Browsing by Author "Amoah, S."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Evaluation of water, sanitation and hygiene status of COVID-19 healthcare facilities in Ghana using the WASH FIT approach
(Creative Commons, 2021) Ashinyo, M.E.; Amegah, K.E.; Dubik, S.D.; Ntow-Kummi, G.; Adjei, M.K.; Amponsah, J.; Ayivase, J.T.; Amoah, S.; Ashinyo, A.; Sodzi-Tettey, S.; Awekeya, H.; Codjoe, A.; Tegbey, I.E.; Kwakye, A.T.O.; Akoriyea, S.K.
Access to improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is essential for the delivery of high-quality care in healthcare facilities and the prevention of hospital-acquired infections such as the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. In addition, unimpeded access to WASH facilities in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment centres (TCs) is central in facilitating compliance with infection prevention and control protocols. However, data for the WASH status of COVID-19 TCs in Ghana are limited. We evaluated the WASH status of seven COVID-19 TCs in Ghana using the WHO/UNICEF water and sanitation for health facility improvement tool (WASH FIT). The water domain had the highest number of indicators meeting standards with an average percentage score of 90.5% (range: 66.7–100%) across the seven TCs, followed by management (66.9%) and hygiene (58.7%). The TCs performed poorly in the sanitation and healthcare waste domain, with an average percentage score of 44.6% (range: 22.2–75%). These findings highlight the challenges being faced by COVID-19 TCs in implementing WASH services. Specific WASH interventions are urgently required to strengthen WASH services in the COVID-19 TCs. This should precede the prioritisation of resources to WASH infrastructure in the treatment facilities coupled with actions that involve all stakeholders.
Optimal bed thickness and efective size for improving wastewater quality for irrigation
(Springer, 2021) King‑Nyamador, G.; Amoatey, P.K.; Amoah, S.; Adu‑Ampong, B.
With the increased use of wastewater for irrigation, there is the need to reduce the contaminant levels in wastewater. The slow sand fltration (SSF) is one such method that can be used to improve wastewater quality. However, the treatment quality depends among other factors on the depth of sand bed and the efective size. Acquiring sand of a particular efective size is becoming increasing difculty and, therefore, this study sought to investigate over a specifed area, the optimal depth and efective size that will be able to get rid of contaminants in wastewater. In separate experiments, three depths (30 cm, 40 cm and 50 cm) and two efective sizes (0.27 mm and 0.45 mm) were set up to investigate their efectiveness in removing Faecal coliform, E. coli and heavy metals (Pb, Cu and Fe) for wastewater from a peri-urban drain used for irrigating vegetables. Results showed that a minimum sand bed thickness of 40 cm and an efective size of up to 0.45 mm reduced the contami nants tested signifcantly, wastewater from the drain can be treated. It must be mentioned that the fner sand (0.27 mm) had a slightly better removal efciency. This implies that the extra cost of acquiring sand of relatively smaller efective size and a higher bed depth with the aim of improving wastewater quality can be saved. Further investigations are being carried out on the combined efects of the optimal sand bed depth and efective size.
Preparing for Ebola, the experiences of a national training team (Ghana)
(The Pan African medical journal, 2015-10) Lartey, M.; Puplampu, P.; Seneadza, N.A.; Oliver-Commey, J.; Amoah, S.; Ohene, S.-A.
Smoking prevalence differs by location of residence among Ghanaians in Africa and Europe: The RODAM study
(Public Library of Science, 2017) Brathwaite, R.; Addo, J.; Kunst, A.E.; Agyemang, C.; Owusu-Dabo, E.; De-Graft Aikins, A.; Beune, E.; Meeks, K.; Bahendeka, S.; Mockenhaupt, F.P.; Amoah, S.; Galbete, C.; Schulze, M.B.; Danquah, I.; Smeeth, L.
Background Although the prevalence of smoking is low in Ghana, little is known about the effect of migration on smoking. Comparing Ghanaians living in their country of origin to those living in Europe offers an opportunity to investigate smoking by location of residence and the associations between smoking behaviours and migration-related factors. Methods Data on a relatively homogenous group of Ghanaians living in London (n = 949), Amsterdam (n = 1400), Berlin (n = 543), rural Ghana (n = 973) and urban Ghana (n = 1400) from the cross-sectional RODAM (Research on Obesity & Diabetes in African Migrants) study were used. Age-standardized prevalence rates of smoking by location of residence and factors associated with smoking among Ghanaian men were estimated using prevalence ratios (PR: 95% CIs). Results Current smoking was non-existent among women in rural and urban Ghana and London but was 3.2% and 3.3% in women in Amsterdam and Berlin, respectively. Smoking prevalence was higher in men in Europe (7.8%) than in both rural and urban Ghana (4.8%): PR 1.91: 95% CI 1.27, 2.88, adjusted for age, marital status, education and employment. Factors associated with a higher prevalence of smoking among Ghanaian men included European residence, being divorced or widowed, living alone, Islam religion, infrequent attendance at religious services, assimilation (cultural orientation), and low education. Conclusion Ghanaians living in Europe are more likely to smoke than their counterparts in Ghana, suggesting convergence to European populations, although prevalence rates are still far below those in the host populations. © 2017 Brathwaite et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Value Chain Analysis of Tilapia in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana
(University Of Ghana, 2019-07) Amoah, S.
The value added along the tilapia value chain is undefined in Ghana, and as such, the benefits associated with the various costs along the chain was not fully realized. The study sought to investigate four issues: the profile of the actors and their existing linkages; assess the value added at each stage of the value chain; determine the profitability and their determinants among the various actors in the value chain and identify and analyze the constraints facing the actors in the study area. The study was done in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. Primary data was collected using well-structured and pre-tested questionnaires administered to 100 respondents. These include 40 tilapia producers (farmers), 30 tilapia processors and 30 tilapia distributors (Assemblers, Wholesalers and Retailers). Returns on Investment (ROI), Net Farm Income (NFI) and profit margins amassing to actors were estimated and were used to measure the distribution of benefit among the actors. The value added by each actor was also computed. A flow chart was used to map the actors in the value chain, whilst a paired sample t-test was used to test for the significance of the differences in the NFI for all the actors. Constraints facing actors in the chain were analysed using the Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. The study used STATA version 14 to analyse the data. It was observed from the analysis that the actors (producers, processors and distributors) along the tilapia value chain added a substantial amount of value along the chain of which the producers added the highest value (GHS 2449.65). An informal relationship existed among the actors and were bounded by a verbal contractual agreement. 35.9% of tilapia harvested by producers were sold directly to processors at the farm gate while 63.4% was sold out to distributors. Average values of Net Farm Income (NFI) of GH₵ 12756.33, GH₵ 3979.85 and GH₵ 3750.88 were realised by the various actors (producers, processors and distributors) in that succession. Their Return on Investment (ROI) were 176.25, 51.24 and 49.61 for producer, processor and distributor respectively. Results from the t-test revealed that returns were unequally distributed along the chain with producers having the greatest margin of 5.17/kg and distributors accruing 4.03/kg. Regression results showed that ownership of the farm, time of harvesting, pond size and membership of association were significant determinants of profitability of tilapia producers. Gender, experience and association were also significant determinants of profitability for both processors and distributors. Producers were faced with high cost of feed and inadequate government incentives and policies as their major constraints while processors and distributors were faced with high cost of inputs and lack of storage facilities as constraints. It was concluded in the study that producers, processors and distributors were the main actors in the tilapia value chain; a positive value was added by the various actors along the chain; Net farm income (NFI) and Return on Investment were significantly inequitably distributed. It is recommended, among others, that clear strategic framework involving all actors and stakeholders (government and private) should be drawn to ensure the expansion and sustainability within the tilapia value chain. This could be done by enhancing favourable policy environment as well as good governance system with the help of Public-private partnership (PPP).