Northern Ghana Research Articles

Psycho-social factors influencing the adoption of sustainable intensification practices by smallholder rice farmers in Northern Ghana

Psycho-social factors influencing the adoption of sustainable intensification practices by smallholder rice farmers in Northern Ghana

Association between Gestational Weight Gain and Maternal and Birth Outcomes in Northern Ghana

Background. Although inappropriate gestational weight gain is considered closely related to adverse maternal and birth outcomes globally, little evidence was found in low- and middle-income countries. Study Objectives. This study is aimed at identifying the determinants of gestational weight gain and examine the association between gestational weight gain and maternal and birth outcomes in the Northern Region of Ghana. Study Methods. The study used a facility-based cross-sectional study design involving 611 antenatal and delivery records in Tatale district, Tamale west, and Gushegu municipal hospitals. A two-stage sampling method involving cluster and simple random sampling was employed. Descriptive statistical analysis and measures of central tendency were used to describe the sample. The multinomial logistic regression model was used to determine the determinants of gestational weight gain and its association with maternal and birth outcomes. Results. Among the 611 women included in the study, 516 (84.45%) had inadequate gestational weight gain, and 19 (3.11%) had excessive gestational weight gain. The gestational weight gain ranged from 2 kg to 25 kg with a mean of 7.26±3.70 kg. The risk factor for inadequate gestational weight gain was low prepregnancy BMI (adjusted odds ratio AOR=1.33, 95% CI=1.18−2.57, P=0.002). Pregnant women who had inadequate gestational weight gain were significantly less likely to deliver through caesarean section (AOR=0.27, 95% CI=0.12−0.61, P=0.002), and those who had excessive weight gain were more likely to undergo caesarean section (AOR=19.81, 95% CI=5.38−72.91, P=0.001). The odds of premature delivery (birth<37 weeks) among pregnant women with inadequate weight gain were 2.88 (95% CI=1.27−6.50, P=0.011). Furthermore, subjects who had excessive weight gain were 43.80 times more likely to give birth to babies with macrosomia (95% CI=7.07−271.23, P=0.001). Conclusion. Inappropriate gestational weight gain is prevalent in Ghana, which is associated with caesarean section, preterm delivery, delivery complications, and macrosomia. Urgent policy interventions are needed to improve on the frequent monitoring and management of gestational weight gain of pregnant women till term.

Early life ambient air pollution, household fuel use, and under-5 mortality in Ghana

IntroductionEnvironmental exposures, such as ambient air pollution and household fuel use affect health and under-5 mortality (U5M) but there is a paucity of data in the Global South. This study examined early-life exposure to ambient particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5), alongside household characteristics (including self-reported household fuel use), and their relationship with U5M in the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) in northern Ghana. MethodsWe employed Satellite-based spatiotemporal models to estimate the annual average PM2.5 concentrations with the Navrongo HDSS area (1998 to 2016). Early-life exposure levels were determined by pollution estimates at birth year. Socio-demographic and household data, including cooking fuel, were gathered during routine surveillance. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess the link between early-life PM2.5 exposure and U5M, accounting for child, maternal, and household factors. FindingsWe retrospectively studied 48,352 children born between 2007 and 2017, with 1872 recorded deaths, primarily due to malaria, sepsis, and acute respiratory infection. Mean early-life PM2.5 was 39.3 µg/m3, and no significant association with U5M was observed. However, Children from households using “unclean” cooking fuels (wood, charcoal, dung, and agricultural waste) faced a 73 % higher risk of death compared to those using clean fuels (adjusted HR = 1.73; 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.33). Being born female or to mothers aged 20–34 years were linked to increased survival probabilities. InterpretationThe use of “unclean” cooking fuel in the Navrongo HDSS was associated with under-5 mortality, highlighting the need to improve indoor air quality by introducing cleaner fuels.

Social learning and the acquisition of information and knowledge—a network approach for the case of technology adoption

Abstract The complexity of agricultural innovations and heterogeneity of circumstances of technology application, outcomes, and social network structures have often led to obstacles in social learning and suboptimal adoption. In this article, we examine technology diffusion by focusing on the roles of peer adoption decision, peer experience, and network structures, using survey data from 500 farm households in Northern Ghana to generate social network contacts. Our results reveal that learning from peer experiences matter more in the diffusion process than just peer adoption decisions alone. We also find that social learning and the likelihood of adoption are higher when peers are central nodes, and particularly when they belong to cohesive subgroups, but lower when they are in highly segregated networks. Our results shed new light on the role of central agents, since highly cohesive neighbourhoods seem to promote diffusion more in high-modularity networks than central nodes.

Estimation of water inflows to reservoirs of irrigation dams in the Guinea Savannah ecological zone of Ghana

Abstract The study was carried out in the northern Ghana to estimate water inflows to nine reservoirs of irrigation dams for a period of 20 years (1999–2018) using the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Curve Number model. The key input parameters of the model were hydrologic soil group, rainfall amount, landuse/landcover, weighted curve number, antecedent moisture condition, and potential maximum soil moisture retention. The annual rainfall within the reservoir catchments was found to vary between 617.20 and 1,382.30 mm. The estimated annual runoff depths ranged from 54.10 to 125.55 mm. A high degree of positive correlation was found between rainfall and runoff depths with a coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 79.80 to 90.70%. Hydrologic soil groups accounted for about 67.2 and 62.5% of the variation in runoff depth and percentage runoff, respectively. The estimated annual water inflows to the reservoirs ranged from 145,206 ± 125,814 m3/y at Gambibgo to 47,074,634 ± 4,395,860 m3/y at Tono. The variation in the annual water inflows and annual storage capacity recharge among the various reservoirs was noted to be influenced by reservoir size, catchment size, rainfall, and soil characteristics in the reservoir catchments.

A qualitative examination of factors influencing pregnancy-related anxiety in Northern Ghana

IntroductionDespite high prevalence of anxiety among pregnant women in low- and -middle-income countries, research on context-specific conceptualisation, measurement, and predictors of pregnancy-related anxiety (PrA) is limited in these contexts. We explored local conceptualisations of factors influencing PrA in the Northern Region of Ghana. MethodsWe conducted 15 focus group discussions with antenatal care seekers in the Mion District, Savelugu Municipality, and Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region, in July and August 2021. Multistage stratified purposive sampling was used to select respondents (n = 108). The data were audio-recorded and transcribed, and then we conducted a thematic analysis of the data. ResultsAt the individual level, fear of anaemia; pre-existing health conditions; challenges with daily activities; and physical, emotional, and sexual abuses from spouses contributed to PrA. Health system failures resulting in unexpected out-of-pocket payments, negative health worker attitudes, diagnostic errors, constraints on birth preparation and birth process, and potential adverse birth outcomes were understood as driving PrA. Socio-cultural factors influencing PrA comprised beliefs and practices around baby naming/outdooring ceremonies, fear of spiritual attacks, social construction of gender roles, and contextual factors such as transportation challenges. ConclusionPregnant women in the region understood, experienced, and could identify perceived predictors of PrA. To address PrA, we recommend that mental health services should be integrated into the basic package of antenatal care and rural health services should be improved. Perceived predictors of PrA identified here could be included in the design of a context-specific PrA measure for use in the region.

Development of regional input-output tables for Northern Ghana: An analysis using location quotient methods

Development of regional input-output tables for Northern Ghana: An analysis using location quotient methods

The effect of carbon farming training on food security and development resilience in Northern Ghana

ABSTRACT Carbon farming has recently been advocated for as climate change and variability mitigation and/or adaptation strategy in global agriculture. In this study, we address an important research question of whether carbon farming training can improve household resilience capacity as well as food security by employing internationally standardized indicators. Household resilience capacity and its components are measured using the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s resilience capacity index while the food security measures used include household and child food insecurity experience scale (FIES and CFIES), food consumption score (FCS) and household dietary diversity score (HDDS). We relied on doubly robust treatment effect estimators to account for potential selection bias and heterogeneity. We find that carbon farming training has no statistically significant effect on overall household resilience capacity. However, we find a large and statistically significant effect on key components of resilience (specifically, access to basic services, assets and social safety nets) and a marginal improvement in adaptive capacity. We also find statistically significant effect on FCS and HDDS but not for the other food security indicators (FIES and CFIES). Overall, the results suggest that agricultural training programs, particularly climate change adaptation capacity building initiatives, could improve important welfare measures in developing countries.

Effects of powdered Monosodium Glutamate (MGS) on growth performance, feed digestibility, haematology and carcass characteristics of Weaner rabbits in northern Ghana

Effects of powdered Monosodium Glutamate (MGS) on growth performance, feed digestibility, haematology and carcass characteristics of Weaner rabbits in northern Ghana

The impact of migration on culturally-embedded and subjective perceptions of habitability in a context of environmental change

Environmental change is increasingly challenging the habitability of places around the world, particularly with regard to resource-dependent rural areas in the Global South. Apart from objectively measurable, bio-physical indices, it is likewise important to look at individual and group-specific perceptions of habitability, which are embedded in their respective socio-cultural context(s). Migration as a well-established household risk diversification strategy has the potential to increase people’s adaptive capacity, their well-being, and can shape the way people perceive the habitability of places. This study utilizes a human-centered approach in order to unravel the impacts of migration on culturally-embedded and subjective perceptions of habitability in a rural community in Northern Ghana which faces increasing pressure of environmental changes. Based on qualitative empirical research, we utilize place attachment, social status, and community cohesion as exemplary socio-cultural dimensions with particular relevance in this specific local context to showcase 1) the subjectivity and cultural embeddedness of habitability perceptions and 2) the respective potential of migration to influence such perceptions to both positive and negative ends. Positive migration impacts on the underlying socio-cultural context(s) can serve to undergird (collective) responsibility and adaptive action towards improving local habitability in parallel to encouraging efforts that strive to maintain cultural integrity. Integrating this knowledge in future habitability assessments can pave the way for context-sensitive and locally-adjusted resilience-building strategies that take the potential benefits and disadvantages of migration into account.

Knowledge and perception of cereal farmers and extension agents on fungicide use in Northern Ghana.

Agricultural pesticide use in sub-Saharan Africa has doubled over the past three decades; with a greater relative increase for fungicides. As pesticide inputs continues to rise, so does the potential for the development of resistance. Here, we report on a survey conducted to understand pesticide resistance awareness, pesticide use knowledge and practices of growers and agricultural extension officers (AEOs) in the cereals growing-belt of Northern Ghana, with emphasis on fungicides. The results may inform development of strategies for improving pesticide literacy including resistance awareness, extension services, and crop protection outcomes. The survey revealed a low level of pesticide use knowledge for AEOs and growers. This was more so for growers with low education, predominantly women. Education level (and indirectly gender) influenced perceived effectiveness of fungicides and levels of adoption of cultural and agrochemical best practices. Only 28% of growers and 11% of AEOs practice crop and fungicide rotations, respectively. More than half (53%) of the respondents indicated that fungicides used in Northern Ghana are not effective. Given the low level of pesticide literacy of AEOs and growers, training programs on best practice on the use of pesticides, with targeted initiatives for female growers would improve crop protection outcomes, and safety. The limited adoptions of crop rotation and repeated use of fungicides with the same active ingredients, along with >50% of respondents reporting 'fungicides not working' suggest the potential presence of fungicide resistance cases in growers' fields in the Northern region of Ghana. Further work is needed to determine the incidence of resistance in the region. It is recommended that a key policy priority should focus on understanding broader agrochemical use practices, crop losses and household-level food security in the presence of resistance risks. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Mapping of community perspectives on land acquisition for biofuel investment in northern Ghana

We apply Q methodology, a model with a qualitative background, albeit with rigorous quantitative analysis, to map community perspectives (concerns, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and perceptions) towards the acquisition of communal land for a biofuel project in northern Ghana. We extracted four community perspectives, in the order of importance as follows: (1) pro-biofuel project, but pessimistic (2) against the biofuel project (pro-environmental) (3) strong against and (4) optimistic. Taken together, the perspectives suggest the local people believe the biofuel project has no potential to improve their livelihoods, meanwhile, there is a consensus that the project destroyed trees of economic importance and provided poor working conditions for the local employees. We recommend (1) the establishment of enforceable economic and social contracts between the employees, local land users and the biofuel investors (2) direct monetary compensation for the affected communal land users (3) investigation of allegations of late or partial-payment of salaries of the biofuel project’s employees (4) future considerations for acquiring communal land should include broad community consultations and incorporate the local land users’ interests, concerns, and viewpoints and (5) the local bioenergy policy of the government of Ghana must include checks on communal land sale decisions, which directly or indirectly impact the welfare of the people.

Providing standardized neonatal education in Northern Ghana

Neonatal mortality remains high in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, many nurses are assigned to care for small and sick newborns with little or no specialized training. This article described the three-phase training provided to nurses/midwives in Northern Ghana. The Council of International Neonatal Nurses, Inc. (COINN) developed the training based on the “train the trainer” to provide a standardized neonatal curriculum and associated bedside preceptorship. The training program was two months in length. The training was started at the teaching hospital and included two district hospitals.

Demographic, Sociocultural, and Behavioral Predictors of Modern Contraceptive Uptake Among Couples in Northern Ghana [Response to Letter].

Demographic, Sociocultural, and Behavioral Predictors of Modern Contraceptive Uptake Among Couples in Northern Ghana [Response to Letter].

Proportion of Angle Closure Glaucoma in Tamale, Ghana.

In the largest clinic-based study to date, our review of 588 patients presenting with glaucoma in Northern Ghana revealed 36% of these had primary angle closure glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. In Africa, glaucoma is an established public health problem, and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is not commonly discussed. Recognizing it is important because of its negative impact on visual morbidity, and also because its treatment is different from primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). In response to the observation of many PACG cases at the Northern Community Eye Hospital in Tamale, Ghana, we investigated the proportion of those attending with a first diagnosis of glaucoma who had PACG. Using the electronic records, we identified 976 patients who attended with a first diagnosis of glaucoma between January 2021 and October 2022. Of these, 588 met the inclusion criterion of a clear glaucoma subtype diagnosis. Of these 316 (53.7%) had POAG, 210 (35.7%) PACG, and 62 (10.5%) secondary glaucoma. Thus, over a third of presenting glaucomas had PACG. This study highlights that PACG is present in about a third of patients presenting to our clinic in North Ghana . Our study demonstrates the importance of a clear diagnostic pathway including gonioscopy in the assessment of glaucoma patients and the consideration of wider training on angle closure glaucoma diagnosis and management.

Application of machine learning techniques to predict groundwater quality in the Nabogo Basin, Northern Ghana

The main objective of this study was to map the quality of groundwater for domestic use in the Nabogo Basin, a sub-catchment of the White Volta Basin in Ghana, by applying machine learning techniques. The study was conducted by applying the Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm to predict groundwater quality, by utilizing factors that influence groundwater occurrence and quality such as Elevation, Topographical Wetness Index (TWI), Slope length (LS), Lithology, Soil type, Normalize Different Vegetation Index (NDVI), Rainfall, Aspect, Slope, Plan Curvature (PLC), Profile Curvature (PRC), Lineament density, Distance to faults, and Drainage density. The groundwater quality of the area was predicted by building a Random Forest model based on computed Arithmetic Water Quality Indices (WQI) (as dependent variable) of existing boreholes, to serve as an indicator of the groundwater quality. The predicted WQI of groundwater in the study area shows that it ranges from 9.51 to 69.99%. This implied that 21.97 %, 74.40 %, and 3.63 % of the study area had respectively the likelihood of excellent. The models were found to perform much better with an RMSE of 23.03 and an R2 value of 0.82. The study conducted highlighted an essential understanding of the groundwater quality in the study area, paving the way for further studies and policy development for groundwater management.

The Impact of Village Savings and Loan Associations as a Financial and Climate Resilience Strategy for Mitigating Food Insecurity in Northern Ghana

In semi-arid Northern Ghana, smallholder farmers face food insecurity and financial risk due to climate change. In response, the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) model, a community-led microfinance model, has emerged as a promising finance and climate resilience strategy. VSLAs offer savings, loans, and other financial services to help smallholder farmers cope with climate risks. In northern Ghana, where formal financial banking is limited, VSLAs serve as vital financial resources for smallholder farmers. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how VSLAs can bridge financial inclusion and climate resilience strategies to address food insecurity. From a sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF) perspective, we utilized data from a cross-sectional survey of 517 smallholder farmers in northern Ghana’s Upper West Region to investigate how VSLAs relate to food insecurity. Results from an ordered logistic regression show that households with membership in a VSLA were less likely to experience severe food insecurity (OR = 0.437, p < 0.01). In addition, households that reported good resilience, owned land, had higher wealth, were female-headed, and made financial decisions jointly were less likely to experience severe food insecurity. Also, spending time accessing the market increases the risk of severe food insecurity. Despite the challenges of the VSLA model, these findings highlight VSLAs’ potential to mitigate food insecurity and serve as a financially resilient and climate-resilient strategy in resource-poor contexts like the UWR and similar areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. VSLAs could contribute to achieving SDG2, zero hunger, and SDG13, climate action. However, policy interventions are necessary to support and scale VSLAs as a sustainable development and food security strategy in vulnerable regions.

Impact of integrated soil fertility management on maize yield, yield gap and income in northern Ghana

This paper analyzes the impact of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) on maize yield, yield gap and net income in northern Ghana using an inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA). In this study, ISFM is restricted to the adoption of crop rotation (CR), inorganic fertilizer (FT), and farmyard manure (MN) either in isolation or in combination. We find a synergy in yield gain (86.52 % increase in yield) and a decrease in yield gap (of 10.22 %) with the adoption of all three technologies as a package (CR+FT+MN). The joint adoption of all three technologies is also associated with a 51.29 % increase in net income from maize production and has a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 3.23.

Women’s Land Access and Gendered Outcomes in Northern Ghana

In rural Ghana, women encounter patriarchal values that restrict their access to productive agricultural lands. This undermines the productive capacity of women, affecting sustainable food production. Using mixed methods, we provide new insights into gendered land access in Northern Ghana. A sample of 228 household heads was surveyed from seven major communities across the study area. In-depth interviews were conducted with chiefs and women associations. Findings indicate that land-based decisions are mainly made by men as women were assigned to less fertile farmlands. As a result, women are disproportionately poorer and experienced occasional bouts of hunger. Outcomes of gendered land access were precarious, affecting poverty reduction, food security and women empowerment. The study recommends joint ownership of lands as a point of entry into customary land decision-making platforms by women. A deeper understanding of women’s land access dynamics in order to mainstream the same into land-sector policies was proffered.

Effect of large-scale land acquisition by domestic and international entities on farm investment in northern Ghana

Rural households remained the access-marginalized demographic in Africa despite massive land rushes by both domestic and foreign enterprises. As a result, investment decisions made by agricultural households are affected. To resolve this issue, a study that examines how exposure to large-scale land acquisition (LSLA) impacts people's agricultural investment decisions is required. Using data from 664 households selected using a multistage sampling technique, we examined the nexus between LSLA under local and foreign organizations and short-term investment (STI) and long-term investments (LTI) in land-improving measures. The results revealed that although LSLA under domestic and foreign entities tends to have a negative and statistically significant impact on the probability of LTI, it has a positive and significant impact on the probability of doing so for STI. The results also showed a simultaneity between LSLA and farm investment. Thus, giving farmers legal ownership safeguards them as they undertake LTI. To encourage household investment and reduce further exposure to LSLA, improvements in legal land ownership can be made.