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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 Body size estimation and weight management practices in urban poor communities in Ghana: A cross-sectional study(Journal of Health and Social Sciences, 2020) Frempong, G.A.; Anarfi, J.K.; Badasu, D.M.; Codjoe, S.N.A.Body size perception is a pertinent issue globally due to its implications for weight management. This study examined the influence of body size estimation on weight management behaviors in urban poor areas of Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to collect data among a sample of 395 adults aged 18-70 years. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed for the collection of data on socio-demographic characteristics, weight perceptions, and weight management strategies. Anthropometric measurements were also taken, using standard procedures. Logistic regression models were used to examine relationships among the va variables. Results: More than half (57%) of the total sample was overweight or obese and 56.7% of the participants accurately estimated their body size. Nearly a third (37%) of the participants intended to stay about the same weight, while 29.6% and 11.9% wanted to lose or gain weight, respectively. To achieve their weight management goals, 60.3% of the participants engaged in healthy weight management practices. Body size estimation had no statistically significant relationship with weight management practices. However, the likelihood of engaging in healthy practices increased as age increased (OR = 1.021; 95% CI: 1.000 to 1.042). Individuals who belonged to households of the upper wealth category were less likely than those in lower wealth households to engage in healthy practices (OR = 0.548; CI: 0.330 to 0.911). Community of residence, a community conducive to physical activity and social support also significantly predicted weight management practices. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the importance of age and some socio-environmental factors in public health strategies for weight management.Item Deliberation for Development: Ghana ’s First Deliberative Poll(Journal of Deliberative Democracy, 2019) Chirawurah, D.; Bawah, A.; Fishkin, J.; et al.This article poses the problem of public consultation in developing countries and applies a solution in Ghana as a test case. It describes the theoretical rationale for deliberative consultation with random samples, describes specific criteria for success, and then assesses an application under the challenging conditions of a developing country. It builds on notions of “deliberative democracy,” and shows how they can be practically realized in an African context through “Deliberative Polling” (DP). The challenge is that the context is one of the poorest parts of one of the poorest countries in Africa. Rather than consulting just stakeholders, or self-selected populations, or using conventional surveys, DP’s have the advantage of consulting random samples with deliberation in depth in confidential surveys so that the opinion changes can be evaluated at the individual level, free of social pressures for consensus. Is this practical in this context? A DP was conducted in Tamale, Ghana on issues of water, sanitation, hygiene, and food security. Criteria for success for DPs that have been applied in highly developed countries are discussed and then applied in Ghana under challenging conditions.Item Community Participation in the Management of Ghanaian Schools(Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 2021) Aryeh-Adjei, A.A.Municipal members widely recognize that community school management participation promotes a sense of ownership in student learning in Ghanaian schools. This paper is a literature review on community participation in the management of Ghanaian schools. This paper's scope identifies the importance of community participation in school management, the context of school management in Ghana, and the challenges of community participation. It is recommended that Ghanaian parents and other stakeholders be encouraged to participate fully in school management to promote development in the education sector (at all levels) and in the entire community.Item Schooling and Education in Ghana: Research Conversations(Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 2021) Amponsah, S.; Kyei-Blankson, L.Ghana, a former British colony, known as the Gold Coast, is located in the West Africa, south of the Sahara. With a current population estimation of 30 million and a functional adult literacy rate of 79% (Macrotrends, 2021; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] Institute for Statistics, 2020), eradicating illiteracy and dealing with issues affecting schooling and education in this country has always been at the forefront of academic dialogue and governmental policies.Item Information Systems Evaluation in Ghanaian Academic Libraries Using DandM IS Success Model(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2021) Ocloo, P.E.D.; King, L.The use of Information Systems (ISS) has been widely accepted and proven to increase service quality in many organizations. Academic libraries have embraced the use of ISs and have implemented them to perform different activities. The efficient utilization and management of ISs in libraries will help libraries derive maximum benefit from adopted ISs. The researchers therefore used the DeLone and McLean IS success theory to determine the impact of IS management on the quality of the IS and the use of the IS. The researchers solicited responses using questionnaires from all the staff members who use any electronic system in libraries that were purposively selected. The research revealed that the management of ISs affects the quality thereof. The quality of ISs affects use, and use affects the benefits gained from use.Item Exploring The Knowledge And Awareness Of Diabetes Mellitus Among Inhabitants Of Ho Municipality In Ghana A Cross-Sectional Study(African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2021) Annan-Asare, J.; Koryo-Dabrah, A.; Berko Nartey, E.; et al.One of the fast-growing major non-communicable diseases (NCD) that poses a danger to global public health is Diabetes mellitus (DM). Trends in the incidence of DM indicate a disproportionate increase in developing countries due to the current rapid demographic transitions from traditional to more westernized and urbanized lifestyles. Knowledge of DM is vital for curbing or control. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness of DM among the Ho municipality general population, identify areas of deficiency for targeted health education efforts, and identify respondent characteristics that may be associated with knowledge of diabetes. A survey involving 132 respondents (aged over 18 years) was conducted in the Ho municipality of the Volta region of Ghana. A 42-item pre-tested questionnaire was administered to participants to evaluate general and specific knowledge and awareness of DM. The Pairwise Multiple Comparison and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to test the hypotheses and associations between the respondents’ knowledge level and groups respectively. Of the 132 respondents, 22% were in the age range of 40-46 years; 72.7% were female. The mean overall diabetes knowledge composite score was poor: 32.99% (CI; 27.5, 38.5). Respondents performed best in the symptoms section: the mean score was 36.247% (CI; 29.0, 43.4); and worst in the section on complications: the mean score was 30.909% (CI; 23.6, 38.2). In multiple linear regression analyses, education level, older age, own self having diabetes, and having a family member/relative/friend with diabetes were significantly associated with knowledge of diabetes. Knowledge of diabetes among the inhabitants of Ho municipality respondents was interpreted as being inadequate at 32.99% (CI; 27.5, 38.5). Some deficient portions and factors associated with knowledge of diabetes were identified. Relevant information for targeted health education programs in Ghana and beyond may be considered as one of such benefits of these findings.Item Plastic Fuel Conversion and Characterisation: A Waste Valorization Potential for Ghana(MRS Advances, 2020) Commeh, M.; Dodoo-Arhin, D.; Acquaye, E.; et al.Plastics generally play a very important role in a plethora of industries, fields, and our everyday lives. Despite their cheapness, availability, and important contributions to lives, they, however, pose a serious threat to the environment due to their mostly non-biodegradable nature. Recycling into useful products can reduce the amount of plastic waste. Thermal degradation (Pyrolysis) of plastics is becoming an increasingly important recycling method for the conversion of plastic materials into valuable chemicals and oil products. In this work, waste Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles were thermally converted into useful gaseous and liquid products. A simple pyrolysis reactor system has been used for the conversions with a liquid product yield of 65 % at a temperature range of 400°C to 550°C. The chemical analysis of the pyrolytic oil showed the presence of functional groups such as alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, ethers, carboxylic acids, esters, and phenyl ring substitution bands. The main constituents were 1-Tetradecene, 1- Pentadecene, Cetene, Hexadecane, 1-Heptadecene, Heptadecane, Octadecane, Nonadecane, Eicosane, Tetratetracontane, 1-Undecene, 1-Decene). The results are promising and can be maximized by additional techniques such as hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation to obtain value-added products.Item Environmental exposure and potential health impact of heavy metals in previous mining communities in Ghana(HSI Journal, 2024) Opoku, R.B.; Dankyi, E.; Christian, A.; Aryeetey, R.Heavy metal exposure arising from metal mining is a significant source of pollution in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, concerns have been heightened due to increasing artisanal mining activities. Although efforts are being made to curb illegal mining activities, including a ban on artisanal mining by the government of Ghana, the devastating impacts of mining activities can persist in the environment for a long period. This study was carried out to assess the impact of mining activities on the exposure of toxic and potentially toxic metals in food, vegetation, soil, and water samples from communities where mining activities have been halted for several years. The samples were digested using a microwave digestion system employing a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and analyzed for mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Co), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe), using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results showed generally elevated levels of metals in water, food, vegetation, and soils. For example, in vegetation, the average concentrations of Pb, Hg, Cd, and As were 198 μg/kg, 303 μg/kg, 75 μg/kg, and 519 μg/kg, respectively, while the average levels of As and Pb were 11,111 μg/kg, and 3,518 μg/kg, respectively, in soil samples collected from abandoned mining sites. Food crops (cassava and plantain samples) grown in abandoned mining fields had elevated levels of Pb (602 μg/kg) and Hg (15.7 μg/kg). Based on our findings of widespread exposure, high concentrations, and potential health risks posed by these metals, proactive measures for the reclamation and remediation of affected land are needed to protect the environment and human lives in these previous mining communities.Item Nutrition intakes and nutritional status of school age children in Ghana(Journal of Food Research, 2017) Owusu, J.S.; Colecraft, E.K.; Aryeetey, R.; et al.This paper compares the nutrition intake and nutritional status of school children from two public schools in neighbouring communities of Ghana with different school feeding programmes. One hundred and eighty-two caregiver and school-age child pairs were interviewed concerning socio-demographics, dietary practices, and food security in a cross-sectional design. The independent t-test was used to compare the contribution of the publicly funded Ghana School Feeding Programme and Private School Feeding Programme meals to the total daily nutrient intakes of the children. Predictors of the nutritional status of the children were assessed using logistic regression models. The private school feeding programme contributed more energy, protein, and micronutrients as compared to the government school feeding programme. About two-thirds (67.0%) of the children were stunted, underweight, or anaemic. The child’s age was a significant predictor of stunting. Undernutrition was prevalent among children from both programmes. Improved quality of diet from the feeding programmes may contribute to addressing malnutrition in these children.Item Comparison of Two School Feeding Programmes in Ghana, West Africa(International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2016) Owusu, J.S.; Colecraft, E.K.; Aryeetey, R.N.O.; et al.Background: Malnutrition of children in Ghana continues during school years. There is limited information on how school meals meet nutrient recommendations in Ghana. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the energy and nutrient content of meals served by Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) and Non-Governmental School Feeding Programme (NGSFP) and adherence to nutrient recommendations. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study design involving the observation of school meals at two sites: GSFP and NGSFP. The average weights of a week’s meal were converted to energy and nutrient equivalence and compared with international recommendations. Differences were assessed with t-tests. Results: NGSFP provided significantly higher portion size (416 ± 96 g vs. 243 ± 50 g; p=0.007), energy (776 ± 427 kcal vs. 315 ± 24 kcal; p=0.042) and fats (17± 8 vs. 6 ± 2; p=0.019) but similar micronutrient contributions to GSFP. NGSFP met energy and macronutrient recommendations set by the World Food Programme; whereas, GSFP did not meet the recommendations. Conclusion and Recommendations: The NGSFP had more energy and macronutrients per serving size than the GSFP. Regulation of meals served by GSFP should be reviewed to ensure they contribute to the adequacy of children’s diets as well as meet recommendations set by the World Food Programme.