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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 , Cocoa Production and Women’s Autonomy in Asikuma in the Central Region of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2025) Mensah, D.The study investigates the complex roles and experiences of women in cocoa farming in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of Ghana, situating their participation within the broader contexts of matrilineal kinship, household structures, and the political economy of agriculture. Drawing on feminist political economy, kinship theory, and economic anthropology, the study employs qualitative methods—including in-depth interviews, life histories, and focus group discussions—to examine how women access land, labour, and capital as independent farmers, sharecroppers, and labourers. The findings reveal a paradox: while matrilineal systems provide women with opportunities to inherit or access land, male-dominated lineage authority and commodification of land often constrain their autonomy and decision-making power. Women’s agency emerges in diverse forms—through negotiation, sharecropping, or purchasing land—but remains uneven across age, marital status, and socio-economic position. The study highlights how migration, resource scarcity, and commercialization have intensified gendered inequalities, leaving many women dependent on kinship negotiations or precarious labour arrangements. By documenting women’s life stories and strategies of resilience, the research underscores the importance of recognizing both women’s contributions and the structural barriers they face in cocoa production. The study concludes that policies promoting gender-equitable land rights, financial access, and cooperative support are essential for strengthening women’s autonomy and enhancing inclusive rural development in Ghana’s cocoa sector.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , False-Positive And False-Negative Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Results: Evidence From A Nationally Representative Survey Of Children In Ghana(Malaria Journal, 2026-01-03) Asare, K.K.; Aboagye, Y.O.; Mohammed, M.W.; Darko, M.; et al.Background Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five in Ghana, where Plasmodium falciparum predominates. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used for malaria case manage ment and population surveillance; however, concerns about false‑positive and false‑negative results may compro mise case detection and prevalence estimates. Objective This study aimed to (i) estimate malaria prevalence using microscopy and RDTs, (ii) evaluate the surveil lance performance of RDTs relative to microscopy, and (iii) identify socio‑demographic and household‑level predictors of false‑positive and false‑negative RDT results among Ghanaian children under 5 years. Methods We analyzed data from 4,417 children who participated in the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Capillary blood samples were tested using HRP2‑based RDTs and light microscopy. Weighted analyses accounted for the DHS sampling design. Malaria prevalence was estimated for both diagnostic methods, and sensi tivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for RDTs using microscopy as the reference. Logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of false‑positive and false negative results, reporting adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Malaria prevalence was 20.3% by RDT and 9.9% by microscopy. Compared to microscopy, RDTs demon strated high sensitivity (89.7%, 95% CI: 86.5–92.2) and specificity (87.4%, 95% CI: 86.3–88.4), with a PPV of 43.9% and NPV of 98.7%. False‑positive results were uncommon (1.0%) and not significantly associated with child or house hold characteristics. False‑negative results were more likely among children living in dwellings sprayed with insec ticide (aOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.05–2.30) and in rural areas (aOR = 0.54 for urban residence, 95% CI: 0.43–0.67), with sig nificant regional variation higher odds in Upper East (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.16–3.21) and lower odds in Greater Accra (aOR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07–0.63). Conclusion HRP2‑based RDTs are highly sensitive and reliable for ruling out malaria in children under five in Ghana. However, their lower PPV may lead to overestimation of malaria prevalence, particularly in high‑transmission rural areas and IRS‑targeted districts. Programmatic use of RDT‑based prevalence data should account for this limitation, and confirmatory microscopy or molecular data should be incorporated where feasible. Continued surveillance of pfhrp2/3 deletions and post‑treatment HRP2 persistence is warranted to sustain diagnostic accuracy.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) Programmes in Ghana: A Case Study of Three Districts in the Volta Region(University of Ghana, 2024) Amoako, A.D.The Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector focuses on improving water access and enhanced sanitation and hygiene services for public health gains. The sector also deals with dignity in the case of sanitation, ensuring the right to water and sanitation services, enhancing better education and health outcomes at schools and health facilities, and reducing water pollution for poverty reduction and socio-economic development. Access to WASH services therefore is critical for sustainable development, and essential for supporting the acceleration of achieving targets 1 and 2 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 thus Safe & affordable drinking water and All have access to adequate sanitation & hygiene and eliminate open defecation respectively including SDG 3 which aims at promoting good health and well-being in Ghana. This research aimed to investigate the implementation of Ghana's Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) intervention programs in three districts of the Volta Region—Adaklu, Agotime-Ziope, and Ho West. It specifically aims at; (1) to ascertain the availability and accessibility of WASH facilities. (2) To assess the state of WASH facilities in households, schools, and healthcare facilities. (3) To examine the use of WASH facilities in households, schools, and healthcare facilities. (4) To investigate Open Defecation Free (ODF) relapse. The study began with a comprehensive review of the policies and institutional frameworks governing WASH in Ghana, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and the challenges faced in sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed with a limited number of qualitative data from interviews, focus group discussions, and direct observations. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, correlation, regression analysis, and ANOVA, were used to interpret the data and identify factors influencing the success and sustainability of WASH interventions. The study revealed that while significant progress had been made in improving access to WASH facilities in the study areas, challenges remained, particularly in rural areas. In the Adaklu District, 45% of households had access to improved water sources, while in Agotime Ziope and Ho West Districts, the figures were 50% and 55%, respectively. The study highlighted the critical role of affordability, cultural practices, and community engagement in the adoption and maintenance of improved sanitation and hygiene facilities. Among households with flushed toilets, 23.6% reported their toilets were functional, while 41.7% reported non-functional toilets, and 34.7% did not know. Households with KVIP toilets had 66.7% reporting functional toilets and 33.3% reporting non-functional toilets. Segregation of waste in healthcare facilities was generally rated as poor. Most clinical waste was unsecured thus stored in open spaces (50%), and 50% had secured storage. Training of healthcare workers on clinical waste management was lacking, with about 25% of respondents having received training. Regarding water access in schools, 90% had water facilities sourced from boreholes, mechanized boreholes, or piped water, with 80% confirming the water was potable. Factors contributing to ODF relapse were identified, including inadequate post triggering support and insufficient hygiene promotion. Notably, 30% of previously ODF communities experienced relapse within two years. This research therefore concludes that, though significant progress has been made in improving the availability and accessibility of WASH facilities across the study areas, challenges remain in ensuring their consistent use and functionality. To enhance sustainability of WASH interventions, it is recommended to include strengthening post-triggering support, promoting equitable access to sanitation, investing in robust monitoring and evaluation systems, and fostering knowledge sharing and learning among communities. By addressing these challenges, the research aimed to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 and 3, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all, and promoting good health and well-being.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , In Dark Days, in Dire Straits: Domestic and Family Violence in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2023) Anaglate, D.Domestic and family violence continues to be an issue which many people deal with across the globe. Research suggests that relationships among individuals experiencing violence are laden with problems which cause physical, economic, social, sexual, and psychological harm. Some studies have looked at the individual effects of domestic violence, however, the familial effects of domestic violence has remained largely unexplored qualitatively. Hence, the need to take a qualitative approach in looking at how domestic and family violence affects the family function as the family is the basic unit of every society and informs societal outcomes. This study was conducted in Tema and sought to examine how spousal victims of violence perceive the impacts of domestic violence on them and their children and consequently the family relationship. Interviews were conducted to collect data for the study using a semi-structured interview guide. In all, fifteen participants were recruited through purposive sampling and thematic analysis was used in analysing the data obtained at the end of the interview process. The study found that victims of domestic violence in the intimate relationship suffered psychologically, emotionally, economically and in certain circumstances physically. However, they were sometimes unable to adequately pinpoint how the violence affected their children. That notwithstanding, victims attested to the fact that the loving environment needed for a healthy family relationship and proper family functioning was largely absent and explained ways in which this played out. These ways included apprehension or grief experienced by victims and children due to abuse of a parent, ineffective communication within the family because of partner abuse, which in some cases, was coupled with the direct abuse of children and the absence of family synergy. This was because the division due to recurring abuse affected the ability of the family to achieve more as a group. The findings of this study point to the need for a more victim centred approach to handling domestic violence reports. This means not only stopping the deprivation or hurt because of abuse but also ensuring that victims find strength to live, as much as possible, a normal life again. More effective and robust counselling services at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, with easy accessibility, as well as financial empowerment programmes are a necessary. This is because victims of domestic violence as found in the study deal with a myriad of physical, psychological, and financial issues and need help to effectively live the life they envisage for themselves and their children. This would enable victims and their children to develop the mental strength and gain the physical and economic power to navigate their situations.Item type:Item, Access status: Open Access , Nurses’ Challenges In the Utilization of Electronic Health Records at 37 Military Hospital, Ghana.(University of Ghana, 2025) Mensah, E. S.Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have become an essential tool in modern healthcare settings, providing numerous benefits to the health system. Considering the technicalities and digital nature of the EHR system, its utilization among nurses can be challenging due to various barriers. The study explored the challenges nurses face with using the EHR system at 37 Military Hospital in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2024. Multistage sampling was used to sample 300 nurses. Data on challenges were grouped into three and were collected via a questionnaire (Likert scale). Using SPSS (version 27), descriptive and linear regression analyses were conducted at a 95% significance level. For technological and system-related challenges, the majority of the nurses consented that technical glitches and system downtime hinder their productivity when using the EHRs (85.0%); believed that interoperability issues between EHR systems create difficulties in accessing patient data from different facilities (66.3%); and data entry in the EHR is time-consuming which affects their ability to provide direct patient care (56.3%). Concerning workflow challenges, 65.3% of the nurses agreed that using the EHR system for documentation increases the time they spend on data entry tasks; and 49.3% agreed that EHR data entry requires frequent interruptions, affecting their focus on patient interactions. Regarding data security challenges, 72.0% of the respondents expressed concern about the security of patient data stored in the EHR system; 56.0% were confident in their ability to protect patient confidentiality and privacy when using the EHRs; and 52.0% agreed that ongoing training and updates on data security are readily available to support their knowledge and skills. Also, some demographic characteristics like age, gender, work experience, kind of ward/unit, and professional ranks of nurses were statistically associated with these challenges. Addressing these challenges can enhance patient care delivery and nursing practice efficiency.