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UGSpace is the institutional repository of the University of Ghana. UGSpace is an open access electronic archive for the collection, preservation and distribution of digital materials to:
- facilitate the deposit of digital content of a scholarly or heritage nature
- and ultimately share, preserve and promote the intellectual output of the University in a managed environment.
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- Review books or articles provide a critical and constructive analysis of existing published literature in a field, through summary, analysis, and comparison, often identifying specific gaps or problems and providing recommendations for future research. These are considered as secondary literature since they generally do not present new data from the author's experimental work. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. It also the researcher to stay abreast of new literature in the field.
- Grey literature consists of research and information produced outside conventional publishing channels, such as reports, policy briefs, working papers, and conference materials. It offers valuable insights and data that complement peer-reviewed sources, supporting research, policy, and practice.
- The J. H. Kwabena Nketia Archives preserve Ghanaian and African cultural heritage through music, oral traditions, photographs, and audiovisual collections. Guided by Professor Nketia’s vision that African traditional arts must be collected, preserved, practiced, and continually inspire creative expression, the Archives serve as a living resource for scholarship, teaching, and innovation
Recent Submissions
Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , The Family Ministry in Seventh-Day Adventist Church: A Case of Madina District(University of Ghana, 2025) Anomwaa, P.Despite the establishment of the Family Ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church over a century ago, there is limited empirical research on its practical impact at the local church level in Ghana, particularly in addressing contemporary family challenges. This study seeks to fill this gap by investigating the nature, operations, and effectiveness of the Family Ministry within the Madina District of the SDA Church. It explores how the Ministry functions, the strategies it employs to address family-related issues, and the outcomes of these interventions. Guided by Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, the research employs a qualitative case study methodology, drawing on structured and semi-structured interviews with pastors, married couples, and Family Ministry leaders across three congregations in the District. Findings indicate that the Family Ministry plays a vital role in nurturing spiritual growth, promoting marital stability, and supporting families through counseling, education, and youth engagement. However, its work is often hindered by challenges such as limited financial resources, socio-cultural constraints, and inadequate training. The study also reveals positive outcomes, including increased participation in family devotions and youth involvement in church activities. A review of relevant literature situates these findings within the broader discourse on faith-based family support. Key recommendations include enhancing funding, ensuring confidentiality in counseling, and designing targeted programs for emerging family dynamics. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the Family Ministry’s relevance and offers practical strategies for improving its impact within the SDA Church and similar religious settings.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Exploring the Perceptions of Parents and Special Education Teachers of Applied Behavioural Analysis as an Educational Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders(University of Ghana, 2024) Quarcoo, J. A.This study explored the perceptions of special education teachers and parents regarding the use of ABA as an educational intervention for children with ASD in Ghana. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, 14 participants made up of five parents and nine special education teachers were purposively selected for this study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on participants’ perceptions on the use of ABA as educational intervention for children with ASD. Data collected was analysed and interpreted, six main themes and their sub-themes emerged that included the participants’ perceptions of ABA, knowledge about ABA, barriers encountered while using ABA, misconceptions about ABA, the benefits of ABA and teacher’s experiences with ABA. Findings from this study show that special education teachers and parents perceive ABA as educational intervention that helps children with ASD to be independent, also ABA is perceived as an approach in modifying behaviour. Additionally, the study also highlights the need to train more people to be appropriately equipped with ABA techniques and strategies to roll out lessons for children with ASD. This study provided important information that will help in promoting ABA as an educational intervention for children with ASD in Ghana, while also providing information for adjusting policies to adequately accommodate educational needs for children with ASD and future research.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Hurtful Events and Forgiveness among Ghanaian Couples(University of Ghana, 2024) Quaye, R.A.Hurt is an inevitable aspect of couples’ relationships that can pose perceived threats, influencing appraisal processes and forgiveness. This dyadic, cross-sectional study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design to investigate the types of hurtful events couples encounter and the impact of hurt and negative appraisals on forgiveness among 102 couples within the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, aged 24 to 73 (M = 38.79, SD = 9.35). In the first part, participants described hurtful events experienced in their relationships using a prompt, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results revealed ten (10) typologies of hurtful events: (1) active disassociation; (2) passive disassociation; (3) infidelity, (4) disrespect, (5) violence, (6) humiliation, (7) criticism, (8) deception, (9) neglect of duty, and (10) insecurity. In the second part, participants completed questionnaires measuring the impact of hurt, negative affect, and forgiveness. Quantitative analyses using Pearson correlations, MANOVA, Multilevel Analysis (Actor Partner Intercept Model- APIM), and Hierarchical regression analysis tested hypotheses regarding the influence of demographic factors such as age and relationship length on the impact of hurt, religious differences in forgiveness, and associations between hurt impact, negative appraisals, and forgiveness. Results indicated that age and relationship length showed non significant trends toward reducing the impact of hurt and negative appraisals, while religious affiliation did not significantly affect decisional or emotional forgiveness. Importantly, higher levels of hurt impact were significantly associated with increased negative appraisals and decreased forgiveness within couples. Religious homogamy moderated the relationship between negative appraisals and forgiveness, highlighting the cultural distinctiveness of forgiveness processes among Ghanaian couples.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Immunomodulatory, Antioxidant, and Prophylactic Effects of the COA Plus Mixture in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice(University of Ghana, 2024) Lomo-Mainoo, D.N. L.The COA Plus mixture, an enhanced formulation of the original COA mixture developed by COA Research and Manufacturing Ltd in 2024, is registered by the Food and Drug Authority as an immune booster. While existing studies support the efficacy of the original COA mixture, data on COA Plus are lacking. This study assessed its immunological, antioxidant, and prophylactic potential in female ICR mice. Thirty-five mice were divided into five groups: Normal Control, Parasite Control (infected with Plasmodium berghei, Parasite+ Doxycycline, Parasite + COA, and COA only. The Normal Control and Parasite Control groups were administered distilled water for 8 weeks, with the Parasite Control group inoculated with P. berghei after this period. The Parasite + Doxycycline group received doxycycline (0.5 mg/kg) prior to parasite inoculation, while the COA groups were treated with COA Plus (0.30 ml/kg) for 8 weeks, with parasite inoculation after the 8th week for the COA + Parasite group. Blood samples were collected for cytokine profiling, parasitemia monitoring, and hematological analysis. Organs were harvested, and liver was used for lipid peroxidation assessment. The COA-only group showed reduced IL-4 levels suggesting positive immunomodulatory effects. Elevated IL-10 levels in the COA-only group indicated an enhanced inflammatory response, while high IFN- γ levels in the COA + Parasite group reflected a strengthened Th1 response, critical for malaria control. The COA + Parasite group also exhibited a reduction in parasitemia, reaching nearly 0% within 72 hours, demonstrating COA Plus Mixture’s prophylactic potential. Both the COA and Doxycycline groups had elevated malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating oxidative stress, yet COA likely triggered both pro-oxidant and antioxidant responses, promoting immune resilience. COA treatment enhanced platelets count, confirming its immune-signaling (cytokines and chemokines) effects. In conclusion, the COA Plus Mixture exhibited significant immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and prophylactic effects against P. berghei infection, validating the purported claim of its use as a therapeutic agent for malaria prevention and immune support.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Burden of Care: Psychosocial Experiences of Caregivers of Older Adults Living with Chronic Diseases(University of Ghana, 2024) Darfour, M.Y.The population of older adults in Ghana is expected to grow in the coming years. With ageing comes its troubles and the need for caregivers to take care of the older adult population, especially those who may be burdened with chronic diseases. Caregiving for older adults tends to be strenuous and may lead to caregivers experiencing the burden of care, coupled with some psychosocial experiences that may negatively affect their well-being. This study used a concurrent mixed methods design to explore the psychosocial experiences and caregiver burden, the coping mechanisms and the needs of caregivers of older adults living with chronic diseases. Participants were recruited from two hospitals: the Ga East Hospital and Ghana Atomic Energy Hospital (GAEC) in the Ga East Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. For the quantitative study, a total of 100 caregivers of older adults living with chronic diseases were purposively sampled and recruited for the study, and questionnaires were self-administered. For the qualitative study, 10 participants were purposively selected and interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The quantitative data were analysed using Pearson r, hierarchical regression mediation analysis, while the transcribed qualitative data were analysed using reflective thematic analysis. The qualitative findings revealed that caregivers face negative social, emotional, and financial consequences, but self-care practices and social support offer relief. Caregivers also indicated the need for social support, support groups, and training avenues to care for their older relatives. The quantitative results showed that caregiver burden had a detrimental effect on their well-being, but depression was found to be the strongest predictor of poor mental health. The findings of the study highlight the need for the development of interventions and national policies that specifically address caregiver welfare.