Research Articles

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A research article reports the results of original research, assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area, and is published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. The faculty publications through published and on-going articles/researches are captured in this community

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 6664
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    Information Marketing Initiatives In Agriculture Related Special Libraries In Ghana
    (Ghana Library Journal, 2007) Kwadzo, G.; Amekuedee, J.O.
    The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which marketing principles are adopted in the provision of library services in agriculture related special libraries in Ghana. For this study, a questionnaire was used to collect data from librarians in charge of libraries. The study areas examined were level of training of library personnel, resources available to them for product design and marketing, and implementation of marketing principles. The study found out that libraries undertake limited marketing activities. Their activities are mostly promotional. These are newsletters, talks and exhibitions among others. The librarians have had some training in marketing through workshops and courses in the Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon. In spite of the above activities, none of the libraries had a marketing plan. They lacked adequate budget to support their activities. The library collections do not adequately meet the needs of the users due to its limitation in numbers, subject coverage and currency. The study concludes with recommendations that would enhance the marketing skills of the agriculture related special libraries.
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    Information literacy in higher education: Overview of initiatives at two Ghanaian Universities
    (African Journal of Library Archives and Information Science, 2009) Dadzie, P.S.
    The paper examines information literacy (IL) initiatives in two universities in Ghana, namely: the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast. IL initiatives such as library literacy, computer and media literacy and communication skills literacy carried out at the two universities for their students are described. Information on the IL activities was obtained from various interviews held with directors, heads of departments or officers in charge of the different programmes. Some challenges in the programmes include the lack of collaboration between departments running IL programmes, the large number of students undertaking the courses, inadequate staff and the cumbersome mode of access to and delivery of the IL programmes. Among the recommendations for improved information literacy programmes include commitment by the university management, improvements in information technology infrastructure, fostering of effective partnerships between the library and the teaching faculty, as well as a review of the curriculum of the library schools to include a new core course in information literacy.
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    Access and Use of Digital Resources: A Survey of Their Value for Faculty in Three Ghanaian Universities
    (De Gruyter Saur, 2015) Dadzie, P.S.; T. van der Walt
    This paper is culled from a doctoral study that investigated the development and management of digital libraries in selected academic libraries in Ghana. In this article, the authors report on the value that faculty members place on access to and use of digital resources and their implications for library services in three Ghanaian universities. The survey method was used to administer a structured questionnaire to 230 faculty members. Using convenience sampling, 10% of faculty were selected from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done to construct frequencies and establish relationships among respondents. Findings showed that less than half of the faculty members were aware of and used digital resources such as the online databases, institutional repositories, the library’s website and the online public access catalogue (OPAC). Nevertheless, the impact of the resources on them was very positive. The study recommended the need for university librarians to interact with faculty during orientation sessions for new faculty as well as new heads of departments. Additionally, subject librarians should work closely with departmental heads to be allocated periods for presentation on available digital resources, their usefulness for their own career enhancement and for their teaching role. The underlying implications of this study show that more advocacies are required from university libraries to enhance the use of digital resources.
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    Rethinking information ethics education in Ghana: Is it adequate?
    (The International Information & Library Review, 2013) Dadzie, P.S.
    This paperhighlightstheimportanceofinformationethicsandgivesanoverviewof thevariousaspectsofthesubjecttaughtatvariousinstitutionsofhigherlearninginGhana. The studynotesthatinformationethicsisnottaughtasaspecificorwholesubjectatanylevel in thetertiaryinstitutionsandquestionsthedepthofeducationgiventostudentsinthelight of someseriousinformationethicsviolationssuchasplagiarism,copyrightviolation,cyber crime andsocialnetworkabuses.Dataforthestudywerecollectedmainlyfromthedifferent university websites,universityhandbooks,courseoutlinesaswellasinterviewswithlibrarians and afewfacultymembersoftherespectiveuniversities.Thestudyrecommendstheintroduc- tion ofinformationethicsasauniversityrequiredcourseforallfreshmen,astand-alonecourse in informationethicsattheDepartmentofInformationStudies,adequatesensitizationpro- grammesonacademicintegrityandplagiarismpolicies,andtheenforcementoflawsand polices inGhana.Thesemeasuresaremeanttosafeguardindividualrightstoownership, privacy,confidentiality and security.
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    Euglycaemic ketoacidosis or partially treated ketoacidosis?
    (Practical Diabetes International, 2008-09-03) Sackey, A.H.
    Sir, The article by Graham and Bell on euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA)1 served as a good reminder that DKA can present with normal plasma glucose, and that any unwell patient with diabetes should have blood or urinary ketones checked regardless of blood glucose.
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    Injection-site lipoatrophy. Images in Clinical Medicine.
    (N Engl J Med, 2009-11-05) Sackey, A.H.
    A13-year-old girl with a 20-month history of type 1 diabetes mellitus presented with depressed areas of skin at the sites of insulin injection (Panel A, arrows). The patient had been treated since diagnosis with injections of biphasic insulin lispro (Humalog Mix 25, Eli Lilly) into both thighs. The physical examination and axial magnetic resonance imaging of the right thigh showed a loss of the adipose tissue layer at the injection sites. One injection site is shown in Panel B (arrow). Injection-site lipoatrophy is a recognized complication that is associated with all types of insulin and that has an estimated prevalence of 3.6%. The condition can be unsightly clinically and theoretically could lead to erratic insulin absorption. The precise pathogenesis remains unclear, but possible mechanisms include immune reaction to insulin or excipients of the injection solution, injury from cold insulin, or trauma from repeated local injections. After the discovery of lipoatrophy, the patient discontinued injecting insulin into the right thigh, and the areas of depression gradually diminished over a 10-month period.
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    Conservation of water during handwashing.
    (SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine, 2018-11) Sackey, A.H.
    Wastage of water during handwashing is an issue that has received insufficient attention. The problem results from the need to avoid re-contamination of hands during hand washing, and has been addressed by using running water, and not touching the tap to turn off the flow of water during the procedure. This video of a standard non-surgical scrub provides a clear illustration of the problem with 75% of the water being wasted. The volume of water used in handwashing is determined by its duration, the rate of water flow, and how often the procedure is performed. Conservation of water during handwashing can be achieved by the use of various devices to turn off the tap when water is not required. Other methods of water conservation are avoidance of excessively long handwashing, usage of a moderate water flow rate, and the appropriate use of alcohol hand rub. It is hoped that this reminder will help encourage health care workers to conserve water.
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    Social media resources and export performance: the role of trust and commitment
    (International Marketing Review, 2019-12-14) Mahmoud, M.A.; Adams, M.; Abubakari, A.; Commey, N.O.; Kastner, A.N.A.
    Purpose – The study sought to examine the influence of social media resources on export performance and the role commitment and trust play in this relationship using an integrated model. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative survey design was employed for this study. Empirical data for this paper were drawn from 210 exporting firms in Ghana, using purposive sampling technique. The hypothesized links were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings – The result of this study reveals that social media resources and marketing capabilities directly influence export performance and indirectly through commitment and trust. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to attempt to use an integrated model (resource-based view and commitment-trust theory) to understand and explain an international marketing phenomenon. By concentrating on Ghana, the study offers new insights regarding the pathway for exporting firms in emerging markets.
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    Prevalence and adverse obstetric outcomes of female genital mutilation among women in rural Northern Ghana
    (European Journal of Public Health, 2019-10-21) Kanmiki, E.W.; Nonterah, A.; Agorinya, I.A.; Sakeah, E.; Tamimu, M.; Kagura, J.; Kaburise, M.B.; Ayamba, E.Y.; Nonterah, E.W.; Awuni, D.A.; Al-Hassan, M.; Ofosu, W.; Awoonor-Williams, J.K.; Oduro, A.R.
    Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is commonly practiced in sub-Saharan Africa and results in adverse pregnancy outcomes among affected women. This paper assessed the prevalence and effects of FGM on pregnancy outcomes in a rural Ghanaian setting. Methods: We analyzed 9306 delivery records between 2003 and 2013 from the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the effects of FGM on pregnancy outcomes such as stillbirth, birth weight, postpartum haemorrhage, caesarean and instrumental delivery. We also assessed differences in the duration of stay in the hospital by FGM status. Results: A greater proportion of mothers with FGM (24.7%) were older than 35 years compared with those without FGM (7.6%). FGM declined progressively from 28.4% in 2003 to 0.6% in 2013. Mothers with FGM were nearly twice as likely to have caesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratios ¼ 1.85 with 95%CI [1.72, 1.99]) and stillbirths (1.60 [1.21, 2.11]) compared with those without. Similarly, they had a 4-fold increased risk of post-partum haemorrhage (4.69 [3.74, 5.88]) and more than 2-fold risk lacerations/episiotomy (2.57 [1.86, 3.21]) during delivery. Average duration of stay in the hospital was higher for mothers with FGM from 2003 to 2007. Conclusions: Despite significant decline in prevalence of FGM, adverse obstetric outcomes are still high among affected women. Increased public health education of circumcised women on these outcomes would help improve institutional deliveries and heighten awareness and prompt clinical decisions among healthcare workers. Further scale-up of community level interventions are required to completely eliminate FGM.