College of Basic and Applied Sciences
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Item Associations Of Blood Glucose Levels With Some Diabetes Risk Factors (Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure And Total Body Fat) In Inhabitants Of Ho Municipality, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey(African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2021) Kortei, N.K.; Koryo-Dabrah, A.; Akonor, P.T.; et al.One complex metabolic disorder that can unenviably affect normal human physiology is diabetes mellitus (DM). It is indeed one of the most common noncommunicable diseases that have heightened to an epidemic level worldwide. For diseases like DM, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type II DM, and other chronic diseases, body mass index (BMI) is identified as a positive and independent risk factor associated with morbidity and mortality. The study's objective was to determine the relationships between BMI, blood pressure, and total body fat among inhabitants of peri-urban Ho, Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was carried out between May and June 2018, among 132 inhabitants of Ho to determine the prevalence and associations among DM risk factors. The participants were selected by systematic random sampling. Standardized international protocols measured BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, and total body fat. Out of 132 respondents, 96 (72.7%) were female and the most common age group was 54-60 (31.1%). From the BMI classifications, 65 (49.2%) people were of normal weight while 6 (4.5%) were underweight. Total body fat (%) and blood pressure, likewise total body fat and BMI recorded significant associations of values (0.299, p<0.001-systolic; 0.298, p=0.001-diastolic), and 0.585 (p<0.001), respectively. On the contrary, there were insignificant associations found between blood glucose and diastolic blood pressure and also blood glucose and systolic blood pressure (0.100, p=0.253) and (0.057. p=0.514), respectively using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Lastly, the test of association of socio-demographics and anthropometrics revealed there was a significant (p<0.001) correlation between total body fat and BMI using Pearson’s correlation analysis. BMI is closely related to total body fat and blood pressure; hence, education on lifestyle modification needs to be intensified to create awareness among the inhabitants of Ho municipality of Ghana. It is imperative to educate Ghanaians and beyond about the risk factor associations that predispose an individual to DM.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 Street Foods Contribute To Nutrient Intakes Among Children From Rural Communities In Winneba And Techiman Municipalities, Ghana(African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2012) Micah, E.B.; Colecraft, E.K.; Lartey, A.; et al.The contribution of Street Foods (SF) to the energy and nutrient intake of young children in rural African communities has been understudied. Under the Enhancing Child Nutrition through Animal Source Food Management (ENAM) project, a microcredit and nutrition education intervention with caregivers of children 2-to 5- years old in rural Ghana, the prevalence of SF consumption by young children and the contribution SF makes to children’s energy, nutrient, and Animal Source Food (ASF) intakes were assessed. A simple random sample of 172 caregiver-child pairs residing in the ENAM intervention communities in Winneba and Techiman municipalities participated in this study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview caregivers about SF purchased for their 2- to 5-year-old children in the previous week. During two non-consecutive 12-hour home observations, all foods consumed by a subsample of the children (n=45) were weighed. The energy and nutrient content of weighed foods were estimated using the Ghanaian food composition table. About 80% of caregivers purchased SF for their child at least once that previous week. Most (76%) SF purchased were grain-based and were purchased as complete meals. The children’s total ASF intake was 69.9 ± 11.0 g; the quantity of ASF consumed was similar but their sources of ASF differed between the two municipalities. In Techiman, SF contributed 36% of the ASF consumed over the two observation days compared to 4.2% in Winneba (P=0.003). Overall, SF contributed 35% of energy and 43% of vitamins. A, 20% of vitamin B12, 30% of zinc, 34% of iron, and 54% of calcium consumed by children. The contribution of SF to young children’s dietary intakes, especially their ASF intakes and hence micronutrient intakes, may improve overall dietary quality. This study provides evidence that SF is an important part of children’s diets in rural Ghana could be an important target for food-based interventions to enhance nutrition in young children.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.Item Modelling the drivers of land use and land cover change of the great Amanzule wetland ecosystem to inform the development policy of the southwestern oil-rich region of Ghana(Heliyon, 2024-08-20) Adarkwah,F.; Awuni,S.; Hajek,M.; Kübler,D.; Mattah,M.; Gordon,C.; OwusuE.H.This study focused on the current and future drivers of land-use change and its impact on the Amanzule wetland. It suggests policy implications for reviewing and strengthening existing policies for sustainable land use. This study employed remote sensing and GIS techniques, including participatory rural appraisal techniques. The administration of questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted in the Ellembelle and Jomoro municipalities, where the Amanzule wetland provides economic and social services. The results showed increased land use over the last 32 years driven by various drivers, including food crop production, rubber plantations, oil and gas establishments, and infrastructure development. The study further revealed that these drivers could influence land-use change in 18 years (2018–2036). Urbanisation, cropland, rubber plantations, and shrubland will drive land-use change in the study area between 2036 and 2054. The Amanzule wetland area is expected to decrease from 272.34 ha in 2018 to 210.60 ha by 2036. The wetland area is expected to further decrease from 210.60 ha in 2036 to 174.33 ha by 2054. Other land use classes, such as mangrove and swamp forests, are also expected to decrease within the same period. The study recommends advocating for a wetland policy, enforcing the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 925 and the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act 919 for sustainable development.Item Exploring Perspectives of the Validity, Legitimacy and Acceptability of Environmental Valuation using Q Methodology(Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics, 2021) Ankamah-Yeboah, I.; Armstrong, C.; Tinch, R.There is increasing interest from research providers, policymakers, and private sector decision-makers in using the economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services to improve decision-making (Austen et al., 2019). Market systems and economic appraisal methods offer powerful tools for supporting decisions about allocating scarce resources (Tinch et al., 2019). However, there are many Important aspects of human activity that are not fully reflected in market prices. These include our impacts on the natural world and our dependence on the many valuable goods and services ecosystems provide. Assessing the values of these impacts, goods, and services in monetary terms, combined with various economic analysis and appraisal tools, could help environmental management.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 Assessing The Diversity Of Insects In A Quarry Operational Area In The Ashanti Region Of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2022-11) Addae, S.Quarrying activities have negative impacts on invertebrate biodiversity and threaten local species through a variety of factors, such as habitat loss and pollution. Quarrying is a common practice in Ghana, but little is known about its impact on local insect diversity and abundance. In this study, the relationship between quarrying activities and insect communities at an active quarrying site, the Mowire quarry site in the Ashanti region of Ghana, was assessed. Transect counts, aerial netting, pitfalls, FIT, and Charaxes trapping have been employed to assess arthropod assemblages, particularly insects as surrogate arthropod communities. A total of 2,902 individual insects from 56 families and eleven orders were recorded at all transect points of the three zones. The quarry operational area habitat in the East Zone (EZ) supported a high abundance (N = 974) of insects and high species richness (S = 49), corresponding to a large diversity of flowering plants at this site, which is a food source for pollinators and herbivorous insects. The western zone of the quarry's operational area was not conducive to insect assemblage as the lowest abundance, diversity and richness occurred at the transect point (TP) 400 m, consistent with the low abundance of host plants as well as the amounts of dust settling in the western zone after each blast, as dust travels toward the zone. It is recommended that interventions to prevent the loss of biodiversity habitats in and around the quarry site must be focused on policies that ensure and enforce the establishment of a dust control mechanism system in the extractive industry.Item Efficient Modelling of a PCB Transmission Line for High Speed Digital Systems(2018) Acakpovi, A.; Sowah, R.; Asabere, N.Y.; et al.This paper proposes a model of PCB traces for high-speed digital systems. The adopted approach involves predetermined geometry using direct discretization of transmission lines. Initially, the proposed methodology involves computing the line propagation delay by employing its geometry with associated empirical equations. The initial procedure paves the way to design a Lattice diagram which depicts multiple reflections that the signal underwent due to impedance mismatches between transmission lines and loads. Subsequent computations of electrical model parameters were further done. Simulation results using Multisim software illustrated a favorable performance with a time delay of 1.42 ns and an equivalent electrical model of 10 lumped LC cells. The time delay between the input and output signal obtained from the simulation was approximately 15.152 ns corresponding to the time it took for a transmitted signal to reach a steady state which further signifies the good performance of our proposed method.