Upper West Region Research Articles

BASIC SCHOOL TEACHERS’ ASSESSMENT PRACTICES IN THE SISSALA EAST MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

<p>This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-method design to examine basic school teachers’ classroom assessment conceptions in the Sissala East Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. In particular, the study examined the classroom assessment practices of teachers and their demographic characteristics that influence their assessment practices. Quantitative data gathered from 203 respondents were analyzed using mean, standard deviations, t-test and ANOVA. In the follow-up qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 12 participants and the data subjected to interpretive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that teachers mostly employ traditional assessment methods than alternative assessment tools Furthermore, gender, age, assessment training, teaching experience and class teaching level impacted the teachers’ use of assessment methods. It was recommended among other issues that regular in-service training in assessment be conducted for teachers for them to be up-to-date and also develop their skills and use of appropriate alternative classroom assessment practices.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0775/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Quality assurance policies and implementation in nursing and midwifery training colleges in Ghana

<span lang="EN-US">The study assessed internal quality assurance (QA) systems in health training institutions in the Upper West Region. The study adopted the cross-section analytical design with a sample size of 272 (67 health tutors and 205 final year nursing students) using systematic and purposive sampling techniques. Data for the study were collected with a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS and Stata. The study revealed that the majority (5 of 7) of nursing and midwifery colleges (NMTCs) in the Upper West Region have no quality assurance policy available, 65.7% of tutors indicated their institutions had quality assurance units/committees however these committees are inactive the total level of QA practices/implementation rate was low among colleges in the region. The study also revealed a lack of participatory governance and the existence of a poor communication system between staff and heads. The study contended that there is a need for heads (principals) of NMTCs in the Upper West region in Ghana should ensure the formation and functioning of QA units in their various institutions. These units should be empowered and allowed by heads to function as per recommendations by the regulatory bodies to support and to ensure quality training of nurses and midwives.</span>

Interrelated and Multi-Dimensional Factors Affecting Quality Basic Education in Nandom Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana

Worldwide, quality education is a platform for social and personal development. In recent times, pupils in basic schools in Nandom Municipality seem not to acquire critical learning skills and consequently are underperforming. This paper investigates the interrelated and multi-dimensional factors affecting quality education in basic schools in the Nandom Municipality. Through the system andhuman capital theories, the paper draws a link between the various kinds of educational inputs pupils receive, the processing of such inputs and their outcomes, which reflect in their academic performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The study employed a mixed research methods design. Cluster sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were used to selectrespondents. The study found that many pupils are not acquiring foundational knowledge in Literacy and Mathematics as reflected in the BECE performance due to inadequate educational resources, poor school management and supervision, and family socio-economic background factors. The study concludes that the quest for quality education for pupils would continue to be illusive unless thefundamentals underpinning quality education such as school resources and management are improved. It is recommended that government provides adequate educational resources for schools and reinforces the decentralisation concept of school management.
 Keywords: Quality Education, Resources, Management, Pupils, Learning Achievements

Sustainability of community-managed small town and rural water systems in northern Ghana: lessons from Upper West Region

AbstractThis study assessed sustainability of small town and rural water services in northern Ghana using lessons from Jirapa Municipality. A case study design, deploying mixed methods, was employed. Data were obtained from household questionnaires administration and in-depth interviews with community leaders and institutional stakeholders in the water sector. The results revealed that, though access to potable water has increased since the introduction of community-management of water services in Jirapa Municipality, there are still difficulties in terms of adequate water supply. Sustainability challenges revealed by the study are managerial and technical, including ineffective water-management committees, inadequate operations and maintenance capacity, inadequate funds to maintain facilities and lack of continuing support. The study concludes that the apparently improved access to potable water in the Municipality may be short-lived. To improve and sustain water services, water-management committees should be established and trained in administration, operations, maintenance and tariff setting. Also, innovative ways, such as establishing a ‘water-management fund’, should be used to provide continuing support to communities.

Female Genital Mutilation in Ghana: Prevalence and Socioeconomic Predictors.

Background Each year, not less than three million women are circumcised, and more hundred million females have already been circumcised. In many African societies, the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a serious cultural practice. Aim: This current study is aimed at identifying the socioeconomic predictors of female genital mutilation in Ghana. Methods The design adopted for this study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey relying on data from the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017/18. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used for associations. Results Overall FGM prevalence, this study recorded was 11.7%. The region with the highest (50.5%) prevalence was the Upper West Region. Area of residence predicted rural (AOR = 2.30, 95%C.I. = 1.75–3.00) Upper West/western Region (AOR = 1.84, 95%C.I. = 1.23–2.75). In terms of ethnicity, the tribes that predicted FGM when compared with the Akan tribe were Guan (AOR = 8.91, 95%C.I. = 3.53–22.51), Gruma (AOR = 6.45, 95%C.I. = 2.91–14.31), Mole-Dagbani (AOR = 38.10, 95%C.I. = 21.20–68.49), Grusi (AOR = 45.30, 95%C.I. = 24.47 − 83.49), Mande (AOR = 68.58, 95%C.I. = 30.85 − 152.42), and other tribes (AOR = 29.33, 95%C.I. = 16.11–53.39). Women in the richest/poorest wealth index quintile (AOR = 1.80, 95%C.I. = 1.19–2.72). Conclusion The study prevalence of FGM is still high in the northern part of Ghana, and the predicted factors were residence region, ethnicity, educational level, and economic status.

Do ecotourism sites enhance rural development in Ghana? Evidence from the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary Project in the Upper West Region, Wa, Ghana

ABSTRACT Globally, ecotourism has become an important component of the tourism sector, partly because it serves as an essential source of livelihood for local communities. The Wechaiu Community Hippo Sanctuary Project (WCHSP) is one of the community-based ecotourism facilities in Ghana with the potential to accelerate development of the area. Studies have investigated the sustainability of the project and the levels of participation in the management of the project. However, these studies have seldom investigated the benefits and costs of the WCHSP to the surrounding communities. Using a concurrent mixed-method involving 206 survey respondents and 13 in-depth interviews, the study found that the development of the resource has led to improved social, economic, health and infrastructural needs of the people but also noted that the resource has indirectly introduced some levels of hardships to the communities due to loss of livelihoods. The policy and practical implication of the study are discussed.

Child Temperament and Academic Performances among Kindergarteners

The study examined the relationship between child temperament and academic performances among kindergarteners in the Wa East and Wa West districts of the upper west region of Ghana. A sample of 150 fathers were selected at random from the two districts to participate in the study. Children of the fathers selected were made of 69 boys and 81girls. Self-reported data from questionnaires were used to examine the relationship between child temperament and academic performances among the kindergarten children of the selected region. Analyses of the data revealed that low intensity, anger/frustration, attentional focusing, fear, and falling reactivity/soothability characteristics of child temperament categories predicted the academic performances of the kindergarten children within the two districts. It was also realized from the study that the occupation of fathers exhibited significant relationship with the academic performances of the kindergarten children. However, child gender, their ages and that of fathers’, fathers’ income levels, and the districts of origin showed no relationship with the academic performances of the kindergarten children. It is hereby recommended that behavioral disorder/disability centers should be established at kindergarten centers to guide and counsel practice on behave management and practices.

Integrating sustainable energies into local government plans in Ghana

Despite significant efforts to mainstream sustainable energies into national policies, the extent to which such energies are integrated into local government plans in Ghana remains unclear. This study explored the status and factors affecting the integration of sustainable energies in local level planning using the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region as a case study. Key informant interviews were held with four heads of departments alongside a content analysis of eight policy and planning documents using ATLAS.ti software. The scope of the study covered the 2010–2013 and 2014–2017 development plans prepared by the Municipality and was conducted between May and July 2019. We found that energy-related projects constituted only 1.4% and 1.1% of all the projects found in the 2010–2013 and 2014–2017 MTPs of the Municipality, respectively. The focus on energy in the plans was on increasing electricity access through grid extension, with little attention to off-grid applications and alternative energy sources. We conclude that low priority is given to sustainable energy issues in the local government plans, and this situation is partly attributed to the fact that planning guidelines and national policy frameworks did not explicitly outline strategies for integrating sustainable energies into local government plans. Hence, provisions in national policy frameworks and national guidelines for local development planning significantly affects the integration of sustainable energies at the local government level. We recommend that the National Development Planning Commission should incorporate explicit provisions for integrating sustainable energies into the district/local planning guidelines.

Factors influencing climate change adaptation strategies in North-Western Ghana: evidence of farmers in the Black Volta Basin in Upper West region

The erratic rainfall patterns and decline in crop production are due to the threat of climate change. The responses of farm households to climate change play a very essential role in addressing the risk of climate change. This study investigated factors influencing adaptation strategies to climate change in the Black Volta Basin of Ghana. Survey questions were administered to 450 households sampled from eight districts using a multistage sampling technique. Out of the six adaptation strategies, four major identified adaptation strategies were subsequently used as the dependent variable in the multivariate (MV) probit and binary logit models. The results revealed that factors such as gender, age, household size, farmer-based-organizations membership, farm income, years of education, districts of location of respondents, farm size and climate change awareness—statistically and significantly—influenced households’ adaptation to the changing climate. However, the positive correlation matrix from the MV probit model showed complementarities among all the adaptation strategies adopted by household heads. Priority should be given to improving household heads’ adaptive capacity. Also, governmental and non-governmental organizations should invest in climate-resilient programmes. Finally, programmes aimed at sensitizing household heads on climate change adaptation strategies such as changing planting time, changing farming methods, and planting early maturing and drought-resistant varieties through pieces of trainings and workshops may be duly supported by the Government; particularly, for household heads in the Black Volta Basin.

Irrigation Water Management Practices in Upper West Region of Ghana: Prospects, Challenges and Mitigation Measures

Water is vital for agricultural production especially in arid areas like the Upper West Region (UWR) in Ghana. The management of water resources for irrigation is therefore paramount. Irrigation Water Management practices (IWM) and their potential for boosting agricultural productivity and food security in UWR are examined in this paper with focus on three purposively sampled irrigation schemes at Sankana, Busa and Yelayiri. Thirty sampled members of Water User Associations (WUAs) and leaders from each of the schemes were interviewed for their views on IWM practices and challenges. Additionally, 10 agricultural experts also provided their views. The quantitative data were analysed with SPSS whiles the qualitative information was subjected to content and discourse analyses. Crosstab correlation helped to determine the relationship between WUAs/farmers’ IWM practices and the performance of the schemes whiles pairwise ranking helped to reveal the severity of IWM challenges and appropriate measures recommended for fixing them.

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Adaptation Strategies of Farmers against Climate Change in Lawra Municipality, Upper West Region, Ghana

Climate-Change is real and has daunting effects on various economic sectors. Agriculture is one of the hardest hit. The sector is the main source of livelihood for rural areas and risk being endangered. Concrete steps are needed to adapt to the situation. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices are robust coping mechanisms against climate change and the effects on agriculture. Farmers in Lawra Municipal are encouraged to employ CSA practices in farming. The CSA adaptation strategies of farmers in Lawra against climate change are unclear. Specifically, the objective of the study is to identify CSA adaptation strategies of farmers in Lawra. The importance of this study is to strengthen the adaptation capacity of farmers towards protecting their primary livelihood source (agricultural) from the impact of climate change. Employing a qualitative approach and using a semi-structured questionnaire, the study conducted in-depth interviews with farmers, and a key informant each from the Municipal Agriculture Department and one local radio station. Quota, snowballing and purposive non-probability sampling techniques were employed to select 20 farmers with knowledge and experiences on CSA practices. Findings from the study suggest that, farmers’ CSA adaptation strategies included advice on crop management, new or improved crop varieties, climate change education and awareness, and the organization of field trips to demonstration sites. To improve farmers’ adaptation strategies, the study recommends intensification of routine visits and monitoring by agriculture extension agents, encouraging farmers to frequently visit the Municipal Agriculture Department for assistance, and governments and the private sector must support farmers with logistics and credit pertaining to CSA practices.

Examining the relationship between transportation mode and the experience of road traffic accident in the upper west region of Ghana

The recent alarming rates of morbidity and mortality associated with road traffic accidents (RTAs) is a major global public health concern. The United Nations Organization has recognized the enormity of this problem and specified target 6 of the Sustainable Development Goal 3 that aims to halve injuries and deaths from RTAs by the end of 2020. Current accident trends in many low- and middle-income countries, however, pose a significant challenge to the attainment of this all important target. This could be informed by how accident prevention strategies overlook prevailing local traveling choices. The present study examines different modes of daily travels in northern Ghana and the experience of accidents. Logistic regression models were fitted to a cross-sectional data sample of 741 individual surveys conducted in three districts in the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana. Findings show that respondents who reported using motorcycle/tricycle as their common mode of transportation were more likely (AOR = 2.6, CI = 1.32,5.19) to experience accident compared with their car user counterparts. Also, participants were more likely (AOR = 1.17, CI = 1.03,1.32) to report experiencing an accident if their knowledge of speed limits was poor while high road safety perceptions was associated with lower likelihood (AOR = 0.95, CI = 0.91,1.00) of experiencing an accident. Although car accident is the most common form of RTAs in Ghana, the results of this study show that motorcycle/tricycle accident is common in the UWR. It is therefore important for accident prevention strategies to recognize contextual differences and nuances that inform transport choices and the associated risk of accidents.

Monitoring of water and sanitation services within an integrated decentralised monitoring system: experiences from Ghana

Abstract Monitoring of water and sanitation services has for a long time been project driven in the developing world. The need for data to inform subnational planning and delivery of quality services has led to the adoption of decentralised integrated monitoring. However, little is known about the strengths and weaknesses of this approach in the monitoring of water and sanitation services. A case study design in which document reviews were combined with 22 key informant interviews held between March and July 2019 in the Upper West Region of Ghana were used to investigate the research problem. Findings show that integration enhanced the processes for validating and using monitoring data and ensuring downward accountability. However, logistical and financial support and inadequate critical reflection is a major challenge under the integration. The paper calls for special attention to be paid to funding and logistics for monitoring water and sanitation services.

Climate change, women's workload in smallholder agriculture, and embodied political ecologies of undernutrition in northern Ghana.

The burden of child undernutrition across Africa remains extraordinarily high. Among children under age five, chronic and acute undernutrition is responsible for more ill-health than any other cause. While climate change exacerbates the multiple burdens of undernutrition, we know very little about the embodied effects on women's workload in agriculture and implications for feeding practices, especially for infants whose nutrition depends on mothers' time. In this article, political ecologies of health, with its nested, place-based analysis, is used as a framework to address this knowledge gap. The study took place in Ghana's Upper West Region, a semi-arid and resource-poor setting with higher undernutrition rates. In-depth interviews were conducted with smallholder farmers (n=33) whose infants have sub-optimal growth, and key informants (n=7) with expertise in nutrition and health. Findings from the study demonstrate how climate change puts pressure on women's productive time, leading to poor child feeding practices and undernutrition. Ultimately, the article argues that there are hidden impacts of climate change on undernutrition. Global undernutrition interventions should therefore move beyond biomedical solutions to address these hidden impacts, some of which are social, gendered, and structural in nature.

Levels and socioeconomic correlates of nonmarital fertility in Ghana.

Childbirth outside marriage has several negative implications for the well-being of children, women, and families globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, however, the phenomenon appears to be under-studied. In this study, we examine the levels and socioeconomic correlates of nonmarital fertility in Ghana. Using pooled data from the 2003, 2008, and the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys, logistic regression models were used in determining significantly predictive factors of nonmarital fertility. The results show that nonmarital fertility levels have been on the rise over time without any sign of reduction (24.0%, 33.0%, and 40.0% for 2003, 2008, and 2014, respectively). Some socioeconomic characteristics are linked to nonmarital fertility levels with women without formal education, women from poor households, and self-employed women having significantly higher nonmarital fertility risks. Also, older unmarried women, women who have an early sexual debut, cohabiters, women with unmet need for family planning are all associated with considerably higher risks of nonmarital childbearing. A few significant regional disparities also exist, with the Central Region having higher whereas the Upper West Region has lower risks of nonmarital fertility compared to the Greater Accra Region. Childbirth outside marriage is a social concern among women in Ghana. The findings have possible implications for bridging socioeconomic disparities among unmarried women.

The Insurgence of Tramadol Abuse among the Most Active Population in Jirapa Municipality: A Study to Assess the Magnitude of the Abuse and Its Contributory Factors.

Background Tramadol has gained popularity among the drugs of the most active population especially the respondents in Ghana abuse especially farmers who nicknamed as “farm and buy cow.” It has recently become a public health concern, and stakeholders are worried about tramadol abuse and its implications on health in the Upper West Region. The study sought to measure the prevalence of tramadol/related substance abuse and the associated factors. Methods A community-based analytic cross-sectional study involving 420 respondents was conducted. The participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Semistructured questionnaire was used to generate the data. Results About 77.6% of the respondents abuse tramadol while 83.9% of the participants take at least one other related substance or drug. Participants with history of any substance abuse were 5 times more likely to abuse tramadol [AOR = 5.15; 95% CI (1.501-17.656); p = 0.009], compared to respondents with no history of any substance abuse. Respondents who take tramadol to enhance sex were 4 times more likely to abuse tramadol [AOR = 3.776; 95% CI (1.352-10.545); p = 0.011]. Formal sector employment was protective against tramadol abuse [AOR = 0.100; 95% CI (0.017-0.595); p = 0.011] compared to self-employment and the unemployed. In addition, use of nonopioid prescription drugs for posttraumatic/pain management reduced the risk of tramadol abuse [AOR = 0.237; 95% CI (0088-0.640); p = 0.004] compared to the posttraumatic/pain management dependence on prescription of only opioid like tramadol. Conclusion An infantile municipality like Jirapa is challenged with high level of tramadol and related substance which has serious repercussion on the health system in the Jirapa district. It is important that measures are taken by the stakeholders to stop tramadol and related substance and mitigate the impact of drug abuse in the district.

Mothers in a 'Strange Land': Migrant Women Farmers' Reproductive Health in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana.

As a coping strategy towards climate variability, smallholders from the Upper West Region (UWR) migrate to rural farming areas in the Brong-Ahafo Region (BAR) of Ghana in search of better livelihoods. Although previous migrations were seasonal and maledominated, recent migrations have become permanent and involve more women migrating. Despite these changing dynamics, little is known about the effects of internal migration on women's reproductive health in rural migration destinations. Using qualitative methods, we explored migrant women farmers' reproductive health experiences in BAR. Findings from our study reveal that migrant women face limited autonomy in family planning decisions, lack access to maternal and general health care services, and have limited social support in the migration destination. Our findings contribute to the migration literature and highlight the unique reproductive health challenges of agrarian migrant women in rural receiving societies of Ghana.

Production of Metallic Iron from the Pudo Magnetite Ore using End-of-Life Rubber Tyre as Reductant: The Role of an Underlying Ankerite Ore as a Fluxing Agent on Productivity

This research work investigated the nature of a nonmagnetic ore from Pudo in the Upper West Region of Ghana and its fluxing effect on the extent of reduction of the Pudo titaniferous magnetite ore using pulverised samples of charred carbonaceous materials generated from end-of-life vehicle tyres (ELT) as reductants. Reduction studies were conducted on composite pellets of the Pudo titaniferous magnetite iron ore containing fixed amounts of charred ELT and varying amounts (0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) of the nonmagnetic fluxing material in a domestic microwave oven and the extent of reduction was calculated after microwave irradiation for 40 minutes. Analyses by XRF, SEM/EDS and XRD of the nonmagnetic ore revealed an Ankerite type of ore of the form Ca0.95Fe0.95Mn0.1 (CO3)2. From the microwave reduction studies it was observed that premium grade metallic iron could be produced from appropriate blends of the Pudo iron ores using ELT as reductant, with a measured extent of reduction up to 103.8%. Further, the extent of reduction was observed to increase with an increase in the amount of the nonmagnetic fluxing material (Ankerite) that was added as fluxing agent.
 
 Keywords: Ankerite, End-of-life Rubber Tyres, Fluxing Agent, Extent of Reduction

Looming crisis – changing climatic conditions in Ghana’s breadbasket: the experiences of agrarian migrants

ABSTRACT Climate change disproportionately affects livelihoods of poor and vulnerable people. The Upper West Region of Ghana is a climate-affected area where agrarian livelihoods have become unsustainable, with migration to the Brong-Ahafo Region (BAR) becoming a key adaptation strategy. There is little research on postmigration experiences in BAR. Using qualitative methods, this article explores migrant farmers’ premigration expectations and postmigration experiences. The findings reveal that BAR is also experiencing environmental degradation, which makes farming less profitable. The study highlights the benefits and disadvantages of agrarian migration as a response to climate change, and the need for proactive policy action regarding climate change.

Comorbid patterns of anaemia and diarrhoea among children aged under 5 years in Ghana: a multivariate complex sample logistic regression analysis and spatial mapping visualisation.

BackgroundAnaemia and diarrhoea are known independent causes of under-five morbidity and mortality. This study sought to investigate predictors of comorbid patterns of anaemia and diarrhoea using the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS).MethodsThe study employed analysis of secondary data from the 2014 GDHS. We performed a multivariate complex sample logistic regression and spatial analysis.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of comorbid anaemia and diarrhoea was 9.28% with the highest burden (16.45%) found in the Upper West region. Independent predictors (risk factors) of comorbid patterns of anaemia and diarrhoea were children aged 6–23 mo (OR=2.17, 95% CI 1.42 to 3.33), male gender (OR=1.50, 95% C1 1.04 to 2.16), history of fever (OR=4.37, 95% CI 2.94 to 6.50) and living in a household with two children aged <5 y (OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.84). Protective factors were having a father with secondary or higher education (OR=0.57, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.97), living in a household with ≥6 members (OR=0.46, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.75) and living in a richer household (OR=0.38, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.89). Surface maps revealed inter-regional and subregional variations.ConclusionThe study shows that the independent predictors of comorbid patterns of anaemia and diarrhoea among children aged <5 y in Ghana are age, gender, history of fever, the number of children aged <5 y in the household, parental education, household size and household wealth. The study identified zones to be targeted for cost-effective policy interventions.