Department of Social Work

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://197.255.125.131:4000/handle/123456789/5044

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    Incidence of Self-esteem among Children Exposed to Sexual Abuse in Kenya
    (Global Social Welfare, 2018) Mutavi, T.; Dako-Gyeke, M.; Obondo, A.; et.al
    It has been established that sexual abuse against children is a widespread global problem (Stoltenborgh et al. 2011). Some scholars have reported that child abuse, including sexual abuse among children, is high in Africa, as well as other continents (Filkelhor et al. 2013; Hillis et al. 2016). Sexual abuse against children is a public health concern because its outcomes are detrimental to the health of children, families, and society (Madu et al. 2010). Often, mental health problems among children are detected late, and identification rates by health professionals are quite low (Grant & Brito, 2010; Ndetei et al. 2009).
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    Suffering in the Hands of a Loved One: The Endemic to Intimate Partner Violence and Consequences on Migrant Female Head-Load Carriers in Ghana
    (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2019) Adomako, E.B.; Baffour, F.D.
    The study contributed to filling a knowledge gap in the area of intimate partner violence (IPV). Previous studies conducted in Ghana have investigated the causes and types of IPV, leaving a gap in the consequences the violence had on the victims. Using a population of local economic migrants (hereafter, head-load carriers), a qualitative design with emphasis on phenomenology was employed to investigate the effects of IPV on 20 head-load carriers in two major cities in Ghana (Kumasi and Accra). The analysis performed on the data, using interpretive phenomenological analysis, revealed that IPV affected the head-load carriers’ health, employment, and human relationships. Each of the participants spoke of one or more health complications, which they attributed to IPV. Among the health-related effects reported by the head-load carriers were body pains, wounds, depression, suicide ideation, headache, and abdominal pains that resulted from the termination of an unwanted pregnancy the head-load carriers recounted the detrimental outcomes of IPV on their job and human relationships. After they had experienced IPV, some of the victims could not go to work due to fear of stigmatization, and those who were able to could not work as they usually do due to severe pain. At their workplace, some of the IPV victims became aggressive toward customers and coworkers, whereas others remained isolated. These negatively impacted their human relationship skills and earnings. Based on the findings, there is a need for policies that seek to address IPV to consider the effects on victims’ employment, earning, and behavior.
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    Deportation and Reintegration: Challenges and Coping Strategies among Deportees in the Nkoranza Municipality of Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2015-07) Baffo, K.R.; Dako-Gyeke, M.; Sottie, C.A.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities School of Social Sciences Department of Social Work
    Given the rising number of deportees in Africa and Ghana in particular, this study explored the challenges and coping strategies among deportees in the Nkoranza Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were to (a) find out why deportees in Nkoranza returned to Ghana (b) investigate the challenges faced by deportees (c) identify the coping strategies adopted by deportees and (d) ascertain the support services that are available for deportees. Using a qualitative research design, twenty-five participants (twenty-four males and one female) were purposively recruited for the study. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted to gather data for the study and thematic network was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated that many of the deportees experienced difficulties in accessing jobs, faced health challenges and lost assets that could have been used to facilitate their reintegration. Additionally, other challenges identified were negative societal perceptions about deportees and poor deportee-community relationship. Furthermore, the findings indicated that there were support services provided by government and non-governmental organizations for deportees, but majority of the deportees had no information on these support services and therefore could not access them. Furthermore, the study revealed that participants used both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies to deal with their challenges. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that immigration officers develop strategies to regulate the movement of Ghanaian nationals in and out of the country. In addition, implications are discussed for policy, social work practice and further research.
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    Risk, Support and Resilience: A Study of Northern Ghanaian Migrant Teenage Mothers Resident in Accra, Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2014-12) Saa-Touh, K.M.; Osei-Hwedie, K.; Baffoe, M.; Fuchs, D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work
    Teenage girls from northern Ghana, independently migrate to the urban centres of the south to seek economic opportunities. Most of these teenage girls end up living on the streets of the urban centres they migrate to and often are at risk of sexual abuse. The prevalence of pregnancy and childbearing is increasing among these girls. However, little is known about the experiences and challenges of these teenage girls during pregnancy and post-delivery. This study, examined the lived experience, the coping strategies and the factors that influence resilience among migrant teenage girls in Accra. The study adopted a sequential exploratory design which involved two phases of data collection. Thematic analysis was conducted on phase one of the qualitative data which involved 20 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions. Derived themes were built into the design of a structured questionnaire and administered to 250 respondents through face-to-face interviews that concluded phase two of the data collection process. In both phases of data collection, respondent-driven sampling was employed. This sampling technique involved a chain referral and peer recruitment of participants. The results indicate that: poverty, deprivation and the lack of economic opportunities in northern Ghana account for the massive drift of teenage girls to Accra. The results revealed that the girls went through traumatic experiences during pregnancy, childbirth and childcare. The girls lived in deplorable conditions on the streets and faced difficulties accessing healthcare for themselves and their babies. They lacked social support and knowledge on institutions that provide welfare services in the city. They suffered physical and sexual abuses, exploitation, harassment and severe stigmatization from health workers, the public and shop owners. In an attempt to manage these problems, the girls adopted coping strategies in the form of bringing younger siblings to babysit; carrying babies on their back; rotational childcare arrangements; teaming up with peers to cook; keeping sharp objects and wearing tight jeans to ward-off potential thieves and rapists and picking of boyfriends as a means to secure sleeping places. Faith in God, adoption of ethnic ties, earning income, savings and remittances, were qualitative factors that propelled resilience while quantitatively: jobs in the city, peer support, access to accommodation, age of respondent, and living with partner in the city, influenced resilience among migrant teenage girls who live on the streets of Accra. The study recommends that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection should adopt a two-generation policy approach that will aim at addressing issues of migrant teenage girls and their children in Accra. Specifically, the Ministry should provide teen parenting support centres at major markets and suburbs in the city where teenage girls could freely receive services including: ‘adult’ learning; skills training; how to set up micro businesses; professional counselling on parenting; and so forth as envisaged in the National Youth Policy. These centres should also be designed to provide services where migrant teenage girls could drop-in with their children, have their children receive early learning and development, receive primary healthcare and nutrition among many others. A future study may consider looking at the developmental challenges of children of migrant teenage girls in the city as a means to inform needs driven programs as proposed for the establishment of teen parenting support centres in the major markets and suburbs of the city.
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    The Ghanaian Woman as an Agent of Change in Ghana’s Development
    (University of Ghana, 2014-09) Boateng, D.A; Fuchs, D; Baffoe, M; Osei-Hwedie, K; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work
    This study explores factors that contributed to the success of selected women in Ghana and highlights the strategies and motives of the selected successful Ghanaian women in empowering other women. Thirty women in academia, politics and trade were purposively sampled and interviewed on their lived experiences as they navigated their way to become successful women and agents of change in their workplaces and communities. A semi-structured, in-depth interview was utilised as the primary data collection method. Findings of the study indicate that like women all over the world, the challenge of combining domestic responsibilities with a career present Ghanaian women with serious constraints, but they find imaginative ways of successfully navigating their work spaces. In addition, the lived experiences of successful women in Ghana include having a happy childhood where they were allowed to explore their environments and develop their skills. Although others endured hardships during childhood, they were able to reconstruct the hardships as leverages to propel them towards success in their adult lives. Some also had to contend with pervasive sex-based discrimination and sexual harassment at the workplace. The study finds that when fathers are deeply involved in the lives of their daughters, it serves as a springboard to their future success. Finally, in serving as agents of change, the study found that women have three main motives for influencing change; working for the good of others, helping create better conditions for the next generation and giving back to society. In doing this, they employ strategies such as mentorship, active participation in their communities, pushing for female-friendly work policies and advocating for youth development. It is concluded that despite the vulnerable outlook with which discourse about women from developing societies are framed, Ghanaian women have and continue to work in phenomenal ways to bring development to their communities.
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    Survival Strategies of the Elderly in Rural Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2014-06) Agyemang, F. A.; Ohene-Konadu, K.; Senah, K.; Boateng, A.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work
    Globally, there is now a growing concern for the elderly. In the developing world especially, this concern has grown significantly due to increase in life span, the structural difficulties caused by globalization, rural-urban migration and the breakdown in the capacity of the extended family to perform its traditional roles. The net result is that in Ghana as in many developing countries, in the absence of government support, the elderly are compelled to fend for themselves. How the elderly in rural Ghana negotiate the means of livelihood is the focus of this study. The aim and objectives of the study are: To understand the dynamics of day-to-day life of the elderly in rural communities. To examine the challenges faced by the elderly in their day-to-day life To examine the causes of these challenges as well as factors affecting elderly survival To find out the survival strategies of the rural elderly in the face the challenges To find out how society (social networks) impacts on the survival challenges Examine the welfare implications of the problems of the elderly care in rural Ghana Given the orientation of the study, data was collected from 300 respondents in the three geographical zones of the country, namely central, forest and savannah. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Findings Key findings of the study included the following: One of the difficulties of the elderly was how to feed on daily basis. The chief cause being rural-urban migration of the youth, leaving the elderly in the rural areas without any meaningful support. Most elderly are widows and widowers Most of them did not work in the formal sector so they did not have pension It was also identified that some of the elderly in rural Ghana are still engaged in economic activities to provide their needs even though they should not be engaged in economic activities at this time in life. From the data, the study found that the largest source of support for the rural elderly is remittances and supports derived from their own children and this in most cases explains the large family sizes that are witnessed in the rural areas; a source of social security. It was found that the state or government has not provided any reliable form of support to the elderly except that persons above 70 years are entitled to free health care under the fairly recently established National Health Insurance Scheme. Recommendations Against the background of these findings, the following recommendations are made: Future studies can investigate issues like an effective pension‟s regime, the national workable policy on ageing and the LEAP programme that will take care of the entire elderly population in terms of contributions, benefits and entitlements. For instance, the current bi-monthly LEAP payments of GH¢24.00 per beneficiary, GH¢30.00 per two beneficiaries, GH¢36.00 per three and GH¢45.00 per four beneficiaries is inadequate. As the research has shown, persons who join networks and associations stand the chance of receiving some form of assistance from the associations. Even when the assistance was not financial or tangible, the companionship and advices offered helped to deal with the problems associated with loneliness. It is recommended that such informal groupings be encouraged but given a redirection so that they can focus on much more important things instead of the traditional concentration on funerals. It was noted from the study that government support for the elderly in rural Ghana was woefully inadequate. The immediate representative of the central government at the local level is the District Assemblies. The current legal regime mandates each of the MMDAs to set aside 2.0% of their disbursements from the District Assemblies Common Fund purposely to help the disabled in society. It is the recommendation of this research that special allocations should also be made to cater for the needs of the elderly. Such funds can be disbursed directly to them or given in kind, like organizing free health screening and medication to the elderly, particularly in the rural areas where access to health centres are very limited. This has been provided for in the draft National Ageing Policy which is yet to receive parliamentary approval. It is, therefore, recommended that government give the policy urgent attention so that an institutional framework will be provided to care for the elderly. The state must take keen interest in the rate of population growth due to high birth rates. The interventions of the state through the Family Planning Programmes ought to be intensified especially in the rural areas where fertility is also very high. The research found that average families in the rural areas were between 4 and 6, with some as high as 15. Even when the parents are in the position to foot the bills of their children, the state has a burden to provide social facilities for these kids to enjoy. This puts great stress on the limited social facilities available. The active involvement of the state through education for couples to plan their families will not only help the couples, but will reduce the rate at which the burden of the state will increase. There is the need to strengthen current family planning education with the state providing active support since many of the campaigns are done by private organisations. This will likely reduce the incidences of the elderly having to care for their young children at a time they should not be bearing such responsibilities. It is the desire of all well-meaning citizens to obtain decent jobs from which they will survive. The rate of unemployment in Ghana is unfortunately very high that able bodied and willing youth find it difficult to find a decent job that will provide a moderate pay to take care of the utility bills and other needs. The urgent attention of government to address this problem through educational reforms and other economic interventions is needed now to arrest the situation. It was realized in the study that NGOs (Help Age) are involved in providing direct care to the elderly much more than government is doing. These organizations too have the capacity to reach out to all and sundry. It will be better for the state to actively engage genuine NGOs in some of the programmes it has for the less privileged so that the chunk of resources do not stay in the urban areas or major towns. Government in this case will have to strengthen its supervision and regulation of NGOs to weed out those that have been formed to serve as revenue generation ventures for their founders. It is also recommended that there should be a serious debate and subsequent policy on old-age care in Ghana, since nothing of its nature exists in the significant sense. This is important because of the revelations that the support that the elderly get from families/kin is declining by the day. Aboderin &Ogwumike (2005:11) finds that “the West Africa family system no longer affords sufficient protection to many old.” Contribution to Knowledge The extended family as the traditional support is giving way or cracking. The next line of support for the elderly is the children of the elderly. Findings however show that this line of support is not reliable because of the dislocations of the national economy that has caused large-scale unemployment amongst the employable youth. Where the elderly have not made social capital investment by way of taking care of others, then they are in bad shape. Agenda for Future Research This study has focused on the elderly in a few districts in Ghana. Clearly, the findings may be limited in their applicability. In spite of this limitation, the findings point to patterns and dynamics in ageing in contemporary Ghana that may be subjected to further and wider national study in order to enhance the empirical base of the findings and to better inform policy on the elderly.
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    Extended Family Support and Elderly Care in Bamang, Ashanti Region of Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2014-06) Ofori-Dua, K.; Ohene - Konadu, K.; Tonah, S.; Manfu, S. E.
    Social change is causing great transformation in every area of society. The objective of this study was to examine how this transformation is affecting the traditional role of extended family to provide support and care to the elderly in rural Ghana. Bamang; a small rural community in Ashanti Region, was used as research site to collect data for the study. Methodologically, a qualitative research technique was employed, including; face to face interviews and observations as methods for data collection from 60 study participants consisting of 30 elderly persons, 25 caretakers and five opinion leaders. Sampling approach consisted of purposive and snowball techniques. The study revealed that the traditional family is undergoing some transformations; from the traditional extended family to modernized nuclear family. This transformation has unfortunately created a vacuum of social responsibility towards elderly relatives who are in need of support and care. Also, the study found that old age is associated with poverty because of bad economic situation in Bamang which constrained savings against future uncertainties. Further, it was recognized that the living conditions of most participating elderly in the study showed signs of poverty and multiple deprivation. Also acknowledging their low educational background, most of the elderly participants lacked information and access to resources that can be accessed to improve their conditions. The study suggests that there is a great need to decentralize implementation and management of programmes like LEAP to local communities and villages to remove bureaucracy. This will make the program more accessible to many elderly citizens in rural communities.