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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 , Influence of Distributed Soil Landscape Units on Bare Soil Evaporation Dynamics(University of Ghana, 2024) Oklu, K.M.Bare soil evaporation is the process of water vaporization from the soil surface without any vegetation cover. It is a significant component of the global water cycle and can have major implications for agriculture, water resource management, and climate change. Quantifying evaporation rates at both local and global levels can inform water management decisions, particularly in agriculture, in the face of climate change. This study presents an evaporation experiment conducted in a screenhouse over 25 days using soil samples from different series and locations in the northern strip (northern interior (Guinea) savannah zone). The research aimed to: (1) Investigate the effect of different soil types on the evaporation of bare soils from northern Ghana; (2) Derive cumulative water characteristics (CWCs) and Critical Water Content (tcrit); (3) Validate the Hydrus 1-D model for simulating bare soil evaporation; and (4) Develop a bare soil evaporation map for the northern strip (northern interior (Guinea) savannah zone) of Ghana. To achieve these objectives, statistical descriptors such as mean, mode, measures of variability (range, interquartile range, variance, and standard deviation), correlation matrix, and textural triangle were employed. Column evaporation measurements were used to derive cumulative water content and critical water content (tcrit ). The soils were packed into PVC columns (15 cm height, 9 cm diameter) and weighed every 12 hours over the 25-day period. Simultaneously, temperature and relative humidity in the screenhouse were recorded. Inverse modelling, prediction, and regression were used to validate the Hydrus 1-D model for simulating evaporation of bare soils. Maps and raster calculations in QGIS were used to generate semi-distributed landscape models for water management in cultivated soils in the interior savannah zone of Ghana. The study revealed that soil texture and bulk density significantly influence soil evaporation, with different textures and densities affecting critical moisture content, porosity, and water transport. Soil texture also reliably predicts the critical water content, marking the transition between stage 1 and stage 2 evaporation. The Hydrus 1-D model, based on the Richards equation, accurately predicted cumulative evaporation and soil moisture characteristics, though it requires measured hydraulic properties for validation. The use of GIS techniques demonstrated the potential for generating landscape models that support informed water management decisions for cultivated soils in Ghana’s interior savannah zone. The study recommends the adoption of soil-specific management practices, such as mulching for water conservation and organic fertilization.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Quality of Life of Women Liviing with Infertility in the Tamale Metropolis(University of Ghana, 2025) Iddrisu, A.H.Background: Infertility remains a major reproductive health concern globally and is particularly significant in Ghana, where motherhood is highly valued as a marker of womanhood and social identity. Women living with infertility often face challenges that extend beyond biomedical dimensions, affecting their health, socioeconomic stability, psycho-spiritual well-being, and family relationships. Despite this, limited research has explored the lived experiences of women living with infertility in northern Ghana, particularly within the Tamale Metropolis. Objective: This study explored the quality of life of women living with infertility in the Tamale Metropolis, drawing on the Holistic Quality of Life Model to capture health, social, psychological, spiritual, and family dimensions of their experiences. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was employed. Ten women of reproductive age (18–45 years), diagnosed with infertility for at least one year and attending gynecological clinics at Tamale Teaching Hospital, were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews guided by a semi-structured interview guide developed from the Holistic Quality of Life Model, study objectives, and literature review. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Trustworthiness was enhanced through supervision by experienced qualitative researchers and mentoring by a professor in infertility and women’s health. Findings: Five major themes emerged: (1) health and functioning, including physical health challenges, emotional distress, reduced daily functioning, and negative self-perception; (2) socioeconomic impact, comprising financial burden, career disruption, stigma, cultural pressures, and economic vulnerability; (3) psycho-spiritual impact, with grief, faith-based coping, and reliance on religious and traditional healing; (4) family and social support, highlighting spousal support, extended family responses, pressures, gendered expectations, and social comparison; and (5) coping strategies and recommendations, including personal resilience, peer support, healthcare utilization, community education, and spiritual/alternative therapies. Conclusion: Infertility profoundly affects the holistic quality of life of women in the Tamale Metropolis, with implications beyond physical health to psychological, socio-economic, spiritual, and family domains. Nursing and midwifery practice must adopt culturally sensitive, family centered, and holistic approaches. Education should strengthen infertility-related content, while health policies must address affordability and stigma. Further research is needed to design interventions that enhance the well-being of women living with infertility.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Tick-Borne Pathogens In Ghana: Emerging Threat To Animal And Human Health(Parasitology International, 2026-01-03) Addo, S.O.; Addo, M.; Tawiah-Mensah, C.N.L.; Malm, R.O.Ticks continue to spread worldwide transmitting pathogens that affect animal production and human health. With the transboundary movement of herdsmen and their livestock through the borders into Ghana, there is likely to be the introduction of new tick species and their associated pathogens. This review provides information on the distribution of livestock ticks and tick-borne pathogens, emphasising the threat to both human and animal health. A search was done using terms about tick-borne pathogens and livestock ticks in Ghana from Google Scholar, PubMed and Scopus. This review examined information from 47 published papers on ticks and tick borne pathogens infecting livestock and humans. Amblyomma variegatum is the predominant tick species mostly infesting cattle. However, recent studies have reported the presence of other species such as Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus turanicus. Diverse pathogens of zoo notic and veterinary importance such as Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), Rickettsia africae, Coxiella burnetii and Anaplasma capra have been detected in ticks, livestock and abattoir workers. There is an increasing risk of tick-borne pathogen infections in the human and animal populations. The implementation of control methods aimed at efficiently managing tick populations and halting the spread of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens is urgently needed.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Birth Companionship Experiences of Postnatal Mothers During Labour at the Ga East Municipal Hospital(University of Ghana, 2025) Agbemade, L. S.Birth companionship, globally, is associated with the presence of a trained professional or layperson, or family members at the bedside of a parturient woman, to coach, empathise with, give practical aid to, and encourage the expectant mother throughout the birthing process. However, customs and ideas from the past continue to affect labour experiences. Therefore, this study aims to explore the experiences of postnatal mothers who had birth companions during labour and delivery at Ga East Municipal Hospital. The study employed a qualitative exploratory descriptive design which was guided by social support during delivery framework by Alexander et al. (2013). Ten postnatal women who had birth companion during labour at Ga East Municipal Hospital were purposively selected and interviewed. Data was gathered using a semi structured interview guide to conduct individual face-to-face audio recorded in-depth interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes and ten sub-themes were generated from the data. The main themes are: desire for birth companion, source of desired support, desired type of support, and cultural and practical considerations. The study highlighted how the presence of a birth companion can positively influence the experience of a parturient woman. The findings revealed that the presence of a birth companion during labour was appreciated by the postnatal women who expressed feeling of support emotionally, physically and practically. The support provided by the birth companions made the women less anxious and better able to cope with the demands of childbirth. Participants expressed preference for a trusted companion often a partner, relative or a close friend whose presence provided reassurance and a sense of security. These findings emphasise how birth companionship is integral to a supportive birthing environment, reflecting both universal and context specific maternal care needs. Therefore, the study recommended that healthcare providers should actively encourage birth companionship during labour, integrating it into maternity care practices to enhance a positive maternal experiences and outcomes.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Exploring the Sustainability of Village Savings and Loans Association Women’s Self-Help Groups Through the Lens of Social Movement Learning in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2025) Damba, H. M.This study explores how social movement learning (SML) promotes the sustainability of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) women’s self-help groups within the Tamale Metropolis. To address this problem, the purpose of this multiple-case study is to explore how social movement learning promotes the sustainability of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) women’s self-help groups in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. SML is understood as learning that occurs within social movements. This thesis employs a qualitative approach. Specifically, it utilizes Stake's (2006) multiple case study design, selecting three women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) that implement the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) model through a purposive maximum variation strategy. A total of 40 participants were chosen across these three cases. The data collected from participant interviews were analyzed using the framework analysis matrix (FAM) developed by Gale et al. (2013). The study found that the types of knowledge acquired in the group encompassed knowledge on health and financial literacy, transformative learning, trade, insights on parenting, and cleanliness and sanitation in the Tamale Metropolis. The study also found that the combination of social movement learning on leadership (encompassing support, care, empathy, honesty, and motivation), decision-making (consensus-building and consultations), conflict resolution (a listening ear, engaging members, and utilizing elderly individuals), and savings and loans ((transparency, regular feedback, and encouragement of loan repayment) represents how it promoted the sustainability of the VSLA women’s SHGs in the Tamale Metropolis. The study concludes that the VSLA women’s SHGs are a knowledge production site. It also concludes that women’s knowledge of leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution, and savings and loans is necessary for the sustainability of VSLA women’s SHGs in the Tamale Metropolis.