Knowledge and perceptions of domestic violence services among women in Ghana

Support services are important to the mental and physical well-being of survivors of intimate partner violence. However, researchers and service providers note that survivors seldom report violence to formal domestic violence services in Ghana. Despite calls from service providers for Ghanaians to report domestic violence, few studies have focused on women’s knowledge and perceptions of formal domestic violence services in Ghana and how these perceptions influence their help-seeking behaviour. This thesis presents qualitative findings on Ghanaian women's knowledge and perceptions of formal domestic violence services. Also, challenges to service delivery are explored. Results revealed that awareness among respondents of available services was low. Additionally, most respondents had negative perceptions of these formal services. This study demonstrates that more educational campaigns need to be carried out to raise awareness among Ghanaians on domestic violence and the formal interventions available in the country. Additionally, service providers and policy makers must formulate programmes and policies that are better suited to the uniqueness of the Ghanaian situation

PREPARATION OF MICROPARTICLES OF MENTHOL/PALMITIC ACID BY PGSS AND MENTHOL/TREHALOSE BY SAS-A

随着人们对薄荷卷烟的香味及品质的要求的提高，薄荷成份的保持甚为重要。本研究采用气体饱和溶液颗粒形成技术（PGSS）制备薄荷醇/棕榈酸复合颗粒，采用超临界抗溶剂雾化技术（SAS-A）制备薄荷醇/海藻糖复合颗粒，通过研究获得制备的优化工艺条件。其目的是利用薄荷醇复合颗粒给香烟加香。薄荷醇复合颗粒可以与烟草混合或者放置于过滤嘴中：选择制备粒径为10-20μm的不规则微颗粒用于烟草混合；制备粒径为200μm的微颗粒用于滤嘴。 研究了五种不同组成的薄荷醇/棕榈酸和薄荷醇/海藻糖体系。先后确定了温度和压力的影响。对制备的颗粒进行了粒径，粒径分布，电子扫描电镜以及香气释放速率等表征。 研究结果表明，PG...With the ever increasing demand by menthol cigarette consumers for freshness and authenticity, menthol flavor loss must be prevented. Therefore the study delved into the preparation of composite particles of menthol/palmitic acid by Particle from Gas Saturated Solution (PGSS) and menthol/trehalose by Supercritical Antisolvent-Atomization (SAS-A) in order to come out with the best conditions that c...学位：工学硕士院系专业：化学化工学院化学工程与生物工程系_化学工程学号：2042008115368

Agricultural Potential of Biosolids Generated from Dewatering of Faecal Sludge on Unplanted Filter Beds.

The study was conducted to determine the agricultural potential of biosolids produced from the dewatering of faecal sludge on drying beds in Ghana. It was conducted using bench scale filter beds at KNUST in Kumasi, Ghana. Different filter media were used to dewater FS while different loading rates of FS were dewatered on selected filter medium. Different percentages of sawdust mixed with FS were also dewatered and biolsolids produced were dried and analysed for nutrients and heavy metals. The results showed that the average percentage carbon in all the biosolid ranged between 27 and 42.7%, nitrogen was 1.82 – 3.54% and carbon – nitrogen ratio ranged between 8.7 - 23.9%. The level of phosphorus and potassium ranged between 1.73 – 3.69%and 0.81- 3.78% respectively. The average concentration of heavy metals analysed in the dried biosolids were very low where the range of Cu was 0.081- 0.157mg/kg, Fe 1.530- 4.562mg/kg, Pb 0.009- 0.032mg/kg. Cd, Mn, and Zn showed ranges of 0.036 – 0.092, 0.076-0.652 and 0.026-0254 mg/kg respectively. Key words: Biosolid, dewatering, faecal sludge, heavy metals, nutrients

Effects of Different Solid Loading Rates of Faecal Sludge on the Dewatering Performance of Unplanted Filter Bed.

The aim of this study was to investigate which Solid Loading Rate (SLR) of faecal sludge will best improve the dewatering performance of selected sand with particle sizes range of (? 0.1 ? 0.5) mm raised on bench scale filter beds. Public toilet sludge  and septage collected from suction trucks discharging at Dompoase stabilisation  ponds in Kumasi , Ghana, mixed in the ratio of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 by volume representing SLR1, SLR2 and SLR3 respectively, were used for the dewatering. Percolate volume was measured every 24 hour. The faecal sludge of SLR1, SLR2 and SLR3 dewatered at average dewatering times of 7, 5 and 4 days respectively. Removal efficiencies of the different solid loading rates though very high for TS, SS, TVS, COD, DCOD, NH3-N, did not show any significant difference. Organic matter build up in the top 10cm of the filter bed was least in SLR3. Again SLR3 showed the highest potential for annual generation of biosolids at 438, 421 and 379 (kg/m2 year) for SL3, SLR2 and SLR1 respectively. Therefore SLR3 of faecal sludge is recommended for dewatering on the selected filter bed. Key words: Faecal sludge, solid loading rate, dewatering time, filter bed, percolate

Development of Intensity-Duration Frequency Curves for Koforidua City in Ghana

The estimation of rainfall intensity for a particular frequency is normally required for design of hydraulic and water resources engineering control structures. The main objective of this paper was to develop IDF curves for Koforidua based on recent rainfall information. Annual Maximum Rainfall depths of various durations over twenty-nine yearsfor Koforidua were obtained from the Ghana Meteorological Services in Accra. Linear regression analysis was used to make the data consistent which allowed for filling in the gaps where data were missing. The data set obtained was then subjected to frequency analysisto determine the distribution which best characterize the data set. The annual maximum series were found to be drawn from the Gumbel distribution whose parameters were computed by fitting the statistics to the data. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test proves the appropriateness of the fitting. The trend followed the normal Rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency-curves. By using easy fit software, Gumbel Extreme type one was found to be the best distribution for the analysis. The results shown that for shorter durations (12 min and 24 min), the IDF Curves gave higher intensities for the same return period whiles for longer durations (42min, 1 hr, 2hr, 3hr, 6hr, 12hr and 24 hr), the IDF Curves gave low intensities for the same return period.The Intensity- Duration-Frequency-Curves obtained for the study area has a general characteristic form of Intensity-Duration-Frequency-Curves. This study could be of significance academic value and useful to improve the hydraulic and water resources engineering

Assessment of the water balance of the Barekese reservoir in Kumasi, Ghana

The Barekese Reservoir constructed across the Offin River provides 80% of the total public pipe borne water supplied to the Kumasi metropolis and its environs. The reservoir was designed to produce both potable water and hydropower, however, the hydropower component has not been implemented since its construction in 1971.There is also reported land cover degradation in the catchment area which has the propensity to alter the hydrologic cycle and hence runoff into the reservoir. A 10 year water balance has been assessed for the Barekese Reservoir using an integrated Remote Sensing and GIS approach for estimation of surface runoff based on Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN). The SCS-CN model was calibrated against observed discharges recorded at Offinso located 10.3km upstream from Barekese and the result of the calibration used to simulate runoff into the reservoir. The SCS-CN model produced an R2 value of 0.84 and an efficiency of 82.68%. Monthly observed reservoir levels were used for the calibration and validation of the water balance model. The water balance model produced an R2 value of 0.84 and an efficiency of 81.9%. The monthly water budget revealed that total catchment runoff and direct precipitation respectively constituted 94.32% and 5.68% of the inflows while spilled water, water withdrawal and evaporation respectively amounted to 72.19%, 20.85% and 6.96% of the outflows. This result reveals that the reservoir is being underutilized. The current average production of treated water is 109,000m3day but the reservoir can safely yield the design capacity of 220,000m3day and an additional average hydropower of 368.6kW in six months during the rainy season provided the economic analysis for the hydropower generation is found to be justifiable.Keywords: Water balance, Barekese Reservoir, SCS-CN model, Offinso, Hydropowe

Ghanaian Women’s Knowledge and Perceptions of Services Available to Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

This article presents qualitative findings on women’s knowledge and perceptions of services available to victims of domestic violence in Ghana. In addition, the challenges to access of service and service delivery are explored. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 female residents of Sowutuom, a periurban community in Accra, Ghana. An additional three semistructured interviews were also conducted with local service providers in Accra. Results showed that awareness among respondents of available services was low. The majority of women had heard of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service, though they had limited knowledge of the kind of support provided by this service provider. In addition, most women expressed doubt in the ability of these services to adequately handle cases of intimate partner violence. This study demonstrates that more educational campaigns need to be carried out to raise awareness among Ghanaians on domestic violence and the formal interventions available in the country. </jats:p