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A long essay or dissertation or thesis involving personal research, written by postgraduates of University of Ghana for a university degree.
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Item Towards Industrial Ecology: An Assessment Of Environmental Practices Within The Plastic Industry In Accra, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2021-07) Gyabo, S.O.The purpose of this study is to assess corporate environmental practices being implemented by plastic producing enterprises in Accra, Ghana. The study explores existing environmental practices at the enterprise level, examines the level of compliance with environmental regulations by plastic producing enterprises, examines perception of plastic producing enterprises on the influence of growing activism against plastic pollution from the public on their strategies and the opportunities and challenges of using industrial ecology to achieve sustainable plastic production and consumption in relation to sustainable development goal 12 (responsible production and consumption). The study employed methodological triangulation on data obtained from 18 plastic-producing enterprises within the Accra and Tema Metropolis in Ghana through questionnaire survey and informal interviews. Data was analysed quantitatively and supported with qualitative data. It was revealed that enterprises engage in environmental practices such as recycling, adoption of sustainable technology and environmental management systems (EMS), use of recycled materials, and energy efficiency. Compliance with environmental regulation was found to be high amongst enterprises with 17 of 18 enterprises having met regulatory requirements and therefore certified by the regulatory body (EPA). Further, enterprises did not perceive reduced sales and profits over the last 10 years though raw materials were perceived to have become more expensive due to scarcity of resources from the natural environment. Firms also professed to putting in measures to improve their reputation in the face of the public as a result of public activisms on plastic pollution. Additionally, existing national plastic management policy (NPMP), recycling, sustainability reporting and education and awareness provides opportunity for industrial ecology to be used to achieve sustainable plastic waste management, though some challenges in these areas persist. Ecosystem principles of roundput, was being implemented by majority of enterprises through engagement in recycling and locality principle was being implemented by a few enterprises. Situating the study within the institutional theory, enterprises had normative, regulatory and cognitive reasons for engaging in environmental practices. Whereas based on the natural resource-based view (NRBV), enterprises derived competitive advantage in the form of improved efficiency and reduced cost of production, differentiation benefit and access to international markets, which were achieved through the product stewardship, pollution prevention and sustainable development practices being accomplished by enterprises.Item Person-Environment Fit On Organizational Citizenship Behaviour And Employee Engagement Among Administrative Staff Of Public Universities In Accra, Ghana.(University Of Ghana, 2022-01) Aryee, E.M.E.Effective recruitment in organizations is the bedrock of sustained competitive advantage within an organizations industry. Ensuring a proper and most suitable fit impacts behavioural and organizational outcomes. Employee efficiency and effectiveness is paramount in every sector but more especially the educational sector which primarily shapes the future of younger generations. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of person-environment fit on work-related outcomes among administrative staff of public universities in Accra. A sample of 300 administrative staff (females = 58.4%, ages 18-40= 86.0%) was selected from public universities in the Greater Accra Region to partake in the study using the purposive and snowball sampling method. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising various demographic questions, and measures of person-environment fit, organizational citizenship behaviour and employee engagement. Multiple regression, an independent t test and One way analysis of variance were used in data analysis. The study discovered a positive significant relationship between employees fit and work-related outcomes as well as an interaction between two dimensions of engagement (intellectual and affective) and organizational citizenship behavior. The findings of the study also reveal that various factors such as tenure and age positively impacted the employee’s performance of organizational citizenship behavior and engagement levels.Item Antibiotic Residues And Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Contaminating Raw Meat Sold In Accra, Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2021-07) Baah, D.A.Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the greatest threats to health and economies in recent times. Multidrug resistance limits treatment options and has serious implications for human and animal health. Efforts to combat AMR should be based on the One Health approach and involve human health, animal health, and the environment. In Ghana, previous studies on AMR have given little attention to animal source food, which is a major route of transmission of antibiotic-resistant zoonotic pathogens. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic residues and multidrug-resistant bacteria in meat sold in Accra. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 270 meat samples were collected. The presence of antibiotic residues in the meat samples was detected using microbiological inhibition assays. Standard microbiological methods were employed in cultural isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens present in the meat samples. Bacteria isolated from the samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (using the Kirby-Bauer method) against the following antimicrobials: amikacin (30 μg), ampicillin (10 μg), amoxicillinclavulanate (20/10 μg), cefuroxime (30 μg), ceftriaxone (30 μg), ceftazidime (30 μg), cefepime (30 μg), ciprofloxacin (5 μg), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (1.25/23.75 μg), ertapenem (10 μg), meropenem (10 μg), imipenem (10 μg), tigecycline (15 μg), and gentamicin (10 μg). Results: The prevalence of antibiotic residues among the meat samples was 7.7% [beef (0.0%), goat meat (0.0%), and chicken (23.3%, n = 21)]. Furthermore, thirty-two (32) different types of bacterial agents, totaling 588, were isolated from the samples. The predominant ones were Escherichia coli [262; Beef = 30.5%, n = 80; Goat meat = 30.5%, n = 80; Chicken = 38.9%, n = 102], Aeromonas hydrophila [117; Beef = 35.9%, n = 42; Goat meat = 53.0%, n = 62; Chicken = 11.1%, n = 13], Vibrio cholerae [20; Beef = 50.0%, n = 10; Goat meat = 50.0%, n = 10; Chicken = 0.0%, n = 0], Aeromonas veronii [19; Beef = 63.1%, n = 12; Goat meat = 36.8%, n = 7; Chicken = 0.0%, n = 0], and Klebsiella pneumoniae [18; Beef = 22.2%, n = 4; Goat meat = 16.7%, n = 3; Chicken = 61.1%, n = 11]. The prevalence of MDR among the contaminating bacteria was 14.9% (n = 83), and the distribution was beef (3.8%, n = 21), goat meat = (5.0%, n = 28), and chicken (6.1%, n = 34). Also, the MDR distribution among the predominant bacteria was E. coli (Overall = 18.7%, n = 49; Beef = 5.7%, n = 15; Goat meat = 5.7%, n = 15; Chicken = 7.3%, n = 19), A. hydrophila (Overall = 11.1%, n =13; Beef = 2.3%, n = 3; Goat meat = 7.7%, n = 9; Chicken = 0.9%, n = 1), V. cholerae and A. veronii (0.0% each), and K. pneumoniae (Overall = 5.6%, n = 1; Beef = 0.0%, n = 0; Goat meat = 0.0%, n = 0; Chicken = 5.6%, n = 1). Moreover, 2.0% (n = 11) of the contaminating bacteria were ESBL producers, all of which occurred in 11 of the chicken samples, and their distribution was: E. coli (1.3%, n = 7), K. pneumoniae, Pantoea spp., E. cloacae, and Serratia plymuthica (0.2% each, n = 1). Conclusion: The prevalence of antibiotic residues in the meat samples was low, and the occurrence was restricted to chicken. The major bacterial contaminants were E. coli, A. hydrophila, V. cholerae, A. veronii, and K. pneumoniae. The prevalence of multidrug resistance was moderate, while that of ESBL producers was low.Item Attitudes Towards The Use Of Hearing Aids Among Hearing Impaired Population In Accra, Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2020-10) Kweitsu, C.K.Background: Hearing loss affects millions of people around the world and is estimated to be the fourth leading cause of disability globally. Besides, over the past several years, research investigations have focused on the low uptake and usage of hearing aids among populations with hearing- impaired. The attitude toward the use of hearing aid is a major problem among the hearing-impaired population in the world with more people showing more negative attitudes towards the use of hearing aids in developing countries where hearing impairment is high. Aim: The study determined the attitudes of hearing-impaired persons towards the use of hearing aids in Accra, Ghana. Methods: The study deployed a cross-sectional study with a sample size of 50 mostly with people with hearing impairment. Structured Questionnaires were designed and administered with the help of the respondents within the study population area. The questionnaire was analyzed using statistical software (SPSS) Results: The study indicated that fifty-eight percent (58%) of the hearing-impaired population showed disinterest in wearing hearing aids for many reasons. Though the respondents have appreciable knowledge about hearing aids, their attitudes towards acquiring and use of hearing aids were generally negative. Chief among the reasons they assigned to their negative attitude is the assertion that larger society disdains and stigmatizes them as second class humans. This implies that most of the people with hearing impairment, although could benefit from the use of a hearing device, are not interested in wearing them because of the perceived public perception and stigmatization. Forty-two (42%) percent of the respondents had a positive attitude towards hearing aids as a result of their adequate knowledge of hearing aids and the benefits of usage. Conclusion: Most people with hearing impairment do not acquire and own hearing aids as an immediate interventional measure for aural rehabilitation. However, the motivation for hearing impaired persons to acquire and use hearing aids depends on several factors that should not be grossed over. Keyword: Hearing loss, hearing aid, hearing-impaired, population, attitudeItem Factors Associated with Malaria Co-Infection in HIV Positive Children at a Health Facility in Accra(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Tibboh, A.M.Item Economic Cost and Coping Mechanisms for Prostate Cancer Treatment Among Patients in Two Selected Hospitals in Accra, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Madiebo, G.C.O.Item Uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment During Pregnancy and its Influence on the Birth Weight of Newborns in Maamobi General Hospital in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Baffo, E.Item Compliance with Electronic Medical Records Privacy Policy: A Perspective of Employees of a Private Hospital in Accra, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2021-07) Wallace-Bruce, N.L.Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are becoming the major technological tools for recording, storing, sharing, and analysing patient records in hospitals. This form of record has replaced the paper-based form of keeping patients’ records. However, the increased vulnerability and breach of electronic medical records have also led to concerns about the privacy of patient records. To address this, privacy policies have been put in place by hospitals to protect patient information. In view of this, there is a need to understand what factors will promote compliance to these privacy policies, and to continuously measure the level of compliance. This study, therefore, seeks to identify the factors that influence compliance to EMR privacy policies in a private hospital in Ghana. The study adopted a quantitative approach. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study used a census to collect data from respondents who are EMR users in the hospital. In all, 154 respondents participated in the survey. The data collected were analysed using SPSS version 25. The study analyses were performed using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics (correlation and regression). The findings suggest that employees of the hospital are aware of the EMR privacy policies. Also, the findings indicate that EMR users do not perceive that there are serious challenges preventing them from complying with the EMR privacy policies. The study found that the level of EMR privacy policy compliance is very high among users of the system, with self-efficacy being a predictor of EMR privacy compliance. The implication of these findings is that hospital management must train their employees to develop the skills and confidence to use the EMR privacy systems to ensure compliance.Item Retirement Experiences of Female Retirees in Accra. A Case Study of Fifteen Women.(University of Ghana, 2001-05) Otoo-Addo, F.Item Youth Volunteerism in Accra: Motivations, Benefits, and Constraints(University of Ghana, 2019-07) Klu, E.Volunteerism has been touted globally as one of the tools for involving the youth in development processes especially in the wake of dwindling public expenditure on public services and public sector employment. Despite the global support and advocacy, volunteerism has received less attention among scholars and policymakers in Ghana. This study seeks to contribute in this regard by exploring; factors that motivate young people to volunteer, benefits they seek to derive volunteering as well as constraints that influence or prohibit participation in volunteer work. The study adopted a mixed-method approach using surveys and interviews. 351 young people were recruited constituting; 228 volunteers and 103 non-volunteers through surveys and 20 participants; 13 volunteers, 4 non-volunteers and 3 key informants. The findings show that young people saw volunteer work as an opportunity to ‘while away time’ while waiting for a permanent job. Other motivation factors included altruism, the desire to create change, contribution to development, acquisition of new skills, building career portfolios. For benefits, volunteers recounted factors such as personal development, social capital acquisition, and psychological gains including overcoming fear and low esteem as well as ease of boredom. Constraints are said to either inhibit volunteering or influence the volunteering experience and satisfaction. Three forms of constraints emerged from the study. These include Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Structural. Interpersonal and structural constraints were reported by both volunteers and non-volunteers while intrapersonal constraints were peculiar to only non-volunteers. It is concluded that young people in Ghana volunteer for a myriad of reasons tied to their interest and expectation. Volunteers attribute benefits to their volunteering endeavors when their expectations are met. The cost of volunteering and inadequate information on volunteer work are major constraints to be summonted in efforts to encourage volunteering culture in Ghana.