Determinants of Chronic Illness Among Aged Population in Ghana: A Multinomial Logit Approach

Generally, the constant change in demographic trends among the aged depict gradual increase in the size of the aged population globally. The aged population is often capitalised with degenerative conditions such as chronic illness which affect their ability to function effectively and often require special support. Despite the increase in the size of the aged population and their associated degenerative conditions, very few descriptive studies on the determinants of chronic illness among the aged has been researched especially in developing countries such as Ghana and there is no compelling evidence on the association of chronic illness and its determinants. Thus, this study seeks to analyse and predict the impact of age, gender, education, marital status, Quality of Life (QoL), social cohesion, settlement and depression on chronic illness among the aged population in Ghana. From the studies a Multinomial Logit Regression (MLR) was employed to analyse the data obtained from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) under, Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE), 2012. It was revealed that out of the 1384 sampled, 71% had no chronic illness whilst 22% and 7% had one and two or more chronic illness respectively. Again, it was observed that, Depression State, Gender, Marital Status and Settlement Type (rural or urban) play significant roles in determining the likelihood of the aged getting chronic illness while Physical Function, Social Cohesion, QoL, Age and Education Level were not statistically significant determinants of chronic illness. Our findings demonstrate that chronic illness among the aged is constantly increasing in Ghana especially in the urban communities and need to be addressed urgently through governmental policies and programs in the quest to help salvage the deteriorating conditions of the aged.   Keywords: Aged Population, Multinomial Logit Model, Chronic Illnes

Response of hydro-physical properties of a Chromic Luvisol in Ghana to different methods of application of Mucuna pruriens as a soil amendments

The study assessed the response of hydro-physical properties of Chromic Luvisol to different methods of application of Mucuna pruriens as a soil amendments in two separate experiments. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used with the following treatments: 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as green manure (GM), 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as live mulch (LM), 7.04t/ha Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch (IM) and a control plot which had no Mucuna pruriens as soil amendment. Data were collected on gravimetric (θ_g) and volumetric moisture content ( θ_v), residual moisture storage(R), sorptivity(s), cumulative infiltration (I), bulk density (ρ_b), total porosity (f), aeration porosity (ξ_a), aggregate stability (ASt) and soil temperature, for assessment of hydro-physical properties of the soil. The results from the experiments indicated that Mucuna pruriens as live mulch used as amendment significantly reduce bulk density (ρ_b), increased total porosity (f) and aeration porosity (ξ_a) thus it gave significant improvement on those soil physical properties measured while Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch improved aggregate stability (ASt) and gave optimal soil temperature. In the assessment of soil volumetric moisture content ( θ_v), residual moisture storage(R), sorptivity(s), cumulative infiltration(I), the study shows that Mucuna pruriens as in-situ mulch recorded the optimal values and was closely followed by Mucuna pruriens as live mulch

Assessment of the Relative Suitability of Three Different Soils for Dry Season Lettuce Production in Ghana

The research was conducted at the project site of the University of Educatoion, Winneba - Mampong campus between mid - November 2007 and Mid-April 2008. The main objective of the study was to compare the relative suitability of three soils in supporting lettuce production in the dry season. The treatments were Calcic Vertisol (Akuse scries), Rodic Nitisol (Ejura sesries) and Chromic Luvisol (Bediest series). The randomized complete block design was used in a pot experience with the three treatments and each replicated three times. Plant height, fresh leaf mass, leaf dry matter yield, fresh root mass, gravimetric moisture content, total porosity, drainability and bulk density were the parameters considered. From the result Bediesi Series recorded the highest growth rate as measured by plant height (266.5mm), fresh leaf weight (30.6g), leaf dry matter weight (4.9g) at 7 weeks after transplanting as well as been the most succulent with 84% succulent. Fresh root weight however, was highest with Akuse Series followed by Bediesi Series and Ejura Series in that decreasing order. Ejura Series recorded the least value for all growth and yield parameters measured. For soil parameters, Akuse Series recorded the highest value for porosity (43.0%) and gravimetric moisture of 6.43 throughout the period of field drying for 8weeks. Ejura Series Bediesi Series also recorded the highest value for drainability after 25 minutes of drainage, followed by Bediesi Series and then Akuse Series. The result of this work indicated that the Bediesi Series is the best soil type among the soils evaluated for lettuce production in the dry season in Ghana

Influence of Mucuna pruriens Green Manure, NPK and Chicken Manure Amendments on Soil Physico "“ Chemical Properties and Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Field experiments were conducted during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong-Ashanti campus, located in the forest-savanna transitional zone of Ghana. The study evaluated the influence of Mucuna pruriens (MP) green manure, NPK (15:15:15) and chicken manure (CM) or their combinations on soil physical and chemical properties; and growth and yield of carrot. The six treatments, which were arranged in a RCBD included: 250 kg NPK ha-1, 20t CM ha-1, 30t MP ha-1, 125kg NPK ha-1 + 15t MP ha-1, 10t CM ha-1 + 15t MP ha-1 and no amendment (control). The application of MP green manure, CM, MP + CM,  and MP + NPK fertilizer  combinations significantly improved soil total porosity and gravimetric moisture content than the control. Soil bulk density was high in the control plots than the manures and their combinations with NPK. Compared with the control, the application of CM, MP green manure, NPK + MP and CM + MP significantly increased soil organic carbon, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, ECEC and percentage base saturation levels. Organic matter content, NH+4-N, NO-3-N and SO2-4-S were high in the amended plots than the control. Plant height, number of leaves per plant and canopy spread per plant for the 20t CM ha-1 treatment were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other five treatments in both 2010 and 2011 seasons. All the amended plots produced longer carrot roots with larger diameter than the control in 2010 and 2011 seasons. The 20t CM ha-1 produced the highest root yields with the 10t CM ha-1 + 15t MP ha-1 following as the second highest in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Root yield, and harvest index for all the amended plots were significantly higher than the control. The use of Mucuna pruriens green manure, chicken manure and the MP + NPK as well as the MP + CM combinations are recommended for improving soil fertility and increased yield of carrot

Traditional knowledge and cultural importance of Borassus aethiopum Mart. in Benin: interacting effects of socio-demographic attributes and multi-scale abundance

ResearchBackground: Eliciting factors affecting distribution of traditional knowledge (TK) and cultural importance of plant resources is central in ethnobiology. Socio-demographic attributes and ecological apparency hypothesis (EAH) have been widely documented as drivers of TK distribution, but their synergistic effect is poorly documented. Here, we focused on Borassus aethiopum, a socio-economic important agroforestry palm in Africa, analyzing relationships between the number of use-reports and cultural importance on one hand, and informant socio-demographic attributes (age category and gender) on the other hand, considering the EAH at multi-scale contexts. Our hypothesis is that effects of socio-demographic attributes on use-reports and cultural importance are shaped by both local (village level) and regional (chorological region level) apparency of study species. We expected so because distribution of knowledge on a resource in a community correlates to the versatility in the resource utilization but also connections among communities within a region. Methods: Nine hundred ninety-two face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews were conducted in six villages of low versus high local abundance of B. aethiopum spanning three chorological regions (humid, sub-humid and semiarid) also underlying a gradient of increasing distribution and abundance of B. aethiopum. Number of use-reports and score of importance of uses of B. aethiopum were recorded in six use-categories including medicine, food, handcraft, construction, firewood, and ceremonies and rituals. Data were analyzed using Poisson and ordered logistic modelsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of reforestation on degraded soils in the moist semi deciduous zone of West Africa

Reforestation with trees and shrubs may be an effective means of increasing soil organic matter content and for regeneration of degraded lands. A study was conducted on a degraded farmland Chromic Luvisol (UNESCO/FAO) or Udic Rhodustalf (USDA, 1999) in the moist semi deciduous zone of West Africa, near Onwe, located at latitude 06o 41’ N, longitude 01o 28’ W, and at an altitude of 305m asl. The objective of the study was to quantify the improvement in soil physicochemical properties of degraded Chromic Luvisol with exotic leguminous tree species compared to grass vegetation in the moist semi-deciduous zone of West Africa. To quantify changes due to reforestation, we measured some physical and chemical properties of soil after 20 years (1989 – 2009) of reforestation with Acacia angustissima (Acacia), Cassia siamea (Cassia), and Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena) mixed and compared with soils under natural grass vegetation. Experimental design used for soil sampling and for evaluating the soil properties was randomized complete block with three replications. Soil organic matter increased from 1.19% to 2.02% while pH dropped from 5.65 to 4.79 in the reforested soils. Cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate, and gravimetric water content showed significant improvement under reforestation compared with soils under natural vegetation. Total porosity increased from 36.7% in the natural grass cover to 51.3% in the reforested soils. Reforestation resulted in significant reduction in bulk density from 1.67 to 1.26g/cm3. Improvement of soil properties under reforestation indicates that planting of well-adapted and fast-growing exotic tree species can gradually improve soil quality and regenerate degraded lands. Reforestation may be thus recommended as a way of regenerating degraded land.Keywords: Degraded soil, reforestation, trees, soil organic matte

Influence of Grasscutter, Chicken Manure and NPK Fertilizer on the Physical Properties of a Chromic Luvisol, Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of grasscutter manure (GM), chicken manure (CM), and NPK on soil physical properties, growth and yield of carrot. The treatments were; no fertilizer or manure (control), 300kgNPK/ha (15:15:15), 10tCM/ha, 3 levels of grasscutter manure (10t, 15t and 20t/ha), laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Soil bulk density was highest in the control plot while the sole manure treatments had low soil bulk densities, with the 20t/haGM3 having the lowest value. The 20t/haGM3 treatment also recorded the highest values for the gravimetric moisture content and the total soil porosity. Plant height, number of leaves, root length, root diameter and root yield in the amended treatments were better than the control. Values for the growth and yield parameters of the carrot plant from the 20t/haGM3 treatment were in most cases significantly (P=.05) higher than the rest of the treatments, and the 10tGM/ha treatment had better impact on the parameters than the 10tCM/ha treatment. The highest economic benefit was realized for the 20t/haGM3 treatment

Acceptability of Routine Offer of HIV Testing (Opt-Out Approach) among Pregnant Women in the Wa Municipality

Background: With the introduction of the opt out HIV testing policy in Ghana, the HIV test is offered routinely to all pregnant women unless they decline testing.Objective: To assess acceptability of the routine offer of HIV testing antenatal clinic (ANC) clients in the Wa municipality, Ghana.Design: Cross-sectional study of 270 randomly selected ANC attendees.Results: More than 90% of respondents were in favour of the opt-out policy. The most commonly cited reasons were that it would help pregnant women know their status and facilitate prevention of mother to childtransmission of HIV (PMTCT). About 60% of respondents had tested for HIV in the current pregnancy with more than 90% reporting that the test was offered them in a manner in which they could have refused the test.HIV testing in the current pregnancy was associated with having heard of the opt-out policy (

Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) Yield Parameters, Soil Chemical Properties and Cost Benefit Ratios Following Incorporation of Poultry Manure and Inorganic NPK Fertilizers in Low Nutrient Ghanaian Soils

The impact of sole poultry manure (6t PM ha-1), sole NPK (200kg NPK ha-1) and their combinations (3t PM + 100kg NPK ha-1 and 1.5t PM + 150kg NPK ha-1) on sweet potato yield parameters and soil nutrients was assessed at Adiembra and Fiaso in Ghana between June, 2011 to November, 2011 using RCBD. Nutritional levels of the sweet potato tubers and the amended soils were analysed with standard laboratory procedures. The 3t PM + 100kg NPK ha-1 produced significantly (P=0.05) the highest tuber yield (tonnes ha-1), tuber length and diameter, and also had the highest percentage of marketable tubers. The total percentage soil nitrogen, organic matter, Total Base Saturation (TEB) and Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC) were significantly (P=0.05) highest in the 6t PM ha-1 treatment. The 6t PM ha-1 treatment had the highest tuber nutrient values for Ca, Mg, P, S and N. The 3t PM + 100kg NPK ha-1 had the highest cost benefit ratios of 1:4.38 and 1:8.15 at Adiembra and Fiaso respectively. The results demonstrated that combined application of PM and NPK increased sweet potato tuber yield and soil nutrient levels in a cost effective manner