scholarly journals Farmers and Agricultural Extension Officers Perception ofStriga gesnerioides(Willd.) Vatke Parasitism on Cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Peter Haruna ◽  
Aaron T. Asare ◽  
Elvis Asare-Bediako ◽  
Francis Kusi
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Parasitic Weed ◽  
Striga Gesnerioides ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Almost All

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp] is an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, cowpea production in some parts of this region is constrained byStriga gesnerioides(Willd.) Vatke infestation resulting in yield losses. This study assessed the farmers and agricultural extension officers (AEOs) perception ofS. gesnerioidesparasitism on cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In all, 200 respondents—179 cowpea farmers and 21 AEOs—in five cowpea growing districts were randomly sampled to answer closed- and opened-ended questions coupled with visit to cowpea farms. Majority of the farmer respondents were males between the ages of 21 and 60 with very little or no formal education. Almost all of the respondents could identify the parasitic weed,S. gesnerioides,but they lacked adequate knowledge of the parasitic effects on the host, cowpea plant.S. gesnerioidesinfestation was widespread and devastating in almost all the fields surveyed. Its effects on the host plants (cowpea) included stunted growth, leaf senescence, chlorosis, death of the crop, and reduced yield. Different management strategies employed by the farmers to contain the spread of the parasite include weeding (90%), application of manure (5.5%), and crop rotation and fallowing (4.0%). Both farmers and extension officers had very little knowledge on existence ofS. gesnerioidesresistant cowpea genotypes for cultivation. Farmers expressed the desire to cultivateStriga-resistant cowpea varieties when made accessible, since it is the most reliable and environmentally friendly method of controlling the parasitic weed.

scholarly journals Dog Owners’ Knowledge about Rabies and Other Factors That Influence Canine Anti-Rabies Vaccination in the Upper East Region of Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baba Awuni ◽  
Elvis Tarkang ◽  
Emmanuel Manu ◽  
Hubert Amu ◽  
Martin Amogre Ayanore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Human Rabies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Dog Owners ◽  
Rabies Vaccination

Background: Human rabies, often contracted through dog bites, is a serious but neglected public health problem in the tropics, including Ghana. Due to its high fatality rate, adequate knowledge and vaccination of domestic dogs against the disease are very crucial in reducing its burden. We examined dog owners’ knowledge level on rabies and factors that influenced anti-rabies vaccination of dogs in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 randomly sampled dog owners in six communities from six Districts using a multistage sampling technique, in the Upper East Region of Ghana. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive and inferential analyses were done using STATA 14.1. Results: While knowledge about rabies was 199 (76.5%), that about anti-rabies vaccination was 137 (52.7%). District of residence (χ2 = 112.59, p < 0.001), sex (χ2 = 6.14, p = 0.013), education (χ2 = 20.45, p < 0.001) as well as occupation (χ2 = 11.97, p = 0.007) were significantly associated with rabies knowledge. District of residence (χ2 = 57.61, p < 0.001), Educational level (χ2 = 15.37, p = 0.004), occupation (χ2 = 11.66, p = 0.009), religion (χ2 = 8.25, p = 0.016) and knowledge on rabies (χ2 = 42.13, p < 0.001) were also statistically associated with dog vaccination against rabies. Dog owners with good knowledge on rabies for instance, were more likely to vaccinate their dogs against rabies compared to those with poor knowledge [AOR = 1.99 (95% CI: 0.68, 5.86), p = 0.210]. Dog owners with tertiary level of education were also 76.31 times more likely (95% CI: 6.20, 938.49, p = 0.001) to have good knowledge about rabies compared to those with no formal education. Conclusions: Dog owners in the Upper East Region of Ghana had good knowledge about rabies. This, however, did not translate into correspondingly high levels of dog vaccination against the disease. Rabies awareness and vaccination campaigns should, therefore, be intensified in the region, especially among the least educated and female dog owners.

Access to library services and facilities by persons with disability: Insights from academic libraries in Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 096100062091772
Author(s):  
Daniel Azerikatoa Ayoung ◽  
Frederic Naazi-Ale Baada ◽  
Patrick Baayel
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Hearing Impairments ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
State Institutions ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Access Information ◽  
Mobility Impaired

A group of the academic library’s vast untapped clientele to whom more attention is now being paid is persons with disability. Drawing from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ checklist on what constitutes disability-friendly libraries, this study sought to ascertain if academic libraries in the Upper East Region of Ghana have made provisions for persons with disability. The research adopted a qualitative approach. The data used for the analysis is drawn from interviews with respondents, the majority of whom were visually or mobility-impaired, who were purposively selected from 11 tertiary institutions. The findings reveal that academic libraries in the Upper East Region have yet to implement the stipulated regulations of the ratified Persons with Disability Act of Ghana. The majority of libraries are inaccessible to persons with disability beyond the main entrance of the libraries. The biggest challenge is the absence of diverse media information for persons with visual and hearing impairments. Also, the findings reveal that library staff lack adequate knowledge of issues relating to persons with disability and their right to access information. The study highlights the challenges which hinder persons with disability from accessing quality information from libraries. The study, therefore, recommends that relevant state institutions be empowered to implement the ratified Persons with Disability Act in Ghana and increase education among stakeholders on the need to improve access to information for persons with disability. Also, there should be increased investment and allocation of funds to libraries to provide for the information needs of persons with disability.

scholarly journals Challenges experienced by midwives working in rural communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Adatara ◽  
Philemon Adoliwine Amooba ◽  
Agani Afaya ◽  
Solomon Mohammed Salia ◽  
Mabel Apaanye Avane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Maternal Mortality Ratio ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region

Abstract Background In 2017, a total of 295,000 women lost their lives due to pregnancy and childbirth across the globe, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for approximately 86 % of all maternal deaths. The maternal mortality ratio in Ghana is exceptionally high, with approximately 308 deaths/100,000 live births in 2017. Most of these maternal deaths occur in rural areas than in urban areas. Thus, we aimed to explore and gain insights into midwives’ experiences of working and providing women-centred care in rural northern Ghana. Methods A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to explore the challenges midwives face in delivering women-centred midwifery care in low-resource, rural areas. A total of 30 midwives practicing in the Upper East Region of Ghana were purposefully selected. Data were collected using individual semistructured interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis. Results Five main themes emerged from the data analysis. These themes included were: inadequate infrastructure (lack of bed and physical space), shortage of midwifery staff, logistical challenges, lack of motivation, and limited in-service training opportunities. Conclusions Midwives experience myriad challenges in providing sufficient women-centred care in rural Ghana. To overcome these challenges, measures such as providing adequate beds and physical space, making more equipment available, and increasing midwifery staff strength to reduce individual workload, coupled with motivation from facility managers, are needed.

scholarly journals Challenges Experienced by Midwives Working in Rural Communities of the Bongo District in the Upper East Region of Ghana. A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Adatara ◽  
Philemon Adoliwine Amooba ◽  
Agani Afaya ◽  
Solomon Mohammed Salia ◽  
Mabel Apaanye Avane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Maternal Mortality Ratio ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Midwifery Care ◽  
East Region ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Upper East Region

Abstract IntoductionGlobally, a total of 295 000 women lost their lives due pregnancy and childbirth in 2017, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for approximately 86% of all maternal deaths. Currently the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Ghana is uncceptably high with about 308 deaths/100,000 live births in 2017 and most of these maternal deaths occur less in urban areas than in rural areas. As midwives play a vital role in maternity care and in the reduction of MMR, this study therefore sought to explore and describe challenges experienced by midwives working in rural communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East region of Ghana.MethodsA qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to gain better insight into midwives’ experiences of working and providing women-centred midwifery care in rural areas of Ghana. A total of 30 midwives providing midwifery care in rural areas of the Upper East region of Ghana for at least three years were purposefully selected for this study. Data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis. ResultsFive main themes emerged from the data analysis. These thematic areas included inadequate infrastructure (lack of bed and physical space), lack of logistics, shortage of midwifery staff, lack of motivation, and limited in-service training opportunities.ConclusionThe study concludes that although the rural midwives perform a multidisciplinary function in providing midwifery care in rural northern Ghana, they experience a myriad of challenges in providing midwifery care. There is the need for the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders to motivate midwives working in rural areas through policy interventions such as rural incentive allowances, supportive supervision and in-service training opportunities for midwives in order to encourage them to accept posting to rural areas of Ghana to improve maternal and child health care.

scholarly journals The genome of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Lonardi ◽  
María Muñoz-Amatriaín ◽  
Qihua Liang ◽  
Shengqiang Shu ◽  
Steve I. Wanamaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vigna Unguiculata ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Multiple Organ ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Parasitic Weed ◽  
Nutritional Security ◽  
Striga Gesnerioides ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Food And Nutritional Security

ABSTRACTCowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) is a major crop for worldwide food and nutritional security, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, that is resilient to hot and drought-prone environments. A high-quality assembly of the single-haplotype inbred genome of cowpea IT97K-499-35 was developed by exploiting the synergies between single molecule real-time sequencing, optical and genetic mapping, and a novel assembly reconciliation algorithm. A total of 519 Mb is included in the assembled sequences. Nearly half of the assembled sequence is composed of repetitive elements, which are enriched within recombination-poor pericentromeric regions. A comparative analysis of these elements suggests that genome size differences between Vigna species are mainly attributable to changes in the amount of Gypsy retrotransposons. Conversely, genes are more abundant in more distal, high-recombination regions of the chromosomes; there appears to be more duplication of genes within the NBS-LRR and the SAUR-like auxin superfamilies compared to other warm-season legumes that have been sequenced. A surprising outcome of this study is the identification of a chromosomal inversion of 4.2 Mb among landraces and cultivars, which includes a gene that has been associated in other plants with interactions with the parasitic weed Striga gesnerioides. The genome sequence also facilitated the identification of a putative syntelog for multiple organ gigantism in legumes. A new numbering system has been adopted for cowpea chromosomes based on synteny with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).

scholarly journals Regulatory compliance among over-the-counter medicine sellers facilities within the Upper East Region of Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Kwarteng Frempong ◽  
Anthony Amalba ◽  
Nina Donkor ◽  
Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region

Abstract Background Easy access to medicines provided by private medicine retailing facilities including that of over-the-counter medicine retailers, have gained prominence in sub-Saharan Africa. Although over-the-counter medicine-sellers (OTCMS) facilities play an indispensable role in healthcare delivery, there is inadequate information about their regulatory environment and whether their operations conform to regulatory provisions. Hence, this study sought to investigate the characteristics and predictors of regulatory practices among over-the-counter medicine sellers in Ghana. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving participants from 208 OTCMS facilities in eight (8) municipalities and districts (MDA’s) of the Upper East Region of Ghana. An initial census of facilities in the region was conducted between May and August 2016 and a follow-up conducted between December 2016 and March 2017. This ensured the identification and location of all OTCMS facilities within the selected MDA’s for study planning and data collection. The main outcome variable was regulatory compliance which is a composite of three indicators for regulatory practices (retention of medicine supplier’s invoices and receipts on-premises), licensing and registration requirements (appropriate signage), and equipment and material requirements (availability of reference material). Regulatory compliance was assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results In this survey, 21.5%, 38.2%, and 23.1% of the facilities surveyed had a good state of repair, had the owner of the facility available on the premises, and had received regulatory visit(s) in less than 12 months, respectively. Only 29.2% of facilities were regulatory compliant. After statistical adjustment, OTCMS facility location (compared with Rural: Urban, AOR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.74–10.17, p = 0.001) and staff trained in less than 1 year (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI 1.02–7.62, p = 0.046) were significantly associated with regulatory compliance. Conclusions Regulatory compliance was low in the Upper East Region of Ghana, particularly across rural locations, where most of the facilities failed to meet the laid down provisions of the Pharmacy Council regarding practice, staff and premises requirements. This could be attributed to the fact that these areas are poorly resourced. Policymakers are been called on to put in place pragmatic measures in relation to OTCMS facility’s location and regulatory requirements to address the inequities in compliance.

scholarly journals Zoonotic tuberculosis knowledge and practices among cattle handlers in selected districts of Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0009394
Author(s):  
Sk Shaheenur Islam ◽  
Tanzida Begum Rumi ◽  
S. M. Lutful Kabir ◽  
AKM Anisur Rahman ◽  
Md. Mahmudul Hasan Faisal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Cattle Rearing ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Appropriate Practices

We assessed zoonotic tuberculosis (zTB) knowledge and prevention and control practices of 404 cattle handlers via a survey in three dairy-intensive districts of Bangladesh. Most respondents were aged 30–49 (52%) and male (95%). Almost all (99%) recognized the important public health burden of tuberculosis in Bangladesh, however, most (58%) had inadequate knowledge about zTB transmission to humans. Inappropriate practices such as: not using protective equipment (98%); smoking, drinking or eating food whilst working with cattle (69%); and sharing the same premises with animals (83%) were identified. Cattle handlers educated at secondary or higher levels were 2.82- (95% CI: 1.59–5.10) and 5.15 times (95% CI: 1.74–15.20) more likely to have adequate knowledge of control and prevention activities compared to those with no formal education. Those who had reared animals for 1–5 years were 2.67 times (95% CI: 1.44–4.91) more likely to have adequate knowledge, compared to those who reared animals for >15 years. Cattle handlers with a monthly incomes of 10,000–20,000 taka were significantly (Odds Ratio = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.14–0.92) less likely to have adequate knowledge compared to those with monthly incomes <10,000 taka. Cattle handlers with high school or higher education were 6.98 times (95% CI: 2.47–19.71) more likely to use appropriate zTB control and prevention practices compared to those without formal education. Those who had reared animals for 1–5 years, 6–10 years and 11–15 years were 2.72- (95% CI: 1.42–5.24), 2.49- (95% CI: 1.29–4.77) and 2.86 times (95% CI: 1.13–7.23) more likely to apply appropriate practices compared to those who reared animals for >15 years. Overall, education, duration of cattle rearing and monthly income predicted zTB knowledge and practices. There is an urgent need to educate those at high-risk of zTB transmission on issues including the handling of infected animals, and general hygiene. A One Health approach, to support the Sustainable Development Goals and the End TB strategy, appears to be the way forward.

scholarly journals Abattoir-based prevalence and distribution of porcine cysticercosis in northern Ghana inferred from Kumasi Abattoir

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-89
Author(s):  
Francis ADDY ◽  
Edward MASEKO ◽  
Osman DUFAILU
Keyword(s):  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
North East ◽  
Porcine Cysticercosis ◽  
East Region ◽  
Upper East Region ◽  
Sub Saharan

Taenia solium cysticercosis is a cosmopolitan foodborne disease that is neglected in many endemic tropical societies. The disease situation is less understood in parts of sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana, meanwhile useful surveillance data are needed from all endemic localities for designing effective intervention strategies. The present study estimated abattoir-based prevalence and distribution of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs from northern Ghana. A survey was carried out at the Kumasi abattoir to screen for cyst infection and localization sites, and evaluate the handling of infected carcasses. Taenia solium cysticercosis infection was noted in pigs at the abattoir, drawn from all five Regions of northern Ghana. Generally, porcine cysticercosis had 9.73% prevalence across the Regions with the Upper East Region (10.10%) being noted as a key focus of the cestode. Animals from the Upper West, Savannah, Northern and North East Regions also recorded a prevalence range of 8.25 – 12.12%. The results indicate considerable prevalence of T. solium cysticercosis that was in wide distribution in pig in northern Ghana and point to a public health threat in cities where such infected pigs are slaughtered.

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