Institutions In Ghana Research Articles

Assessing knowledge of sickle cell disease and health beliefs on premarital genetic screening among healthcare trainees at a tertiary institution: A cross-sectional study.

The uptake of sickle cell trait (SCT) test is challenged by several factors. A community of healthcare professionals educating the public to undergo screening is critical in reducing the disease burden. We investigated knowledge and attitude towards premarital SCT screening among healthcare trainee students who are the next generation of healthcare practitioners. A cross-sectional design was employed, and quantitative data were collected from 451 female students pursuing healthcare programs at a tertiary institution in Ghana. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. More than half of the participants were 20-24 years (54.55%) and had good knowledge (71.18%) about sickle cell disease (SCD). Age and school or social media as sources of information were significantly associated with good knowledge about SCD. Students between the age 20-24 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.54, confidence interval [CI] = 1.30-4.97) and knowledge (AOR = 2.19, CI = 1.41-3.39) were 3 times and 2 times more likely to have a positive perception about SCD severity. Students who have SCT (AOR = 5.16, CI = 2.46-10.82), whose source of information was family member/friends (AOR = 2.83, CI = 1.44-5.59) and social media (AOR = 4.59, CI = 2.09-10.12) were 5 times, 2 times and 5 times likely to have a positive perception about the susceptibility of SCD. Students whose source of information is school (AOR = 2.06, CI = 1.11-3.81) and who have good knowledge of SCD (AOR = 2.25, CI = 1.44-3.52) were 2 times more likely to have a positive perception about the benefits of testing. Students with SCT (AOR = 2.64, CI = 1.36-5.13) and source of information was social media (AOR = 3.01, CI = 1.36-6.64) were about 3 times more likely to have a positive perception about the barriers to testing. Our data shows that high level of SCD knowledge influences positive perceptions about the severity of SCD, the benefits and relatively low barriers to SCT or SCD testing and genetic counseling. Dissemination of SCT, SCD and premarital genetic counseling education should be intensified especially in schools.

Postgraduate students’ perception of plagiarism, awareness, and use of Turnitin text-matching software

ABSTRACT Plagiarism is a highly discussed issue in higher education institutions in recent times. Turnitin text-matching software has widely been adopted by many academic institutions in Ghana as one of the solutions to improving students’ and faculty academic writing and a solution for detecting incidences of plagiarism. There has been little empirical research into what students actually know about plagiarism and their lived experiences of text-matching technology, despite the fact that a lot of research has looked at attitudes, motivations, and demographic characteristics related to academic dishonesty. This study used an online Google form for data collection. We enrolled 1054 postgraduate students of the University of Cape Coast. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, and the proposed hypothesis was tested using Structural Equation Modeling. Findings show that there was no statistically significant relationship between postgraduate students’ academic levels and their perception of plagiarism. However, there is significant relationship between postgraduate students’ perception of plagiarism and their use of Turnitin. There is also statistically significant relationship between postgraduate students’ awareness of Turnitin and its use. This calls for increased awareness creation and sensitization, which can be accomplished through scientific writing workshops, focused on inculcating ethical research practices into students.

Building Research and Implementation Capacity among Early Career African Scientists

Building the capacity of a new generation of scholars is both a necessary and an exciting quest. It is an opportunity to be intentional in passing on the baton of ‘know-how’ (knowledge and experience) and ‘know-do’ (competence and leadership) in a way that ensures that future generations of scholars will generate the scientific evidence to support policy and program decisions make the world a better place. This special issue of AJFAND includes output from scholars involved in capacity building activities that have been possible through more than 20 years of research and training partnership between the University of Ghana, McGill University, and rural institutions in Ghana. The two Universities have collaborated on multiple projects (the RIING, ENAM, Nutrition Links, and LInkINg UP projects) that have developed the capacity of young trainees while improving maternal and child nutrition in rural settings [1-3].

Contract Work, a Blessing in Disguise? An Application of the Tenets of the Dual Labour Market Theory

This study aims at investigating the good and bad of contract employment and examines whether there have been changes in the working conditions over time. Specifically, the study explored why people accept contract work and the peculiar emotional challenges they experience due to their employment status. A qualitative research design was employed with data collected through interviews with 34 employees from six financial institutions in Ghana. Thematic analysis revealed that individuals’ reasons for accepting contract work were either for socioeconomic convenience, affective or job-related factors. The emotional challenges experienced by these contract workers were either psychological or social. Another finding that emerged pertained to intrinsic and extrinsic protective factors for the experience of these emotional challenges. These findings imply that although contract workers are more vulnerable and may experience a variety of emotional challenges compared to permanent workers, some of these contract workers consider their jobs a blessing rather than a curse.

Gender Perspective of Interpersonal Relationships in Pre-Tertiary Schools as a Teacher Motivator

Teachers are motivated by a variety of variables while they carry out their employment. However, the expected impact on teacher motivation has not been achieved as a result of the economic reasons. Numerous studies have demonstrated that social elements, such as satisfying interpersonal interactions, can spur people to pursue and accomplish a goal. But there has been a lot of silence over how this varies by gender. This made it necessary to conduct research to determine how interpersonal interactions (IR), specifically those between teachers and students, teachers and other teachers, and teachers and heads of schools in Ghana's Upper East Region (UER), affected teachers' motivation. A cross-sectional survey study design was used, and the data collection process used a mixed technique approach. Teachers at pre-tertiary institutions in UER in Ghana are the target demographic. 831 female and 1,719 male instructors from the area made up the sample. The data was gathered using a teacher motivation scale comprising 4 Likert scale questions and an interview schedule for focus group discussions. The findings demonstrated that interpersonal interactions at school (TP, TT, and TH) influence how instructors in pre-tertiary institutions in Ghana's Upper East Region (UER) carry out their duties, with TT offering the greatest incentive and TH the least. Although IR generally has no association with gender, Pearson's chi-square study revealed that TT as a teacher motivator is associated to gender. To encourage male and female teachers to fulfil their jobs, it is important to foster positive interpersonal interactions at pre-tertiary institutions. Being able to establish close relationships with one's co-workers is key to enjoying one's job as a teacher. Therefore, it is crucial that educators work hard to cultivate good relationships with their colleagues.
 
 Received: 12 August 2022 / Accepted: 29 December 2022 / Published: 5 January 2023

Situating the West African System of Collectivity: A Study of Susu Institutions in Ghana’s Urban Centers

West African informal collective institutions have much to offer the study of international development. Susu is the local name for a cooperative system involving rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) practiced by millions of people. This essay argues that the Ghana susu are community economies, drawing on J. K. Gibson-Graham’s theory of community economies and its ethical principles for amplifying well-being, conducting ethical business, encountering others, and the joyful commoning of goods. The essay’s primary research was carried out in a community with forty-six susu members, through focus-group discussions and individual interviews in Accra, Tema, Cape Coast, and Kumasi. By acknowledging the susu system, the essay advances ideas of equity and highlights the African contribution to a sustainable economic model. The Ghana susu have a long-standing history of solidarity economics rooted in mutual aid, self-sufficiency, and the collective, and this history should be noted as a powerful antidote to neoliberal development.

Exploring the Internal Supply Chain Management Practices for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana: Evidence from Bolgatanga Technical University

Exploring the Internal Supply Chain Management Practices for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana: Evidence from Bolgatanga Technical University

Analysis of p21 Expression in Cervical Carcinoma at a Tertiary Institution in Ghana: An Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of female mortality worldwide. About 85% occur in low-income countries with 13.8% incidence and 14% death in Ghana. p21 has been overexpressed in many cancers. Its overexpression in cervical cancer is linked to tumor growth and a bad prognosis. Aim: The expression profile of p21 in our setting is largely unknown, therefore, the necessity to evaluate p21 expression in cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study design was employed to investigate p21 expression in association with demographic and clinicopathological features on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cervical cancer tissues. The age, histologic type, and tumor grade of patients were abstracted from the hospital records between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016. Tissue microarray of suitable blocks was constructed, and immunohistochemistry was performed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: One hundred and thirty-five cases were used for the study with an age range of 31–115 years and mean age of 58.93 years (standard deviation ± 17.88). Majority of the cases were postmenopausal (40–59 years). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common histological type (96.3%) with the nonkeratinizing variant having the highest frequency (53.1%). Majority of the cases were high grade; Grade 2 (33.3%) and Grade 3 (49.6%). Majority of the cases (66.7%) stained positive for p21 antibody. The associations between p21 and the clinicopathological characteristics were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). p21 was more overexpressed in SCC (64.8%) than adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: An overexpression of p21 in this study suggests that it may contribute to antiapoptosis in cervical cancer leading to tumor progression, aggressive behavior, and poor prognosis.

Assessment of Maintenance Practices in Health Care Institutions in Ghana; A Study of Bekwai Municipal Hospital

Purpose – The study aims to assess the maintenance practices in the Bekwai Municipal Hospital. The study specifically assessed the availability of a maintenance policy, the maintenance strategy used, and the current state of buildings in the hospital. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a descriptive research design. A sample size of 108 respondents was selected using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires and observation checklists were used to collect data for the study. Findings – The Bekwai Government Hospital has a maintenance policy and uses a corrective maintenance strategy. Maintenance works are performed only upon request, which are acted upon approximately within one month. Users (staff) of hospital facilities generally made maintenance requests verbally. Generally, the buildings in the hospital were in a good state of repair. Practical Implications – The paper underscores the importance of efficient maintenance practices in Ghanaian healthcare institutions, as they significantly influence building conditions and effective healthcare delivery. Originality/ Value – The study specifically focused on maintenance practices that could enhance the effective management and use of hospital facilities (buildings and other services).

Clothing selection and appearance of pro-vice chancellors: A case of University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Beyond food and shelter, clothing is also recognized as one of the basic human needs and provides a medium for interpersonal communication in human in a non-verbal form. The manner in which individuals dress in society, especially those who occupy leadership positions, ultimately conveys salient information about them. Clothing selection practices apply to leaders of all categories, of which Pro-Vice Chancellors of universities are not exceptions. Using a qualitative approach to research and relying on semi-structured interviews to collect data from three participants, the study examined the clothing selection practices of Pro-Vice Chancellors at the University of Cape Coast, a state-owned institution in Ghana, from 2012 to 2021. The study's findings revealed that clothing selection practices among Pro-Vice Chancellors of the University of Cape Coast do not exist in a vacuum, but depend on a number of judgements carved by participants. Ultimately, the study contributes to scholarship on clothing selection practices among individuals in positions of authority.

Determinants and Manifestations of Nurse Managers Emotional Intelligence in Ghana; A qualitative enquiry

Nurses promote quality services for the betterment of patients when successfully supervised by an effective nurse manager. A nurse managers effectiveness does not only rely on their skill set but their ability to recognise their emotions and that of others and considering how their emotions manifest at the working environment which is a significant requirement  for a nurse manager to leading subordinates and meeting deadlines and achieving set targets. This survey aimed at exploring the determinants and manifestations of nurse manager’s emotional intelligence at health care institutions in Ghana. This was a qualitative study that employed an explorative cross-sectional design and a purposive sampling technique to recruit 15 nurse managers with the assistance of an interview guide. Data collected were manually transcribed using Microsoft word and content analysis conducted. Labels were assigned to significant information generated form transcribed data and emergencing codes identified. Similar codes were combined to form sub-themes and several sub-themes into themes. In all six-sub-themes and three themes were developed form the data. Findings revealed nurse managers' ability to apply emotions (intra-personnel emotional awareness) to handle work-related challenges. Their ability to be emotionally aware of the structures of an organisation enabled them to adapt to a specific leadership style. Additionally, their interpersonal emotional awareness enabled them to socially interact with staff and patients, enabling them to professionally respond to ethical dilemmatic circumstances. The study concluded that, nurse managers were abrased with how their emotional intelligence manifest whilst in active services, therefore health policy makers, stakeholders and nursing professional associations should incorporate emotional intelligence into nursing education and performance review.

University Students Behaviour Modelling Using the K‐Prototype Clustering Algorithm

Counselling students remains a pre‐eminence for most tertiary institutions in Ghana to the extent that institutions now have counselling units that extend to the departmental level. This study used the K‐prototype machine learning algorithm to cluster students’ behaviour based on 28 relevant attributes and further proposed a classification model. The analysis of the experimental outcomes using the elbow method reveals the formation of three distinct clusters with decreasing intra‐cluster similarities and increasing inter‐cluster distances. The first cluster uniquely consists of active learners with three or more roommates, primarily in the first year. The second cluster with the highest membership consists mainly of second‐year students who exhibit passive classroom conduct and reside in a two‐occupancy hostel. The third cluster contains a mixture of third and final‐year students who are highly passive in class and live in a tenancy occupancy of two. After clustering, the K‐nearest neighbours, logistic regression, naïve Bayes (NB), and AdaBoost ensemble algorithms were implemented to create a model for future learner cluster prediction. Simulation results using the tenfold cross‐validation technique show that AdaBoost (NB) has the highest accuracy of 99.88% with an F‐measure score of 0.999 and receiver operating characteristic–area under the curve value of 1.00.

Filth Flies As Carriers of Intestinal Parasites And Fungi in a Tertiary Institution in Ghana

Filth Flies As Carriers of Intestinal Parasites And Fungi in a Tertiary Institution in Ghana

A nationwide cross-sectional review of in-hospital hepatitis B virus testing and disease burden estimation in Ghana, 2016 - 2021

Background and aimsData are needed to inform hepatitis B virus (HBV) testing and treatment policies in Ghana to make progress towards achieving the 2030 WHO elimination targets. This study investigated testing patterns for HBV and described the age, sex, and region-specific prevalence of HBV infection in Ghana using hospital data.MethodsA nationwide multi-centre cross-sectional study was performed where hospital-based registers were reviewed. These included review of 139,966 laboratory, 169,048 blood bank, and 83,920 delivery register entries from 22 healthcare institutions in Ghana. Frequencies and proportions, and crude and pooled estimates reported. Chi squared test was used for tests of independence. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with a positive test result.ResultsThe crude HBsAg seroprevalence was 8.48% (95%CI 8.25–8.57%) with pooled estimate of 11.40% (95%CI 10.44–12.35). HBsAg seroprevalence among children under 5 years was 1.87% (95%CI 1.07-3.27) and highest age-specific seroprevalence was in those 40-49 years. The highest region-specific seroprevalences was in the Savannah (22.7%). Predictors of a positive HBsAg RDT test included female sex (OR 0.81 95% CI 0.74–0.88), and age (OR 1.005 95%CI 1.002–1.007). The proportion of parturient women receiving HBsAg testing increased between 2017 (87.2%) and 2020 (94.3%) (p < 0.001). The crude HBsAg seroprevalence in parturient women was 6.14% (95% CI 5.97-6.31). Among blood donors the crude HBsAg seroprevalence was 5.69% (95%CI 5.58–5.80). Data from 2 teaching hospitals indicated that in 2020, although 1500 HBsAg positive tests were recorded only 746 serological profile and 804 HBV DNA tests were performed. HBV e antigen seroprevalence was 6.28% (95%CI 4.73–7.84).Conclusion and recommendationsGhana remains a country with high HBV burden. There is an unequal distribution, with higher HBsAg seroprevalence in the north of the country. Furthermore, PCR testing is not widely available outside of large teaching hospitals, which limits diagnostic work-up. Hepatitis reporting systems and registers should be improved to facilitate data capture of indicators and standardised across the country to allow for comparability. Furthermore, where gains have been made in testing among pregnant women, there is a need for linkage to appropriate care.

Towards a circular economy: a knowledge-attitude gap between demand and supply-side operators on green building construction in Ghana

PurposeTo be able to achieve the uptake and usage of green buildings requires various actors within the construction value chain to be engaged. Despite its global uptake, green building construction is still at its nascent stage in Ghana. Most studies in sub-Saharan Africa point to the lack of knowledge as one of the mitigating factors against its development. However, there is a dearth of studies assessing the level of knowledge of stakeholders. The terms “knowledge” and “awareness” of green building construction are often used interchangeably in the Ghanaian Construction Industry (GCI). This study seeks to unearth the level of knowledge of stakeholders on green building construction through a comparative analysis of construction professionals and demand-side operators.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was issued to professionals in the various recognised bodies in the construction industry and public and private institutions in Ghana. Frequency, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, median statistics and Mann–Whitney U-Test were used to rank and analyse the level of knowledge of stakeholders.FindingsConstruction professionals were more aware of green building construction than the demand-side operators. It was further identified that only a few of these stakeholders had hands-on experience as the majority of them have gained their awareness through research studies. Based on the findings of the study, it was revealed that the concept of green building construction is more abstract to stakeholders than practical despite their positive attitude towards its adoption.Practical implicationsContextually, the study has aided in showing the level of knowledge of stakeholders on green building construction. The findings of the study aside from it aiding policymakers have also helped in identifying the perceptions and attitudes of stakeholders, their strengths and weakness in green building construction. It is recommended that due to the differences in socio-political structures and construction methods, a clear definition of green building based on the availability of resources in the GCI will encourage its adoption.Originality/valueThe study used two stakeholder groupings in the GCI as the unit of analysis. This enabled insightful discoveries into the knowledge-attitude gap of Ghanaian stakeholders that are driving the adoption of green building.

Social network for collaborative learning: what are the determining factors?

Despite the disruptiveness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South, the superficial and lacklustre use of information technology has been exposed, especially in the education sector. Meanwhile, the early stages of the pandemic saw academic institutions racing up to harness digital learning solutions, including social networks, to facilitate teaching and learning. By sampling 360 students from higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ghana, a partial least square structural equation modelling, in this study, was leveraged to explore the determinants of using social networks for collaborative learning. After analysing the data, this study shows that perceived ease of use of social networks, perceived usefulness of social networks, perceived enjoyment from social network use, subjective norm, and user satisfaction were the main determinants that influence students' attitudes towards the use of social networks for collaborative learning. Additionally, the study found social networks as a useful tool for improving the academic performance of students in HEIs. We therefore envision that this study would influence policy, practice, and research on the use of social networks for teaching and learning in HEIs in the Global South.

Effects of skill acquisition on entrepreneurship development: General systematic review and progress in Ghana

Over the years, governments in Ghana have provided various stimulus packages for local entrepreneurs to rejuvenate and expand their businesses while setting up new companies. The question is, how talented are the youth in entrepreneurship? This paper sought to review the extant literature on the impact of skill acquisition on entrepreneurship development and progress in Ghana. The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach was used to search for relevant journal articles from Scopus, Emerald Insight, and Google Scholar search engines. The search criteria were limited to journal articles with the keywords “skill acquisition”, “entrepreneurship,” and entrepreneurship development” from 1970 to 2020. Using the SLR technique, a total of 45 articles were identified, and 21 were relevant to the research focus. The review identified that skill acquisition significantly influences entrepreneurship development. It is recommended that entrepreneurship skill acquisition should be integrated in the Ghanaian education system right from the elementary level. Again, tertiary institutions in Ghana should have entrepreneurial centers for practical sessions.

Analysis of p21expression in cervical carcinoma in a tertiary institution in Ghana: an immunohistochemical study

Abstract Introduction/Objective Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of female mortality worldwide. About 85% occur in low-income countries with 13.8% incidence and 14% death in Ghana. P21 overexpression in cervical cancer is linked to tumour growth and a bad prognosis. The expression profile of p21 in our setting is largely unknown, thus the necessity to evaluate p21 expression in cervical cancer Methods/Case Report A retrospective and descriptive study to investigate p21 expression in association with demographic and clinicopathological features of cervical cancer. The age, histologic type and tumour grade of patients were abstracted over 2 years. Tissue microarray (TMA) of suitable FFPE blocks was constructed and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Of the 135 cases, age range was 31-115 years and mean age of 58.93 years (SD ± 17.88). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type (96.3%) with the non-keratinizing variant having the highest frequency (53.1%). Majority of the cases were high grade tumours (82.9%). About 66.7% of the cases stained positive for p21 antibody; most of which are high grade tumours and squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion An overexpression of p21 (anti-apoptotic biomarker) was seen in high grade squamous cell carcinoma suggesting that it may contribute to tumour progression, aggressive behaviour and poor prognosis

Funding of Tertiary Education in Ghana

The issue of funding tertiary education continues to be a subject of enormous cardinality with an extreme importance which attracts immense attention from the government, school management authorities and all other stakeholders.Conversely, in both the developed and developing economies, the government plays a vital role when it comes to subsidising the tertiary education system. This article indicates that universities and other tertiary institutions in Ghana receive financial support and resources from the Internally Generated Fund, the GETFund, and local authority revenues. International organisations including the Ford Foundation, the World Bank, and the Benedal Foundation have also contributed to the successful development of Ghana's tertiary education system. According to current data, approximately 95% of the revenue of private tertiary education institutions in Ghana comes from tuition fees, while the remaining 5% comes from other external sources. In order for Ghana to grow its economy, the government need to invest more money in tertiary education. Knowledge provided by the tertiary education sector is useful to the entire nation and its economy. The survey conducted for this paper indicated that polytechnics and universities struggle to secure sufficient funds to handle the financial needs of these institutions. Moreover, the fall in government spending on tertiary education possess significant impact on salaries, other financial compensation, and perks of university employees, as well as the daily operations of these institutions. Keywords: Funding, Tertiary, Education DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/13-22-01 Publication date: November 30 th 2022

Effective or Ineffective: Features of Work-Based Learning Models in Higher Fashion Education Institutions in Ghana

The current study analysed the features of work-based learning models in higher fashion education institutions in Ghana. The study emphasized the need for skilled human resources in the new era of the knowledge-based economy, as this would be crucial for Ghana to become a developed nation. Creative and vocational education in Higher Education (HE) is about creativity and innovativeness. These are the most significant attributes that higher fashion education graduates must possess. The study adopted descriptive research designs due to their nature. The mixed methods technique was considered appropriate for answering the research question as it concerns dynamic phenomena such as innovation and change. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted to select fashion houses in eight regions of Ghana. Both undergraduate and postgraduate fashion students and some graduates practising their acquired skills in the fashion industry were also used as samples for the study. Questionnaires and interviews were utilized to collect data. The major empirical findings of this study suggest that students possess inadequate skills as they embark on work-based learning programs from their various academic institutions. Distinctly, the results revealed that students lacked practical competence in their field of specialization. Keywords: Features of work-based learning, models, work-based learning programs, work-based learning approaches, higher fashion education, Ghana, creative and vocational education DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-32-04 Publication date: November 30 th 2022