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UGSpace is the institutional repository of the University of Ghana. UGSpace is an open access electronic archive for the collection, preservation and distribution of digital materials to:
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- and ultimately share, preserve and promote the intellectual output of the University in a managed environment.
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- Review books or articles provide a critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. These are considered as secondary literature since they generally do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It also the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field.
- Grey literature consists of research and information produced outside conventional publishing channels, such as reports, policy briefs, working papers, and conference materials. It offers valuable insights and data that complement peer-reviewed sources, supporting research, policy, and practice.
- The J. H. Kwabena Nketia Archives preserve Ghanaian and African cultural heritage through music, oral traditions, photographs, and audiovisual collections. Guided by Professor Nketia’s vision that African traditional arts must be collected, preserved, practiced, and continually inspire creative expression, the Archives serve as a living resource for scholarship, teaching, and innovation
Recent Submissions
Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Distinct Systemic Cytokine Signatures Define Symptomatic Malaria In Children: Insights From A Longitudinal Study In Togo(BMC Infectious Diseases, 2026-01-07) Amenga-Etego, L.N.; Bara, F.D.; Simfele, H.C.; Koudema, T.; et al.Background Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly among children, where immune responses and clinical manifestations to Plasmodium falciparum infection vary widely. Understanding the interplay between parasitemia, immune responses, and clinical outcomes is essential to improving case management. This study aimed to identify systemic cytokine signatures that define symptomatic malaria in children, by analyzing cytokine dynamics over time and their association with parasite burden and clinical status in children aged 6–10 years in Togo. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in the Prefecture d’Agoè, Togo, from November 2023 to February 2024. Sixty children were enrolled and treated with artemether-lumefantrine and albendazole. Weekly monitoring was performed over 12 weeks using microscopy and qPCR for P. falciparum detection. Systemic cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-17 A, IL-5, and IL-10, were measured by Sandwich ELISA. Associations between cytokine concentrations, parasite densities, and cycle threshold (Ct) values were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Results Of the 60 children, 25% (n = 15) tested positive for P. falciparum by qPCR, while 15% (n = 9) had microscopy confirmed infections. Overall, 33.3% (n = 5) progressed to symptomatic malaria; the remainder were asymptomatic carriers. Symptomatic cases exhibited significantly elevated IL-6 (vs. non-infected, p = 0.0004; vs. asymptomatic, p = 0.0003; vs. recovered, p = 0.0037), IFN-γ (vs. non-infected, p < 0.0001; vs. asymptomatic, p = 0.0048), and IL-10 levels (vs. non-infected, p < 0.0001; vs. recovered, p = 0.0004). IL-10 levels were also higher in asymptomatic children compared to non-infected (p = 0.0013), while IFN-γ was elevated in recovered cases (vs. non-infected, p = 0.0309). In symptomatic children, IL-10 levels showed a strong negative correlation with Ct values (r = -0.973, p = 0.001) and a strong positive correlation with parasite density (r = 0.911, p = 0.001). IFN-γ exhibited moderate correlations with both, Ct values (r = -0.442, p = 0.037) and parasite density (r = 0.518, p = 0.027). Conclusion This study identifies distinct cytokine signatures, particularly elevated IL-10 and IFN-γ, that characterize symptomatic malaria in children and correlate with parasite burden. These cytokines may serve as prognostic biomarkers and offer insights for targeted interventions in paediatric malaria.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Food Security and Nutritional Status of Women Shellfishers and The Potential Role of Oysters as a Source of Dietary Minerals and Heavy Metals in Three Estuarine Sites in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2024) Taabia, F.Z.Background: Food insecurity in Ghana has significantly worsened over the past decade, leading to rising hunger and malnutrition, particularly among women. Thus, the Food and Agricultural Organization recommends integrating local food systems into food and nutrition security efforts. In Ghana’s coastal communities, oysters are valuable food resource and could offer an affordable source of protein and essential micronutrients like iron and zinc and thereby improve women's food security and nutritional status (anaemia and overweight/obesity). However, pollution and ecosystem degradation threaten sustainable oyster production and could impact women’s food security, anaemia and overweight/obesity status in these communities. This study aimed to compare the household food insecurity, dietary intake, anaemia, and overweight/obesity among women of reproductive age engaged in oyster harvesting, processing, and retailing (hereafter, women shellfishers) at three selected estuarine sites in Ghana. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the factors associated with household food insecurity, anaemia and overweight/obesity status and assess the potential of oysters as a source of dietary minerals for women shellfishers at the three estuarine sites. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at three estuarine sites: Bortianor Tsokomey-Tetegu area in the Greater Accra Region (Densu estuary), New Amanful-Apremdo Beahu area in the Western Region (Whin estuary), and Ekumfi Narkwa in the Central Region (Narkwa Lagoon). A total of 504 women shellfishers were recruited across the three selected sites. Data on household characteristics, food insecurity, and dietary intake were collected using a structured questionnaire and repeated 24-hour dietary recalls. Overweight/obesity (≥25 kg/m2), and anaemia (<12 g/dl) status were assessed through anthropometric measurements and capillary blood samples. Additionally, 915 oyster samples from the three selected sites were analysed for mineral composition using atomic absorption spectrometry. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants’ characteristics and the mineral consents of the oysters. Chi-Square test was used to compare the rates of anaemia, overweight/obesity, household food insecurity, and nutrient inadequacies (iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus) across the sites, while multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with anaemia, overweight/obesity, and household food insecurity in separate models at a statistical significance of 0.05. The mean mineral contents of oysters were compared across the three sites using ANOVA. Health risks related to oyster consumption of the women shellfishers were evaluated using the Hazard Index (HI) and Cancer Index (CI). Ethics approval was obtained from the Ghana Health Service (GHS-ERC 015/12/20). Results: The mean ± SD age of the women shellfishers was 31.6 ± 9.1 years. The women had a mean ± SD of 4.9 ± 4 years of schooling, with 44.8% identified as literate. A slight majority were married (61.3%). The average household size was 6, and the household poverty probability index for the study population was 13%. Household food insecurity prevalence was high across all sites, recorded at 93.5% at the Densu estuarine site, 93.1% at the Narkwa Lagoon site, and 88.5% at the Whin estuarine site, with no statistically significant differences observed between sites (p = 0.218). In contrast, the prevalence of overweight/obesity varied significantly across sites, with rates of 58.3% at Densu, 43.1% at Whin, and 27.6% at Narkwa Lagoon (p < 0.001). Anaemia prevalence also differed significantly across sites, with 25% at Densu, 20% at Narkwa Lagoon, and 15% at Whin (p = 0.025). Residing in the Densu site, compared to the Whin site, was significantly associated with increased odd of household food insecurity (aOR=3.14, CI: 1.18-8.33; p=0.022). However, a unit increased in household assets was significantly associated with reduced odd of household food insecurity (aOR=0.73, CI: 0.54-0.98; p=0.037). The odds of overweight/obesity were 70% lower in women under 25 years compared to those aged 45 years and older (aOR=0.30, CI: 0.11–0.85; p=0.006). Married women had nearly twice the odds of being overweight/obese compared to those who were never married (aOR=1.93, CI: 1.07–3.30; p=0.027). An increase in household poverty rate was associated with reduced odds of overweight/obesity (aOR=0.97, CI: 0.95–0.99; p=0.011). Women in the middle tertile of nutrient-rich dietary patterns had nearly double the odds of being overweight/obese compared to those in the lower tertile (aOR=1.68, CI: 1.01–2.78; p=0.046). The odds of anaemia were lower in overweight (aOR=0.56, CI: 0.32–0.98; p=0.041) and obese (aOR=0.27, CI: 0.12–0.61; p=0.002) women compared to those with normal weight. Residing in the Densu site, compared to the Whin site, was significantly associated with twice the odds of anaemia (aOR=2.24, CI: 1.20–4.18; p=0.012). However, no significant association was found between oyster intake and the odds of anaemia (aOR=1.58, CI: 0.83–3.02; p=0.168). The women’s average caloric intake differed significantly across sites, with values of 1377 kcal at Densu, 1470 kcal at Whin, and 1592 kcal at Narkwa Lagoon (p=0.011). Iron intake was similar across sites, with averages of 9.4 mg at Densu, 9.1 mg at Narkwa Lagoon, and 9.4 mg at Whin (p=0.858). Average zinc intake also showed no significant variation, recorded at 6.4 mg for Densu, 5.6 mg for Narkwa Lagoon, and 5.9 mg for Whin (p=0.121). Oyster consumption contributed 17.2% (1.6 mg/day) of the average daily iron intake and 18.3% (1.1 mg/day) of the average daily zinc intake. The prevalence of nutrient inadequacy, assessed across six nutrients, showed no significant variation among sites, with rates of 91.5% at Densu, 90.0% at Whin, and 94.8% at Narkwa Lagoon (p=0.240). The mean mineral concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) in the oysters were potassium (4282), phosphorus (3470), calcium (2698), and magnesium (937), iron (120.5), zinc (82.4), chromium (22.1), copper (8.5), manganese (7.2), and selenium (5.4). Heavy metal concentrations were arsenic (0.102), mercury (0.038), cadmium (0.037), and lead (0.032). The Hazard Index (HI) ranged from 0.0004 to 1.81 (mean 0.071), indicating low health risks. The Cancer Index (CI) for arsenic, cadmium, and lead ranged from 1.3 x 10⁻⁶ to 5.8 x 10⁻⁴, suggesting minimal cancer risk. Selenium provided notable nutritional benefits, with a health benefit value ranging from 0.05 to 94.44 (mean 5.38). Conclusion: The study found high prevalence of household food insecurity and overweight/obesity among women shellfishers, along with inadequate intake of key micronutrients like iron and zinc. Oysters were found to be valuable sources of dietary minerals. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve access to nutritious foods, raise awareness of dietary needs, and address both food insecurity and obesity. The study recommends that nutrition education and obesity prevention be integrated into reproductive health services to tackle the dual burden of malnutrition and improve well-being.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Analysis of Microbial and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Drinking Water from Boreholes in the Upper East Region(University of Ghana, 2024) Ayillah, T.A.Access to and availability of high-quality water are critical for sustainable development. But in most developing countries, including Ghana, a high percentage of people living in rural areas do not have access to both quantity and quality of water. A significant number of these people rely on alternative water sources such as precipitation, springs, boreholes, and streams. Consequently, during the dry season, water-borne diseases associated with unclean water sources are more common. Fluoride-containing minerals, which are commonly found in sedimentary and igneous rocks, are found in several settlements in Ghana's Upper East region. As such, this work sort to measure the amounts of some metals, physico-chemical and microbial parameters present in the borehole water sources to assess whether the borehole water sources are suitable for drinking and other household applications. The HACH DR 3900 method was employed with some modification in determining the physico-chemical parameters and metals, while the microbial studies were done using the membrane filtration method. The results suggest that the physico-chemical parameters generally are within the accepted limit set by the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) water quality recommendations. However, fluoride levels recorded at Bolgatanga and Bongo districts gave concentrations as high as 2.7 mg/L and 2.0 mg/L, respectively, which is above the set limit of 1.5 mg/L. Also, the studied metals Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn were within the required limits. Additionally, microbial studies showed the presence of total coliform and E. Coli in all the districts. Levels of total coliform and E. Coli were highest at the Bongo district, 115 CFU/100 mL and 53 CFU/100 mL, respectively. The observed presence of fluoride, E. Coli and total coliform poses significant health risks and calls for proactive measures to check the safety of water to protect human lives.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Exploring the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Children Hospitalized Due to Road Traffic Accident at Ho Teaching Hospital in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2024) Asamoah, C. Y.Family caregivers whose children are involved in road traffic accidents experience many challenges while taking care when they have been hospitalized. Some of which are emotional and psychological. This study seeks to explore and describe experiences of family caregivers caring for children hospitalized through road traffic accident at Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Exploratory qualitative design was selected for the study using in- depth face to-face interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, cleaned and sorted into word document after which data was exported to Atlas.ti version 9 where themes and sub-themes were generated and analyzed. Overall, 4 main themes and 12 sub-themes emerged from the study. The major themes included, needs of family caregivers, tasks of family caregivers, beliefs and attitudes and health promotion behaviors. The study revealed that the respondents had different challenges for which support was warranted. Additionally, the caregivers indicated that they were solely responsible for performing their respective roles in protecting their children in a safe environment where they would grow. The respondents also disclosed that their belief in supernatural forces was a way of coping with their situations and helping them through their adversaries rather than it affecting them negatively. Further, they revealed that they receive different kinds support from different people which helps empower them and promote their well-being. Almost all the respondents indicated that they experienced some challenges while caring for their children involved in RTA with the majority being financial challenges however psychological challenges were the least. Nonetheless amidst all these challenges, they were all optimistic about full recovery. All stakeholders involved in child health care should build the capacity of caregivers to render safe and quality healthcare for these children.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Determinan of Asset Misappropriation in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises(University of Ghana, 2025) Tetteh, S.This study investigates the factors influencing employees’ intentions to engage in asset misappropriation, a common and largely overlooked issue in Accounting and Ethics, within the context of small and medium sized businesses. Guided by the Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (ETPB), the research examines how attitudes, subjective norms, moral norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC) shape employees’ intentions to misappropriate assets. Adopting a descriptive survey design, data were collected through structured quantitative questionnaires from a target population of 600 across all the 29 local government areas of the Greater Accra region. Out of these, 470 valid responses were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that attitudes, subjective norms, and moral norms significantly influence employees’ intentions to engage in asset misappropriation, whereas PBC does not exert a significant effect. The findings suggest that organizations should emphasize ethical training, cultivate positive moral values, and minimize social pressures that encourage unethical behaviour. The study concludes that fostering an ethical corporate culture grounded in integrity and moral responsibility is a more effective approach to reducing asset misappropriation than relying solely on control mechanisms.