Conference Proceedings and Papers
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Conference proceeding is a collection of academic papers published in the context of an academic conference or workshop. Conference proceedings typically contain the contributions made by researchers at the conference. They are the written record of the work that is presented to fellow researchers.
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Item Determinants of Anaemia in Pregnancy in Sekyere West District, Ghana(Ghana Medical Journal, 2005-09) Glover-Amengor, M.; Owusu, W.B.; Akanmori, B.D.Anaemia associated with pregnancy is a serious health problem and its control requires the initial identification of the major factors responsible. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels of 205 women, aged 15 to 49 years, in the last trimester of pregnancy and residing within 4 of 6 sub-districts in Sekyere West district of the Ashanti region of Ghana, were determined. Demographic characteristics, dietary habits and other information were obtained and analysed. Blood and stool samples were tested for the presence of malaria parasites and intestinal worms respectively. The data showed that, 57.1% of pregnant women had Hb<10g/dl, the Ministry of Health cut off point for anaemia. Anaemia was more prevalent in rural compared to urban parts of the district (p=0.01). Low parity and young age were significantly associated with low Hb and high prevalence of maternal anaemia. Presence of malaria parasites in peripheral blood constituted a significant risk for low Hb (Hb = 9.2g/dL vs 9.5g/dL p=0.03). Independent of this, hookworm was even more strongly associated with low Hb (Hb = 8.3g/dL vs Hb=9.5g/dL, p=0.01). Contribu-tion of dietary intake to the prevalence of anaemia cannot be inferred from the data generated under the current study.Item Contribution of Refractive Errors to Visual Impairment in Patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital(Ghana Medical Journal, 2007-06) Ntim-Amponsah, C.T.Objective: To determine the contribution of refractive error to visual impairment in visually impaired patients attending Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Method: This study was conducted over a period of 1 year beginning October 2002 at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Every 4th consecutive new case attending the eye clinic, aged 6 years and above was selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. A Snellen’s chart was used to determine the unaided visual acuity, visual acuity with spectacles where the patient was wearing one, and visual acuity with pin hole with or without spectacles. Improvement in visual acuity by 2 or more lines on the Snellen’s chart when looking through the pin hole was regarded as an indication of refractive error. Results: A total of 1,069 respondents, 594 female and 475 male were recruited into the study. One hundred and fifteen (115) patients (10.76%) were found to have impaired vision (Visual acuity worse than 6/18 to PL in the better eye). The vision of 51 of those with impaired vision improved when looking through the pin hole. Refractive error with Visual Acuity worse than 6/18 was present in 4.8% of all patients who attended the eye clinic. Refractive error was present in 44.3% of patients with visual impairment. Conclusion: Visual impairment was a common presentation and uncorrected refractive error was a major cause of visual impairment.Item Women in physics in Ghana: Improvement on the horizon(AIP Conference Proceedings, 2005-09) Andam, A.B.; Amponsah, P.E.; Kaufmann, E.E.In Ghana, the number of women involved in physics has been rather small compared with that of men. We report a gratifying increase in the number of women studying physics in Ghana during the past 5 years. This is the positive result of various intervention strategies that have been put in place in Ghana during the past 15 years. It is estimated that the developing countries of Africa need at least 2000 scientists per 1 million in population for effective industrial development. If this critical mass of scientific personnel is to be assembled, with the relevant supporting technical personnel, no country can afford to leave 50% of the population—the half that consists of women—out of scientific, technological, and mathematics education. It is imperative that many more women study physics if the country is to move forward and have the critical mass of scientists needed for economic growth. One of the basic problems that have put women on the sidelines in the pursuit of scientific studies and careers is gender stereotyping. Gender stereotyping of school courses and careers finds expression in the expectation that certain courses like physics, mathematics, engineering, and other technical work are “boys courses” or “men’s jobs” and girls will study languages, typing, cooking, and sewing, which will lead to jobs in catering and junior-level office work. These societal expectations are projected in the school into what has been described as “the hidden curriculum.” On paper, all subjects are open to all students, but in practice there is often gender bias toward certain subjects. The result has been a categorization of careers into “men’s jobs” and “women’s jobs.” In fact, some well-meaning people have, in the past, advised that the study of science and mathematics could harm the delicate feminine frameItem Observations of thermal variations in the mixed layer depth of the equatorial Atlantic(International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 2009-01) Agyekum, K.A.; Wiafe, G.; Houghton, B.; Dolk, S.; Drake, T.; Vogel, A.A set of Argo temperature data collected in the equatorial Atlantic [0° -5° N, 55° W-10° E] was used to estimate the mixed layer depth (MLD) and associated thermal variability for the period between January 2002 to April 2009. MLD climatology were estimated from 0.3° *0.3° median binned temperature profile using temperature difference criterion with a reference layer at 10m depth. At the 30m depth, 22° C cold water flows from the south onto the continental shelfs of Ghana-Cote D'Ivoire indicating the potential source of nutrient rich bottom water that nourishes the MLD and drives biological production. The MLD was shallow at the east and relatively deeper at the western end of the equatorial Atlantic. Variability within the MLD can be associated with variations in the westward flow of the warm and saline Equatorial Undercurrent. Further warming of the equatorial Atlantic has a potential of increasing the mixed layer depth and affecting upper surface ocean processes. ©2009 IEEE.Item A review on techniques applied to modelling, simulating and visualising evolution of physical landscape(CSSim 2009 - 1st International Conference on Computational Intelligence, Modelling, and Simulation, 2009) Nti, I.K.; Sallis, P.J.; Shanamuganathan, S.The paper considers contemporary physical landscape visualisation and simulation models that are used for impact analysis and decision making for geographical location studies. For this purpose a generic framework is presented that provides professionals with a tool to facilitate decision making. The main reasons for the framework construction are to provide a rigorous approach to the task of studying the evolution of physical landscapes, and to provide appropriate data for forecasting and scenario projections using computational simulations that reflect future changes. The framework is based on an in-depth analysis and assessment of a landscape monitored over time. On satisfactory completion of landscape models construction, the set of models developed are then used for the construction of visualisation images to represent the entire evolutionary process of the landscape. This framework includes functions through which users can generate visualisation models either with twodimensional maps and/or interactive immersive three dimensional images. © 2009 IEEE.Item Ghana's Community Information Centers (CiCs): e-Governance success or mirage?(ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2009-01) Awotwi, J.E.; Owusu, G.Following the initial implementation of Information and Communication Technologies for development (ICT4D) projects in rural Africa, many did not yield the anticipated outcomes, and interest has been waning. People then began talking about "sustainable ICT" projects as projects which would become self-sufficient after their initial donor-led investment and set-up period. Beyond WSIS's broad objective for all nations, Ghana Government set its own specific objectives to Community Information Centres (CICs) project, to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural dwellers in the country. They are to serve as training centers where acquisition of ICT skills and knowledge are provided for underprivileged people and also to bring government services online closer to the people at the grassroots. Is it true that rural Ghana does not want to connect with the rest of the world through information centres? This analysis is based on data collected from all known public records, reports, and other materials which were researched, and where possible, persons either directly involved with the project as administrators or users were interviewed. This analysis is based on data collected from all known public records, reports, and other materials which were researched, and where possible, persons either directly involved with the project as administrators or users were interviewed. Copyright 2009 ACM.Item Lack of equal access to ICTs by women: An e-governance issue(ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 2008-01) Awotwi, J.E.; Owusu, G.This paper will explore the inadequacy of women's participatory role in governance due to lack of access to ICTs in Ghana using Ghana in West Africa as a Case Study. It will point out the recognition of women's limitations through international declarations; the usual obstacles that face women in the ICT industry; examine the Ghana government's gender policies, and also offer suggestions as to how to empower women, already marginalized in society, to gain from the new age of technology. Copyright 2008 ACM.