Western Region Of Ghana Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Tidal Waves on Learners’ Education of Residents of Some Coastal Communities in the Western Region of Ghana

Assessing the Impact of Tidal Waves on Learners’ Education of Residents of Some Coastal Communities in the Western Region of Ghana

Examining acute pelvic pains among patients in two selected hospitals in in the western Region of Ghana

Pelvic pain is one of the commonest Out-Patient Department (OPD) cases in most hospital. Comparably, women experience pains in one or two parts of the body which may be due to excess stretch of the muscles, minor or major accidents and old age than men. The main objective of the study was to examine acute pelvic pains among patients in the Effia-Nkwanta and European hospitals in Takoradi. Descriptive survey was employed for the study. The population of the study comprises all patients who were undergoing pelvic ultrasound at Effia-Nkwanta and European hospitals in Takoradi as part of their management plan for pelvic disease or pain. A purposive sampling technique convenience sampling were used to select 400 patients for the study. The study employed the collection of previous pelvic ultrasound reports and reports obtained during the time of the study to obtain the data from the Radiologic Department at select hospitals with the SAL-30 A (Toshiba, Japan) and Philips Clear Vue real time ultrasound machines. The study found out that females are prone to pelvic pain than males, the most common presenting pathologies that cause pelvic pain are uterine fibroid, PID, Ectopic pregnancy, follicular cyst, BPH, Cystitis, colitis and Appendicitis and the organs that are mostly affected in cases of pelvic pain are uterus, ovaries, prostate, colon and bladder. It was therefore recommended that patients should be educated and encouraged to report to the hospital when there is any sign or symptom of pelvic pain.

How organizational climate of silence affects job performance: the role of work engagement and supervisor support among frontline nurses

Background: The growing body of evidence demonstrates both the desirable and undesirable consequences of organizational silence. This study aims to explore the influence of the organizational climate of silence on job performance through the mediating effects of work engagement (WE). Further, the degree to which supervisor support (SS) and work engagement moderate job performance are examined. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used for the study. Survey data from 14 hospitals and 15 health centers and community-based health planning services (CHPS) compounds in the Western Region of Ghana. We used the variable-to-sample ratio to determine an appropriate and sufficient sample size of 565 respondents. The hierarchical regression technique was employed in estimating the relationship between the variables. Results: In selecting an adequate and appropriate sample size for this current study, we relied on the variable-to-sample ratio. Results from the study showed that top management's attitude to silence and the supervisor's attitude to silence had a significant adverse effect on task performance (β=-.090, p< 0.05) and (β=-.110, p< 0.01). Work engagement had no role in mediating top managers' and supervisors' attitudes toward silence, communication opportunities, and task performance. Supervisor support acted as a moderating factor in the relationship between job engagement and task performance. In contrast, despite the direct positive relationship between supervisor support and contextual performance, it failed to moderate the relationship between work engagement and contextual performance. Conclusion: The study's findings demonstrate the need for health managers and supervisors to become more conscious of silence. The results offer diverse recommendations for encouraging the sharing of relevant ideas, facts, and opinions within the health sector.

Assessment of environmental degradation in two coastal communities of Ghana using Driver Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) framework

In this study, a qualitative research method using Driver Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) framework was employed to assess the drivers of environmental degradation and their implications on Anlo and Sanwoma coastal communities in the Western Region of Ghana. Pollution Index (PI) and Environmental Risk Factor (ERF) were estimated in Pra and Ankobra estuaries, respectively, in Anlo and Sanwoma communities to complement the qualitative assessment in the studied coastal communities. The state and condition of the coastal ecosystems are critical to the well-being and livelihood of the residents of the two coastal communities. Therefore, it was important to assess the drivers of environmental degradation and their consequences on the coastal communities. The findings showed that the coastal communities were severely degraded and were in a vulnerable state due to the impact of drivers such as gold mining, farming, improper waste disposal, and illegal fishing that pressurize the environment. Also, PI and ERFs showed that the estuaries in Anlo and Sanwoma coastal communities were contaminated with metals such as arsenic, lead, zinc, and iron. Some of the impacts of the environmental degradation on the communities included reduction in fish catch and health-related ailments among the residents of the two communities. Unfortunately, regulatory policies by government and efforts of non-governmental organisations and members of the two coastal communities to address the environmental issues have not yielded the desired results. It is recommended that there should be urgent interventions by policymakers to stop further degradations in the coastal communities to enhance the well-being and livelihoods of the residents of Anlo and Sanwoma.

Reduced Type 2 Innate Lymphocyte Cell Frequencies in Patent Wuchereria bancrofti-Infected Individuals.

Approximately 51 million individuals suffer from lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused mainly by the filarial worm Wuchereria bancrofti. Mass drug administration (MDA) programs led to a significant reduction in the number of infected individuals, but the consequences of the treatment and clearance of infection in regard to host immunity remain uncertain. Thus, this study investigates the composition of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), macrophage subsets and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), in patent (circulating filarial antigen (CFA)+ microfilariae (MF)+) and latent (CFA+MF-) W. bancrofti-infected individuals, previously W. bancrofti-infected (PI) individuals cured of the infection due to MDA, uninfected controls (endemic normal (EN)) and individuals who suffer from lymphoedema (LE) from the Western Region of Ghana. Frequencies of ILC2 were significantly reduced in W. bancrofti-infected individuals, while the frequencies of MDSCs, M2 macrophages, ILC1 and ILC3 were comparable between the cohorts. Importantly, clearance of infection due to MDA restored the ILC2 frequencies, suggesting that ILC2 subsets might migrate to the site of infection within the lymphatic tissue. In general, the immune cell composition in individuals who cured the infection were comparable to the uninfected individuals, showing that filarial-driven changes of the immune responses require an active infection and are not maintained upon the clearance of the infection.

Identification of high-risk groups of falciparum malaria in western region of Ghana: The predictive value of ABO Blood group typology

Background: Several studies have linked malaria to ABO blood groups with still others reporting insignificant association between ABO blood group system and malaria. Blood group ‘O’ has been shown to confer protection against severe malaria by studies in various populations but indecisive reports have been given about non-O blood groups in relation to their protection or vulnerability to severe malaria.
 Objective: The present study sought to investigate the ABO blood group typology and the risk of developing severe malaria.
 Materials and Methods: A total of 280 participants (140) with P. Falciparum malaria patients and 140 healthy controls) screened for ABO blood groups by Tile method were enrolled into the study. Thick and thin blood films stained with 10 % Giemsa were prepared for falciparum – infected individuals and their full blood counts obtained from the haematology analyzer (Cell Dyn 1800, Abbot Diagnostic Division, USA). Parasite counts were categorized into severe and uncomplicated malaria and further grouped into varying degrees of parasitaemia. The effects of parasite densities on some haematological parameters were then studied. Severe malaria was defined as hyperparasitaemia, malarial anaemia and thrombocytopenia.
 Results: The frequency of blood group ‘A’ was significantly higher in patients with severe malaria compared to other blood groups (p = 0.042). Blood groups ‘A’ and ‘B’ showed higher parasite densities while ‘A’ and ‘AB’ blood groups revealed low platelet counts. Anaemia was severe in blood groups ‘A’ and ‘O’ (p ≤ 0.05). Previous studies including this current one highlighted the protected nature of blood group ‘O’ to severe malaria (p ≤ 0.05).
 Conclusion: The present study provides the evidences that, individuals of blood group ‘A’ are highly susceptible to malaria infection and inferably with an increased risk of developing severe malaria than the other blood groups.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and self-reported health symptoms among fish smokers: A case study in the Western Region of Ghana.

The study aimed to assess the concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from the burning of biomass fuel from the smoking of fish. It also sought to determine the proportion of fish smokers reporting health symptoms associated with exposure to these pollutants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among fish smokers at Abuesi in the Western Region of Ghana. Systematic sampling was employed to choose 60 smokehouses for PM2.5 and VOC monitoring. A total of 434 fish smokers were also randomly sampled for the study. Measurements were taken at indoor, outdoor and control locations. The highest concentration of PM2.5 was recorded in the indoor environment. The mean concentration of PM2.5 between the indoor and control environment was significantly different unlike between the outdoor and control environments. The concentration of VOCs systematically varied across indoor, outdoor and control locations. The most reported disease symptoms were eye infection, cough, and headaches. There was a strong positive association between the number of years spent smoking fish and the frequency of eye problems reported by fish smokers. The study demonstrated that fish smokers inside the smokehouse or smoking rooms are exposed to higher PM2.5 and VOC levels which are detrimental to their health. There is therefore the need for further studies to explore other energy sources which may have a lesser negative effect on human health.

Analysis of fishers’ wellbeing in the western region of Ghana

ABSTRACT Small-scale fisheries in Ghana are declining in response to the global fisheries crisis. The policies to curb this situation are dependent on the wellbeing of fishers in terms of material condition, quality of life, and transformative strategies for sustainable livelihoods. This paper employs survey data to investigate the wellbeing of fishers, using descriptives, principal-component analysis, and structural equation modelling. The results revealed that the summative effect of material condition, quality of life, and sustainability on fishers’ wellbeing is low. Despite the low ranking of income (lower among men fishers than women fish processors), basic necessities, and government support, fishers are still motivated to work but claim that their children may one day be locked out of the industry. This paper addresses the gap in the literature by establishing the need to enhance educational facilities for the children of fishers, while complementing with investments that create job opportunities in the fishing communities. This may eventually reduce dependence on the sea for sustainable fisheries.

Livelihood access and challenges of coastal communities: insights from Ghana

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to contribute to the discourse on livelihood access and challenges of fisherfolks and farmers within coastal communities in Ghana. Insights from such studies can help to create win-win outcomes between communities and oil companies and give the latter social license to operate. Also, it will help to identify the existing knowledge gaps that still need to be filled and contribute to the overall management of Ghana’s oil resources. It will further contribute to the government’s livelihood diversification programs in oil-producing communities.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed the use of qualitative research paradigm to collect primary data in oil- and gas-producing communities in the Western Region of Ghana. Specifically, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted among diverse stakeholders.FindingsFindings from the study show that several people and households along the coast of Ghana’s Western Region depend on the fishing industry as their livelihoods. However, fisherfolks are facing several challenges due to oil production. For instance, the quantity of fish harvest has reduced drastically since oil production started in 2010. Farming activities have also been adversely affected. The study has unearthed that the existing social and economic infrastructure are very limited to support the development of the coastal communities in Ghana’s Western Region. The study suggests that to deal with some of the challenges faced by coastal communities, livelihood diversification programs should be introduced.Research limitations/implicationsNot every community within the oil and gas areas in the Western Region was covered. Future work will address this limitation.Practical implicationsThe study has revealed that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies need to expedite the process of conducting a comprehensive needs assessment of communities and capture them in their medium-term development plans.Social implicationsThe corporate social responsibility programs will create win-win outcomes between oil companies and communities.Originality/valueThe study is an original piece of work with data collected from the field. The study will contribute to the efficient management of natural resources in Ghana and other developing countries.

Effective use of assistive technology in inclusive classroom: views of teachers on resources and challenges in a developing economy

This study explores challenges confronting teachers in using assistive technologies (ATs) in inclusive schools. Data was retrieved from ten teachers in the Western Region of Ghana. Thematic analysis, with the aid of NVivo 12, revealed that teachers think ATs are costly and difficult to maintain. Alongside poor resources, the combined effect of lack of patience and unwilling attitude of teachers at deploying best suited ATs, poses the biggest challenge to effective AT usage. We recommended increased emphasis on best suited ATs that are cheap and easy to maintain. Regular training, oriented towards enhancing teachers' skills and attitude is vital.

Preparedness of Christian Religious Studies Teachers: Disclosures from Teachers and Students in Missions Senior High Schools in the Western Region of Ghana

The study purported to examine the preparedness of CRS teachers in teaching CRS in the Western Region of Ghana. The descriptive cross-sectional survey research design of the quantitative approach was used for the study. The population was 1,445 and made up of all 45 CRS teachers and 1,400 students from mission senior high schools in the Western Region. The sample size was 365 comprising 45 CRS teachers and 320 CRS students. Using the census method, all 45 teachers of CRS were involved in the study. The proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 320 students. Separate questionnaires were used to collect data from CRS teachers and students and the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient for both was determined to be .76 and .79 respectively. CRS teachers in the Western Region were found to have a high level of pedagogical practices needed for the teaching of the subject to avoid indoctrination. Likewise, they had high knowledge of the content for teaching CRS. CRS teachers were found to have high knowledge of the rationale for teaching CRS. There was a weak positive non-significant relationship (r= .151, p= .358) between CRS teachers’ pedagogical practices and their knowledge of rationale for teaching CRS. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the Regional Education Directorate in partnership with GES should design programmes for teachers to keep on upgrading to ensure that they are abreast with emerging pedagogies for teaching. Institutions (Universities, colleges, etc) mandated to train teachers should emphasis the rationale for teaching CRS in the methods of teaching CRS courses since the rationale (reasons and philosophy of education) gives direction in teaching.

Prevalence of Hepatitis C at a Primary Hospital in the Western Region of Ghana

Background: Hepatitis C infection can often be detected by antibodies to the hepatitis C virus. HCV infection frequently goes untreated since it is asymptomatic for decades before symptoms appear as a result of severe liver damage. This study will investigate the prevalence of HCV in the Western region, specifically the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. The research sought to improve the knowledge gap by providing data on the prevalence rates of HCV. Methods: 980 samples collected from January to April 2022 were subjected to a retrospective analysis. The HCV serologic test was performed using the one-step immune-chromatographic test kit. Age-related data and the results of all serologic tests for HCV were recorded and evaluated during analysis. Results: A total number of 980 samples were analyzed in this study. Out of which 91.3% (n=895) were seronegative and the remaining 8.7% (n=85) were seropositive. Seropositivity was mainly found significantly among the 35-44, Conclusion: This study recorded a high prevalence rate of HCV seropositivity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the Western region to have considered HCV prevalence. The findings emphasize the necessity for quick public health measures to lower infection rates. These must target screening of high-risk groups, education campaigns about HCV transmission patterns, and the provision of treatment for those who are infected.

Prevalence and predictors of viral load suppression in adults living with HIV in the western region of Ghana: A cross-sectional study.

Although antiretroviral therapy is beneficial and available free of cost to patients, several roadblocks still prevent patients from reaching viral suppression. This research aimed to determine the prevalence rate of viral suppression among people living with HIV in the western region of Ghana and identify the factors contributing to viral non-suppression. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 7199 HIV-positive adults. All data from the Sekondi Public Health Laboratory database was exported to Microsoft Excel and then verified and filtered before being exported to STATA 16.1. Viral non-suppression was modeled statistically using logistic regression. Viral load suppression was achieved in 5465 (75.91%) study participants who received antiretroviral treatment. However, 1734 participants (24.0%) did not achieve viral suppression. Patients with poor adherence to ARV (AOR 0.30; 95% CI 0.16, 0.58) and fair adherence to ARV (AOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.12, 0.45) were associated with a lower odd of viral non-suppression. Patients with six (6) months to two (2) years of treatment before viral load testing (AOR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46, 0.98) were also associated with a lower likelihood of viral non-suppression. The rate of non-suppression was high, and the suppression rate fell short of the UNAIDS target. Poor ARV adherence, fair ARV adherence, and a treatment duration of six (6) months to two (2) years before viral load testing appear to be obstacles to viral load suppression. The research findings seem to suggest that viral load testing supports viral non-suppression. Therefore, using viral load tests to monitor medication's effects on health can motivate patients to adhere to their prescribed medication regimen. More research is needed to determine whether viral load testing can improve adherence. Given the high rate of virologic failure, the study highlights the importance of identifying antiretroviral resistance patterns.

Social perceptions of coastal hazards in the Anlo Beach Community in the Western Region of Ghana

Social perceptions of coastal hazards in the Anlo Beach Community in the Western Region of Ghana

Analysis of the effects of rainfall on production performance of a surface mine in Ghana

Monthly production rates of most surface mines fluctuate with season and the Nzema Gold Mine is no exception. Located in the western region of Ghana, which is considered the wettest part of the country, the monthly production rates of the mine fluctuate with rainfall. Data covering three years were obtained from the mine and subjected to some statistical analyses including regression analysis and t-test. Using regression analysis, the production data were regressed on the rainfall records to establish a coefficient of determination (R2) and also to observe the general trend between the two variables. The obtained coefficient of determination was further scrutinized with a t-test to prove the existence of a linear correlation between rainfall and production. The results obtained show that there is no linear correlation between rainfall and production in the Nzema Gold Mine. Nevertheless, the presence of rainfall in the mine has an impact on production values, preventing the mine from meeting its desired production targets. From the results, rainfall comes third place on the hierarchy of general delays with a percentage contribution of 13% and causes an average loss of about 4,145 Bank Cubic Metre (BCM) worth of material annually. The presence of rainfall also introduces some benefits as well as deprivations to the mine, causing an average of about $243,000 worth of fuel to be saved concerning the water dust suppression activities, and an average of about $273,000 worth of fuel to be lost on dewatering pumps.

Evaluating the effectiveness of principles used for sharing resources of the Lower Ankobra Basin in the Western Region, Ghana

AbstractThis paper evaluates the effectiveness of principles used for sharing resources of the Lower Ankobra River Basin found in the Western Region of Ghana. The purpose is to find out whether the institutions in charge of the management of the Lower Ankobra Basin are using principles prescribed by the United Nations Development Programme and the Sustainable Human Development (1997) for equitable sharing of the resources of the Lower Ankobra River Basin. The study adopted the descriptive research design. By means of in‐depth and semi‐structured interview guides, information was solicited from 268 respondents who played diverse roles in the conservation of the basin's resources. The paper found that management institutions fail to follow the right principles, such as equity, accountability, and efficiency, when distributing resources in the basin. The final results showed evidence of misallocation and uneven distribution of the basin's resources. It is recommended that the management institutions should periodically provide accurate, accessible, and comprehensible information on how resources have been utilized, by using community bulletin boards and social gatherings on behalf of users of the basin. In addition, to promote equity, the Government of Ghana must first compensate and reclaim all the lands in the basin from individuals whose activities impact negatively on its resources and hand them over to the Water Resources Commission for redistribution to more efficient areas of production based on the powers enshrined in Section 12 and 13 of the Water Management Act, Act 522, of Ghana.

Effect of Moisture Content and Preservatives on the Discoloration of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Lumber

Considering the current rate of expansion of the lumber processing industry in the world, the current annual allowable cut of one million cubic meters of round logs is considered to be insufficient to satisfy the increasing demand of timber industries. One major area that has been highlighted in the forest policy is the introduction of lesser-used species to widen the natural resource base of the forest and to address the imbalance between supply and demand for the resources. As a contribution to addressing this problem, oil palm lumber, a lesser-used species, was subjected to different moisture content variations to determine its behavior with respect to discoloration. Specimens of oil palm trunks were extracted at Norpalm Oil Mill in the Western Region of Ghana. Oil palm lumber specimens were conditioned in a kiln to a moisture content of 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, and 50%. The results obtained covered discoloration and mold. The effect of the extractives on the discoloration of oil palm lumber was also investigated by means of immersing some samples of oil palm lumber into sea water and tap water for 48 h. Although Dursban 4E is a widely used preservative in the timber industry, oil palm lumber specimens of 40 mm thick immersed in Dursban 4E for 48 h and conditioned in a kiln to a moisture content of 30% were discolored from week 2. However, oil palm lumber specimens of 40 mm thick that were immersed in tap water for 48 h, and thereafter immersed in Dursban 4E for another 48 h, then kiln dried to a moisture content of 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%, did not show any discoloration from week 2 to week 18. It was discovered that in the utilization of oil palm lumber, it should be immersed in tap water for 48 h before any chemical treatment is given, and thereafter kiln dried. From the general results, the species proved to be good substitute for some of the ‘noble’ species that are going extinct from the forests of Ghana.

Characterization of Metakaolin from Wassa Kaolin and Its Potential as Adsorbent for the Regeneration of Used Engine Lubrication Oil

Metakaolin is an anhydrous clayey material obtained by the calcination of kaolin. This material has been utilized as a valuable substitute or additive for concrete/cement mixtures and many other applications. The current study is on the production and characterization of metakaolin together with its adsorbent properties for the purification and regeneration of spent lubrication oil. Metakaolin was produced from the calcination of kaolin from Wassa in the Western region of Ghana. The metakaolin was characterized by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR). The metakaolin was then used as an adsorbent in the regeneration of the engine lubrication oil, mimicking the acid-clay percolation process. The test results show that the efficiency of metakaolin in removing heavy metals from the used oil using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) was 13.25% for Fe, 25.37% for Cr, 94.36% for Zn, and 33.33% for Cu. The viscosity index of the regenerated oil was 118 compared to that of the virgin oil, which was 115. The regenerated oil had 79% saturates, 6% carbon residues, and 18% aromatics compared to the commercial virgin oil, which contained 84% saturates, 5% carbon residue, and 11% aromatics. This indicated that metakaolin is a better adsorbent for regenerating the used lubrication oil.

A Hybrid Optimization Model for Vehicle Routing Problem, a Case Study at Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Shama District

The aim of this study was to develop a hybrid optimization model for solving the routing problem identified at Zoomlion Ghana Limited in Shama district in the Western Region of Ghana. Two main optimization models were considered: Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). A hybrid algorithm was developed from the two by merging crossover and mutation operators of GA with PSO. A sample of 20 breakpoints was run through 10,000 iterations for all the models and the results of the proposed hybrid model was compared with PSO and GA separately. The optimal results of PSO, GA and the proposed models are 1160.6km, 1190.3km and 1132.3km respectively. The proposed model’s results were also compared with other hybrid models to test the robustness of the new model. This result was achieved because the new model eliminates the low convergence rate in PSO and also prevents it from easily falling into local optimum in high-dimensional space and the inclusion of crossover and mutation operators of GA improves the diversity of the iterations. After the iterations, PSO reduced a field distance of 1700 km to 1160.6 km within 780.4098 seconds. GA on the other hand reduced the same field distance of 1700 km to 1190.3km within 397.3308 seconds. The proposed hybrid model reduced the same field distance from 1700 km to 1132.3 km within 550.2527 seconds. This indicates that the proposed hybrid model performed better than PSO and GA separately. A performance test between the proposed hybrid model and other hybrid models showed that merging crossover and mutation operators into PSO gives a better optimal result. MATLAB was used for the iterations.

Calorific Value of Rubberwood Biomass Along the Tree

Rubberwood is one of the major plantation crops grown mainly in the Western Region of Ghana. They are mostly utilised for their latex. Rubber trees that are aged and low yielding can be cut down and properly utilised as fuelwood. In Ghana, there is a high demand for fuelwood in most domestic homes and rubberwood is one of the tree species with potential use as fuelwood. Even though gas has been promoted as an energy source for heating and cooking activities in Ghana, it remains expensive, and its affordability, therefore, remains out of reach of many people. Rubberwood, which is plantation grown can, therefore, be considered as fuelwood. In this study, the calorific values of rubberwood biomass from a plantation were determined using samples from the bottom, middle, branch, and top parts of the stem. The calorific values of rubber wood biomass from different sections of the tree were determined in accordance with standard laboratory methods using a bomb calorimeter. The calorific values obtained were 17.194 MJ/kg for the branch, 17.225 MJ/kg for the top, 17.595 MJ/kg for the middle, and 17.702 MJ/kg for the bottom. The trend of the values shows that the calorific value decreases from the bottom through the top of the stem to the branch. The calorific value of rubberwood was comparable to other high-performing tree species used for fuelwoods and therefore has the potential to be used for fuelwood.