Criminality in the microfinance sector: a symptom of “broken window”

The phenomenal rate of deviant acts in the microfinance sector of Ghana’s economy has generated a great deal of debate about its ramifications for the future of the sector and financial inclusion efforts. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 16:4 acknowledges the dangers syndicated crimes pose to the attainment of the goals and proposes a reduction in all forms of illicit financial flows and organized crime by 2030. In this paper, it is argued that one of the major effects of criminality in the microfinance sector is the deepening of financial exclusion of people who are already on the fringes of the financial inclusion bracket. Semi-structured and in-depth interview guides were used to collect data for the study. The Broken Window theory of criminology was adopted as the theoretical framework to guide the study. The study found that criminal and fraudulent activities in the microfinance sector are real issues that need attention. The study concludes that the laxity and delays on the part of state institutions mandated to regulate the sector and their inability to crack the whip on criminal elements in the sector have contributed to the festering of crimes in the sector and its resultant financial exclusion. The study recommends that regulatory agencies should develop and deploy stringent monitoring and surveillance regime in order to forestall the occurrence of criminal activities which have plagued the sector

Activity of Mycoplasma synoviae in Commercial Chickens in Ghana: Serological Evidence

A total of 390 chicken sera were collected from respiratory disease free broilers, breeders and layers in the Ga-East district of Ghana and tested for Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit from IDEXX Inc. USA.  The overall sero-prevalence of MS was obtained to be 46.2%. The sero-prevalence among breeders and broilers were 0% each. MS sero-prevalence among layers ranged between 60% -85% and differed significantly among different ages (p< 0.05).  The overall MS sero-prevalence among layers was 75%. It is concluded that Mycoplasma synoviae circulate in layer farms in the district. Layer birds at peak production age are at higher risk of infection. Keywords: Mycoplasma synoviae, chicken, Sero-prevalence, Ghan

Nutritional, pasting and sensory properties of a weaning food from rice (Oryza sativa), soybeans (Glycine Max) and kent Mango (Mangifera indica) flour blends

The effective use of readily available and inexpensive sources of protein and micronutrients has become a major focus of research in recent years. This study sought to provide a nutritionally adequate and culturally acceptable weaning food for infants, as well as tap the potential of broken rice fraction as an alternative use for weaning formulation in Ghana. Flour from broken rice fractions in combination with soybeans and dried mangoes were used to develop four weaning formulations. Rice-Soy Mango (RSM) was prepared with 75% rice flour, 25% soybeans flours and 0% mango flour (RSM-0), and used as control; RSM-5 was prepared with 70% rice flour, 25% soybeans flours and 5% mango flour; RSM-10 was prepared with 65% rice flour, 25% soybeans flours and 10% mango flour while RSM-15 was prepared with 60% rice flour, 25% soybeans flours and 15% mango flour. The products were evaluated for their nutritional composition, sensory characteristics and pasting properties. All the three newly formulated rice-mango weaning food met the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for energy (393.71-403.25 KCal/100 g), protein (10.7-15.24 g/100 g), carbohydrates (68.44-73.87g/100 g), zinc (8.67-10.84 mg/d and vitamin C (13.96-17.79 mg/100 g) levels but not for iron (3.99-7.61 mg/100 g), fat (6.22-7.61 g/100 g) and calcium (87.2-111.7 mg/100 g). The beta-carotene levels ranged from 74.8 to 346.6 μg/100 g and showed significant differences. The pasting profile for the blends with low amounts of mango (RSM-5 and RSM-10) had a similar profile as the control (RSM-0), while RSM-15 had a lower profile. Among the three newly formulated blends, RSM-10 had the highest peak viscosity (74.0 BU) and highest final viscosity of 107 BU. The RSM-5, RSM-10 and RSM-15 were all lighter than RSM-0, albeit not significant. Increasing the content of mango resulted in the flour blend becoming more yellow. Even though the sensory quality of RSM-5 was the most preferred, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) observed between the sensory quality of all the three newly formulated products (RSM-5, RSM-10, RSM-15). The RSM-10 showed great potential and may be recommended and adopted for promotion within Ghanaian households based on its high nutritional and good sensory qualities.Key words: Weaning, Broken Rice, Mangoes, Pasting, Sensory, Vitamin A, Iron, Childre

Molecular Based Survey of Pathogens Associated with Respiratory Disease Outbreaks in Broiler Chickens in Accra

Respiratory diseases in poultry are caused by a host of pathogens that act either singly or in association with each other. The clinical signs elicited by some poultry respiratory pathogens are similar and may confuse diagnostic efforts. Definitive diagnoses involving the use of sensitive, robust and rapid laboratory method are important for the identification and differentiation of specific agent(s) during infection. Our study aimed at identifying the involvement of Infectious Bronchitis Virus, Newcastle Disease Virus and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in outbreaks of respiratory diseases in chickens in the Ga-East district of Greater Accra using the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique (PCR). Twenty (20) trachea swabs were obtained from four chicken flocks (5 per flock) with acute respiratory diseases. RNA and DNA were extracted from each sample individually. The S1 glycoprotein gene, MgC2 gene and fusion protein gene of IBV, MG and NDV respectively, was individually target in a single tube PCR reaction. Amplicons were resolved on a 1% agarose gel stained with Ethidium bromide and visualized with a UV trans-illuminator. Twenty percent (20%) of samples tested negative to all three pathogens. IBV and NDV as single agents were detected in 40% and 20% of the samples respectively. Twenty percent (20%) of the samples were found to be co-infected with IBV and NDV. None of the samples tested positive to MG. IBV and NDV play major roles in outbreaks of respiratory diseases in commercial broiler chickens in Ga-East district of Accra. Keywords: Respiratory pathogens, Broilers, Ghana, Polymerase Chain Reactio

Infectious Bronchitis Virus: a major cause of respiratory disease outbreaks in chickens in Ghana

Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) causes respiratory diseases with significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. The possible presence of this pathogen in the commercial poultry industry in Ghana has not yet been evaluated and thus there is no control strategy in place. In the present study, the RT-PCR technique was used to detect IBV in respiratory disease outbreaks in 6 chicken farms in the Ga East district of Accra. RNA was extracted from tracheal swabs of birds with respiratory signs and used in an RT-PCR to amplify the S1 glycoprotein gene of IBV. Forty seven (47) samples were obtained and analyzed during a 3 month period from broilers, layers and broiler breeders. Thirty (30) of the samples were positive for IBV by RT-PCR, giving a prevalence of 64%. This study confirms the presence of IBV in the study area and provides initial evidence of IBV involvement in respiratory disease outbreaks. Additional studies including virus isolation attempts and characterization will provide necessary data to outline and implement an effective control strategy in the country. Keywords: Infectious Bronchitis Virus, RT-PCR, chickens, Ghan

Microbiological quality evaluation of ready-to-eat mixed vegetable salad, food ingredients and some water samples from a restaurant in Accra: A case study

One serious threat to public health in both developed and developing countries is the microbial contamination of food. This problem poses a great challenge and consequently has economic implications. Causes of microbial contamination are diverse and these maybe natural, environmental, or technological. The microbiological quality of most readyto- eat foods is of great significance to human  health because they require minimal or no processing when consumed. The aim of this research was to investigate the microbiological quality of some ready-to-eat mixed vegetable salad foods, ingredients as well as the wash water samples of an urban restaurant located in Accra, Ghana. A total of thirty (30) samples categorized into mixed vegetable salads, foods and water obtained from an urban restaurant in the national capital of Ghana, Accra. They were analyzed at the microbiology laboratory and food microbiology  la  Loratories of School of Allied  Health Sciences (UHAS) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI), Ghana, respectively. Standard microbiological methods that are per International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Methods and Nordic Committee on Food Analysis Methods (NMKL) were used in determining the presence and levels of bacteria and fungi. Data obtained were transformed from standard to logarithmic forms and reported as mean+standard deviations. The aerobic plate countsamples ranged from 0- 4.73 log 10 CFU/g. E-coli counts also ranged between 0- 2.53 log 10 CFU, while Bacillus cereus counts were very low at 0-<10 log 10 CFU/g. Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus aureus counts were also very low ranging from 0- 1.0 log10 CFU/g. Enterobacteriaceae counts also ranged from 0- 1.90 log10 CFU/g. Molds and yeasts counts were generally low and ranged from  0- 2.48 log 10 CFU/g and 0- 1.0 log10 CFU/g, respectively. None of the samples tested contained Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. Fungal microbial loads were minimal given the quantities, and were deleterious to the health of consumers. The study revealed that the bacterial loads on mixed vegetable salads, ingredients and water samples used and served by an urban restaurant in Accra were within safe limits according to American Public Health Association (APHA) and International Commission for MicrobiologicalSpecifications for Foods (ICMSF) guidelines and, therefore, good for human consumption. Key words: Ready-to-eat, Salads, water, Vegetables, Restaurant, Ghana, Microbial contamination, Consumer safet

Alcohol consumption among tertiary students in the Hohoe municipality, Ghana: analysis of prevalence, effects, and associated factors from a cross-sectional study.

Background:Alcohol consumption constitutes a major public health problem as it has negative consequences on the health, social, psychological, and economic outcomes of individuals. Tertiary education presents students with unique challenges and some students resort to the use of alcohol in dealing with their problems. This study, therefore, sought to determine alcohol use, its effects, and associated factors among tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipaility of Ghana. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 418 tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. A binary logistic regression modelling was used to determine the strength of the association between alcohol consumption and the explanatory variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Stata version 16.0 was used to perform the analysis. Results: The lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption was 39.5%. Out of them, 49.1% were still using alcohol, translating to an overall prevalence of 19.4% among the tertiary students. Self-reported perceived effects attributed to alcohol consumption were loss of valuable items (60.6%), excessive vomiting (53.9%), stomach pains/upset (46.1%), accident (40.0%), unprotected sex (35.1%), risk of liver infection (16.4%), depressive feelings (27.3%), diarrhoea (24.2%), debt (15.2%), and petty theft (22.4%). In terms of factors associated with alcohol consumption, students aged 26 years and above were more likely to have consumed alcohol [AOR = 4.4, 95%CI = 1.74, 11.14] than those in 16–20 years group. Muslim students had lower odds of alcohol consumption compared to Christians [AOR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.31]. It was also found that students who had peer influence [AOR = 3.7, 95%CI = 2.31, 5.82] and those who had academic adjustment problems [AOR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.01, 6.46] were more likely to consume alcohol. Conclusion: Lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption is high among tertiary students in the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana, with several physical, psychosocial and economic consequences. Alcohol-related education should be intensified in tertiary institutions and counseling units should be equipped with relevant assessment tools to assess and help students who are at risk and those who are already consuming alcohol

Psychosocial factors influencing contraceptive use among adolescent mothers in the Volta Region of Ghana: application of the Health Belief Model

Background: Globally, complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among pregnant women aged 15 to 19 years. This study investigated the psychosocial factors influencing contraceptive use among adolescentmothers in the Volta Region using the Health Belief Model (HBM).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 422 adolescent mothers. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the strength of association between the independent and the dependent variables at a p-value less than 0.05.Results: The prevalence of contraceptive use was 18.7%. Concerning perceived susceptibility, there was a significant association between contraceptive use and the perception of being at risk of pregnancy complications (p&lt;0.001). Perceived barriers showed a significant association between fear of side-effects of contraceptives and contraceptive use (p=0.007). Concerning perceived self-efficacy, there was a significant association between contraceptive use and confidence to suggest to a partner to use contraceptives (p=0.003); confidence to ask for contraceptives from health facilities (p&lt;0.001) and confidence to use contraceptives (p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Programmes to increase contraceptive use should aim at heightening the perception of risk of pregnancy complications, reduce barriers to contraceptive use and increase the skills in negotiating contraceptive use. Keywords: Contraceptive use; Adolescent mothers; Health Belief Model; Volta Region; Ghana

Associations of blood glucose levels with some diabetes risk factors (body mass index, blood pressure and total body fat) in inhabitants of Ho Municipality, Ghana: a cross-sectional survey

One complex metabolic disorder that can unenviably affect the normal human physiology is diabetes mellitus (DM). It is indeed one of the commonest noncommunicable diseases that has heightened to an epidemic level worldwide. For diseases like DM, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type II DM, and other chronic diseases, body mass index (BMI) is identified as a positive and independent risk factor associated with morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to determine the relationships between BMI, blood pressure, and total body fat among inhabitants of periurban Ho, Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was carried out between May and June, 2018, among 132 inhabitants of Ho to determine the prevalence and associations among DM risk factors. The participants were selected by systematic random sampling. Standardized international protocols were used to measure BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, and total body fat. Out of 132 respondents, majority 96 (72.7%) were female and the most common age group was 54-60 (31.1%). From the BMI classifications, 65 (49.2%) people were of normal weight while 6 (4.5%) were underweight. Total body fat (%) and blood pressure, likewise total body fat and BMI recorded significant associations of values (0.299, p&lt;0.001-systolic; 0.298, p=0.001-diastolic), and 0.585 (p&lt;0.001), respectively. On the contrary, there were insignificant associations found between blood glucose and diastolic blood pressure and also blood glucose and systolic blood pressure (0.100, p=0.253) and (0.057. p=0.514), respectively using the Spearman’s correlation analysis. Lastly, the test of association of socio-demographics and anthropometrics revealed there was a significant (p&lt;0.001) correlation between total body fat and BMI using Pearson’s correlation analysis. BMI is closely related to total body fat and blood pressure; hence, education on lifestyle modification needs to be intensified to create awareness among the inhabitants of Ho municipality of Ghana. It is imperative to educate Ghanaians and beyond about the risk factor associations that predispose an individual to DM

Compositional, physico-mechanical and functional properties of two Ghanaian cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a legume that is cultivated throughout Africa and contributes a significant amount of plant-based protein to human diets. There are many varieties of cowpeas, and these have varying seed characteristics such as shape, size, colour and nutritional properties. The compositional, physico-mechanical, and functional properties of two new cowpea seed varieties were investigated in order to determine their full food-use potentials as well as key parameters for their postharvest machinery for processing, handling, and storage. The proximate composition of the two cowpea cultivars was determined using standard methods. Physico-mechanical analyses carried out were the hundred-seed weight and volume, bulk density, true density, size, aspect ratio, surface area, equivalent diameter, porosity and angle of repose. Functional properties determined were cooking time and water uptake of the grain as well as water and oil absorption, foam capacity and stability, and emulsion capacity and stability of the flour. The Padi-Tuya variety was longer, broader and thicker than Wang Kae. The results showed both varieties to be useful sources of macronutrients. The moisture, fat and fibre in Wang Kae were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than Padi-Tuya. However, both cowpea varieties had comparable protein levels of 17.7 g/100 g. The cooking time, hydration capacities and indices of the two varieties were also significantly different (p&lt;0.05), but their swelling capacities, swelling and water uptake indices were comparable. Cooking times were 40 and 62 min for Padi-Tuya and Wang Kae, respectively. The water and oil absorption capacities, as well as the swelling indices, were similar, but their emulsion capacities and stabilities were significantly different (p&lt;0.05) for the flour. Padi-Tuya had a higher foam capacity, but was less stable, than Wang Kae. The physico-mechanical properties determined would aid in the design of cleaning, handling and other processing machinery as well as storage facilities for the new cowpeas. The functional and the compositional parameters would assist in the food formulations