. This requires further exploration with a large-scale longitudinal study design because there are policy implications for countries like Nigeria where a large proportion of the population still rely on BMF for domestic energy.

Source: UG
Household burden of chronic diseases in Ghana

This paper assesses the burden of non-fatal chronic non-communicable diseases on households in the midst of a paradigm change in Ghana's health policy that shifts healthcare costs to persons and households. Using data on 4,121 households from the World Health Survey for Ghana 2003, measures of direct and indirect burden of chronic diseases at the household level are constructed and assessed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. About 18% of the respondents indicated they had been diagnosed with one or more NCDs with 45% of them currently receiving treatment. About 11% of the respondents currently receiving treatment are living with more than one NCD condition, 7 in 10 of whom belong to households in the middle and higher income quintiles. Female respondents are more likely to report having NCDs, and the odds that a respondent would currently have NCDs increases with age and household income quintile. Mean healthcare expenditure for households with respondent currently living with NCDs is 49% higher than households with healthier respondents. The relatively high direct cost of illness among households with person(s) living with NCDs and the associated high indirect burden of illness places undue stress on households. Research requires better measurement of the indirect burden with focus on the household. These findings suggest the necessity of interventions at the national and community levels that focus on households providing care and support to persons living with NCDs.

Source: UG
Household characteristics for older adults and study background from SAGE Ghana Wave 1

Background: Globally, the population aged 60 years and older is projected to reach 22% by 2050. In sub-Saharan Africa, this figure is projected to exceed 8%, while in Ghana, the older adult population will reach 12% by 2050. The living arrangements and household characteristics are fundamental determinants of the health and well-being of this population, data sources about which are increasingly available. Methods: The World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 was conducted in China, Ghana, India, Russian Federation, Mexico, and South Africa between 2007 and 2010. SAGE Ghana Wave 1 was implemented in 2007/08 using face-to-face interviews in a nationally representative sample of persons aged 50-plus, along with a smaller cohort aged 18-49 years for comparison purposes. Household information included a household roster including questions about health insurance coverage for all household members, household and sociodemographic characteristics, status of the dwelling, and economic situation. Re-interviews were done in a random 10% of the sample and proxy interviews done where necessary. Verbal autopsies were conducted for deaths occurring in older adult household members in the 24 months prior to interview. Results: The total household population was 27,270 from 5,178 households. The overall household response rate was 86% and household cooperation rate was 98%. Thirty-four percent of household members were under 15 years of age while 8.3% were aged 65-plus years. Households with more than 11 members were more common in rural areas (57.2%) and in the highest income quintile (30.6%). Household members with no formal education formed 24.7% of the sample, with Northern and Upper East regions reaching more than 50%. Only 26.8% of the household members had insurance coverage. Households with hard floors ranged from 25.7% in Upper West to 97.7% in Ashanti region. Overall, 84.9% of the households had access to improved sources of drinking water, with the lowest at 29.6% in the Volta region. The overall rate of access to improved sanitation was just 14.9%. The findings show significant regional differences, with the three Northern Regions having worse education, income, and sanitation levels, compared to Southern and Central Regions of the country. Conclusion: Household characteristics and intra-household dynamics have been shown to influence health and health-seeking behaviors across a number of contexts and countries, and play a fundamental role in the well-being of older Ghanaians. SAGE Ghana is part of a multi-country study using standardized questionnaires and tested methodologies to provide household level data required to inform policy on the growing population of older adults in Ghana. With the good response rates and measures instituted to assure quality of data, this article demonstrates the high quality data and research methods of SAGE. © 2013 Richard B. Biritwum et al.

Source: UG
Household composition and the infant fecal microbiome: The INSPIRE study

Objectives Establishment and development of the infant gastrointestinal microbiome (GIM) varies cross‐culturally and is thought to be influenced by factors such as gestational age, birth mode, diet, and antibiotic exposure. However, there is little data as to how the composition of infants' households may play a role, particularly from a cross‐cultural perspective. Here, we examined relationships between infant fecal microbiome (IFM) diversity/composition and infants' household size, number of siblings, and number of other household members. Materials and methods We analyzed 377 fecal samples from healthy, breastfeeding infants across 11 sites in eight different countries (Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Peru, Spain, Sweden, and the United States). Fecal microbial community structure was determined by amplifying, sequencing, and classifying (to the genus level) the V1–V3 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Surveys administered to infants' mothers identified household members and composition. Results Our results indicated that household composition (represented by the number of cohabitating siblings and other household members) did not have a measurable impact on the bacterial diversity, evenness, or richness of the IFM. However, we observed that variation in household composition categories did correspond to differential relative abundances of specific taxa, namely: Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. Discussion This study, to our knowledge, is the largest cross‐cultural study to date examining the association between household composition and the IFM. Our results indicate that the social environment of infants (represented here by the proxy of household composition) may influence the bacterial composition of the infant GIM, although the mechanism is unknown. A higher number and diversity of cohabitants and potential caregivers may facilitate social transmission of beneficial bacteria to the infant gastrointestinal tract, by way of shared environment or through direct physical and social contact between the maternal–infant dyad and other household members. These findings contribute to the discussion concerning ways by which infants are influenced by their social environments and add further dimensionality to the ongoing exploration of social transmission of gut microbiota and the “old friends” hypothesis.

Source: UG
Household Composition and Well-Being of Older Persons in Ghana

Ghana’s population is aging in line with global trends. While this has implications for household composition and well-being of older persons, discussions on it have not received much attention in the various welfare studies on Ghana. This paper examines changes in household composition and their overall correlation with well-being of the older person. The data sets of the last four rounds of Ghana Living Standard Surveys were used to analyse trends in household composition in Ghana from 1991–1992 survey period to 2012–2013 survey period. A probit regression analysis was employed to identify key household characteristics and resources that correlate with well-being of older persons. The findings suggest that higher number of economically active household members, acquisition of formal education, receipt of remittances and ownership of certain material and social resources correlate positively with the well-being of the older persons. The paper concludes that household composition and resources owned by household members can affect the well-being of the older persons in the household. Household members are therefore encouraged to remain economically active while conserving resources to improve their well-being later in life.

Source: UG
Household cost of out-patient treatment of Buruli ulcer in Ghana: a case study of Obom in Ga South Municipality

Abstract Background The economic burden of diseases has become increasingly relevant to policy makers as healthcare expenditure keep rising in the face of limited and competing resources. Buruli ulcer (BU), a neglected but treatable tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, the only known environmental mycobacterium is capable of causing long term disability when left untreated. However, most BU studies have tended to focused on its bacteriology, epidemiology, entomology and other social determinants to the neglect of its economic evaluation. This paper reports estimated the household economic costs of BU and describe the intangible cost suffered by BU patients in an endemic area. Methods Retrospective one year cost data was used. A total of 63 confirmed BU cases were randomly sampled for the study. Economic cost and cost burden of BU were estimated. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the robustness of the cost estimates. Intangible cost measured stigmatization, pain, functional limitation and social isolation of children. Results The annual total household economic cost was US$35,915.98, of which about 65% was cost incurred by children with a mean cost of US$521.04. The mean annual household cost was US$570.09. The direct cost was 96% of the total cost. Non-medical cost accounts for about 97% of the direct cost with a mean cost of US$529.27. The mean medical cost was US$18.94. The main cost drivers of the household costs were transportation (78%) and food (12%). Caregivers and adult patients lost a total of 535 productive days seeking care, which gives an indirect cost valued at US$1,378.67 with a mean of US$21.88. A total of 365 school days (about 1&#160;year) were lost by 19 BU patients (mean, 19.2&#160;days). Functional loss and pain were low, and stigma rated moderate. Most children suffering from BU (84%) were socially isolated. Conclusion Household cost burden of out-patient BU ulcer treatment was high. Household cost of BU is therefore essential in the design of its intervention. BU afflicted children experience social isolation.

Source: UG