USE OF TEACHER’S PROFILE DIMENSIONS TO ASSESS SOCIAL STUDIES STUDENT’S LEARNING OUTCOMES AT THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA

This study centered on the use of teacher’s profile dimensions to assess Social Studies student’s learning outcomes in the Senior High Schools in Aowin and Wassa Amenfi West Districts in the Western and Western North Regions of Ghana. The objective of the study was to assess how graduate teachers use profile dimensions to assess student’s learning outcomes in teaching and learning of Social Studies in Senior High Schools. This study adopted a multiple case study design. The data were used together to form one case. The population for the study were the Social Studies teachers teaching in the Aowin and Wassa Amenfi West Districts. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select the twelve (12) graduate Social Studies teachers and senior high schools respectively. The two main instruments employed for data collection in this study are interview guide and observation checklist. The findings concluded that, the way and manner Social Studies teachers assess their learners’ learning outcomes in Social Studies lessons was contrary to the main goal and objectives of the subject which is to develop a reflective, concerned, responsible and participatory citizen in the civic life of a country. It is recommended that, since most teachers do not use more authentic forms of profile dimension assessment techniques such as portfolio and peer and self-assessments techniques during lesson delivery, the teacher training institutions/universities should endeavour to infuse in their Social Studies curricula with more authentic forms of profile dimension assessment techniques in order to lay a strong foundation for knowledge base for teaching and assessing the learners learning outcomes

Trends and correlates of maternal, newborn and child health services utilization in primary healthcare facilities:an explorative ecological study using DHIMSII data from one district in the Volta region of Ghana

BackgroundSustainable Development Goal 3 aims at reducing global neonatal mortality to at least 12 per 1000 livebirths, under-five mortality to at least 25 per 1000 livebirths and maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 livebirths by 2030. Considering the achievement so far, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana are not likely to achieve these targets. Low utilization of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services partly account for this predicament. This study explored the trend and correlates of MNCH services utilization in one administrative district in the Volta Region of Ghana.MethodsThis is an explorative ecological study employing trend analysis of 2015–2017 data from Ghana Health Service District Health Information Management System II. Univariate Poisson regression models were used to determine the factors associated with MNCH services utilization at 95% confidence level.ResultsCumulative record of 17,052 antenatal care (ANC) attendance and 2162 facility-based spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVDs) was discovered. Compelling evidence of potential unskilled deliveries was observed in 23% of the 26 facilities reported in the DHIMSII data. High cumulative number of midwives in health facilities associated positively with high records of ANC visits (IRR = 1.30, [95% CI:1.29, 1.32]; p = 0.0001), facility-based SVDs (IRR = 1.30 [95% CI:1.25, 1.35]; p = 0.0001) and BCG immunizations (IRR = 1.32 [95% CI:1.29, 1.34]; p = 0.0001). Likewise, high records of ANC visits correlated positively with high facility-based SVDs and child immunizations records (p < 0.0001).ConclusionTargeted health system and community level interventions alongside progressive frontline health staff motivation and retention strategies could further enhance enrollment and retention of mothers in pre-natal and postnatal care services throughout the continuum of care to guarantee better MNCH health outcomes. Investments in universal coverage for quality ANC services has the potential to enhance utilization of supervised deliveries and post-natal care services such as immunizations

Trends and correlates of maternal, newborn and child health services utilization in primary healthcare facilities: an explorative ecological study using DHIMSII data from one district in the Volta region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims at reducing global neonatal mortality to at least 12 per 1000 livebirths, under-five mortality to at least 25 per 1000 livebirths and maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 livebirths by 2030. Considering the achievement so far, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana are not likely to achieve these targets. Low utilization of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) services partly account for this predicament. This study explored the trend and correlates of MNCH services utilization in one administrative district in the Volta Region of Ghana. METHODS: This is an explorative ecological study employing trend analysis of 2015-2017 data from Ghana Health Service District Health Information Management System II. Univariate Poisson regression models were used to determine the factors associated with MNCH services utilization at 95% confidence level. RESULTS: Cumulative record of 17,052 antenatal care (ANC) attendance and 2162 facility-based spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVDs) was discovered. Compelling evidence of potential unskilled deliveries was observed in 23% of the 26 facilities reported in the DHIMSII data. High cumulative number of midwives in health facilities associated positively with high records of ANC visits (IRR = 1.30, [95% CI:1.29, 1.32]; p = 0.0001), facility-based SVDs (IRR = 1.30 [95% CI:1.25, 1.35]; p = 0.0001) and BCG immunizations (IRR = 1.32 [95% CI:1.29, 1.34]; p = 0.0001). Likewise, high records of ANC visits correlated positively with high facility-based SVDs and child immunizations records (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Targeted health system and community level interventions alongside progressive frontline health staff motivation and retention strategies could further enhance enrollment and retention of mothers in pre-natal and postnatal care services throughout the continuum of care to guarantee better MNCH health outcomes. Investments in universal coverage for quality ANC services has the potential to enhance utilization of supervised deliveries and post-natal care services such as immunizations

Characteristics of Inpatient Hypertension Cases and Factors Associated with Admission Outcomes in Ashanti Region, Ghana: An Analytic Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Hypertension remains a cause of morbidity and mortality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It has been featured in the top ten causes of OPD attendance, admissions, and deaths since 2012. We investigated the sociodemographic characteristics and spatial distribution of inpatient hypertensives and factors associated with their admission outcomes. Methods. A 2014 line list of 1715 inpatient HPT cases aged ≥25 years was used for the cross-sectional analytic study. Accounting for clustering, all analyses were performed using the “svy” command in Stata. Frequencies, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were used in the analysis. Arc view Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) was used to map the density of cases by place of residence and reporting hospital. Results. Mean age of cases was 58 (S.D 0.0068). Females constituted 67.6% of the cases. Age, gender, and NHIS status were significantly associated with admission outcomes. Cases were clustered in the regional capital and bordering districts. However, low case densities were recorded in the latter. Conclusion. Increasing NHIS access can potentially impact positively on hypertension admission outcomes. Health educational campaigns targeting men are recommended to address hypertension-related issues

Capacitating Science-Policy dialogue platforms to trigger actions for accessing climate finance: experiences and lessons learnt from Ghana, Mali and Niger

Adequate financial resources are key barriers limiting the effectiveness and sustainability of the national science-policy dialogue platforms in West Africa. This Info Note documents the outcomes of and lessons learnt from capacity building activities to science-policy dialogue platforms in Ghana, Mali and Niger and how the capacity building program empowered the platforms and/or triggered actions for accessing climate finance. A structured engagement and capacity building approach was implemented to strength resource mobilization capacity of the science-policy dialogue platforms in Ghana, Mali and Niger. The approach has enabled the development of three GCF concept notes and two bilateral donor proposals for accessing climate finance. The structured engagement and capacity building approach adopted was instrumental in triggering actions. The strong commitment and leadership of the institutions hosting the secretariat of the platforms were also crucial in triggering action

Implementation, usage, and effectiveness of Ghana climate change policies: an assessment of the national CSA Action Plan and CSA Investment Framework

" Five years after the adoption of CSA Action Plan, followed by a CSA Investment Framework, it was crucial to assess the level of implementation and usage and draw lessons on the effectiveness of these two policy documents. This study aims to provide a scientific-based assessment of the level of implementation, usage, and effectiveness of the above-mentioned two Ghana climate change policy documents. Due to low awareness of stakeholders, the implementation of the CSA Action Plan and CSA Investment Framework is low (19% of studied districts). The usage of the CSA Action Plan focuses more on crop value chain development followed by livestock and fish value chains. The CSA Investment Framework was used to mobilize resource to develop climate-resilient cropping systems, alternative livelihood systems, post-harvest management, market systems, and water conservation activities. The effectiveness of the CSA Action Plan and CSA Investment Framework depends on the number of target beneficiaries, budget allocation and funds mobilized. Multipurpose policy instruments are critical for bringing about a conducive environment to address climate change and related risks. Increasing awareness of the CSA Action Plan is a key pathway to enhance its usage, implementation and effectiveness across scales. To enable effective use of the CSA Investment Framework, there is a need to enhance the capacity of key stakeholders on the development of bankable proposal

Inhibition of Iron Uptake Is Responsible for Differential Sensitivity to V-ATPase Inhibitors in Several Cancer Cell Lines

Many cell lines derived from tumors as well as transformed cell lines are far more sensitive to V-ATPase inhibitors than normal counterparts. The molecular mechanisms underlying these differences in sensitivity are not known. Using global gene expression data, we show that the most sensitive responses to HeLa cells to low doses of V-ATPase inhibitors involve genes responsive to decreasing intracellular iron or decreasing cholesterol and that sensitivity to iron uptake is an important determinant of V-ATPase sensitivity in several cancer cell lines. One of the most sensitive cell lines, melanoma derived SK-Mel-5, over-expresses the iron efflux transporter ferroportin and has decreased expression of proteins involved in iron uptake, suggesting that it actively suppresses cytoplasmic iron. SK-Mel-5 cells have increased production of reactive oxygen species and may be seeking to limit additional production of ROS by iron