Quantification of surface and groundwater resources in the Anyari watershed of the Upper East Region in Ghana

United States Agency for International Developmen

Filial factors of kwashiorkor survival in urban Ghana: Rediscovering the roles of the extended family

This paper discusses the findings of two field studies in urban Accra, Ghana that investigated the social and familial factors that were associated with survival of childhood kwashiorkor, a protein-caloric deficiency form of malnutrition that is endemic in that nation. Data was collected from qualitative interviews with family groups that included teenaged survivors of kwashiorkor, and the adults who were involved in the young person’s childhood rearing, including those who were  responsible for compliance with the Ghana Ministry of Health malnutrition  rehabilitation effort. Extensive interviews were documented in audio and video tape and field notes by a team that included the fields of social work, public health, nursing and sociology. All members of the participating families who were involved in the data collection were offered compensation for their time as well as full protection of privacy through the human subjects informed consent protocol and oversight of the University of Ghana, Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University. The findings included reporting of a consistently critical role of the grandmothers and other senior women in the family units. The senior women either managed the economics and maintenance of the extended household, or took  principal responsibility for sustaining the malnourished children’s participation in rehabilitation efforts. In some cases, the mothers were deceased and two or more senior women in the family carried out roles of parenting as well as familial  economic support and coordination of care for the afflicted child. The findings  suggest that full compliance with rehabilitation efforts for a single mother with multiple children and no extended familial support system would be very difficult and more likely to result in non-compliance and failure of the child to survive.   Suggestions are offered for family oriented, community health education regarding the irony of this form of malnutrition being endemic in communities that do not lack appropriate food. Implications for increased recognition and support for the elderly and senior family members to enhance child survival are discussed within the  context of changing social and epidemiological profiles of urban centers in Ghana and elsewhere among developing nations of sub- Saharan Africa.Keywords: Kwashiorkor, Malnutrition, Rehabilitation compliance, Grandmothers, Endemic malnutritio

Water availability for dry season irrigation in the Anayari watershed in Ghana

United States Agency for International Developmen

Pre-Hospital and Trauma Care to Road Traffic Accident Victims: Experiences of Residents Living along Accident-Prone Highways in Ghana

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) and associated injuries are a major public health problem in developing countries. The timely emergency pre-hospital care and subsequent transportation of accident victims to the health facility may help reduce the accident and injury outcomes. Available evidence suggests that RTA victims stand a greater chance of survival if attended to and cared for in a timely manner. This exploratory qualitative study set out to explore the experiences of residents of 12 communities along the Kasoa-Mankessim highway in Ghana (an accident-prone highway) in administering emergency pre-hospital care to RTA victims. We utilised data from a purposive sample of 80 respondents (i.e., people who have ever attended to RTA victims) from the communities through structured interview schedules. We found that the majority of the respondents had little knowledge and/or professional training in first-aid and emergency pre-hospital care to RTA victims. The skills and knowledge exhibited were gained through years of rescue services to RTA victims. The “scoop and run” method of first-aid care was predominant among the respondents. We recommend regular community member (layperson first responder) sensitisation and training on emergency pre-hospital care for RTA victims

Gendered perceptions and adaptation practices of smallholder cocoa farmers to climate variability in the Central Region of Ghana

Understanding gendered adaptation practices among smallholder cocoa farmers is crucial to ensuring sustainable cocoa production in Ghana. This study examined the gendered perceptions and adaptation practices of smallholder cocoa farmers to climate variability in three selected communities (Breman Ayipey, Breman Baako and Breman Kuntanase) in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of the Central Region, Ghana. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach including household surveys and focus group discussions with 10 participants in each community. Mann-Kendall trend test was used to determine the rainfall and temperature changes in the study district from 2000 to 2015. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between male and female farmers’ perceptions of climate variability (p > 0.05). Both male and female farmers perceived an increasing temperature, rainfall, windstorms and flooding for the past 15 years. The Mann-Kendall trend test showed that annual rainfall and temperature had increased over the study period although the trends were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Both male and female farmers had resorted to the use of different adaptation practices to reduce the threats of climate variability. There was a substantial difference between adaptation practices used by male and female farmers such as changing planting dates, use of drought tolerant hybrids, shade management, livestock rearing and income from sale of properties (p < 0.05). The study recommends policy formulations that incorporate gender perspectives into climate change adaptation practices among smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana

Using traditional agroecological knowledge to adapt to climate change and variability in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Ghana's susceptibility to climate change is well documented and the agricultural sector which is the backbone of the country's economy is one of the most vulnerable sectors to the adverse effects of climate change. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods including household surveys and focus group discussions to examine the extent to which traditional agroecological knowledge is used to manage climate change in three selected communities (Gia, Gaani and Nyangua) of the Kassena Nankana Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study specifically answers the following research questions: (i) What is the extent of rainfall and temperature changes in the municipality from 1983–2017? (ii) What is the perception of farmers on rainfall and temperature changes in the selected communities for the past three decades? (iii) What are the key adaptation practices used by farmers to reduce the threats of climate change? (iv) What are the traditional agroecological indicators used by farmers to predict rainfall in the study communities? Mann-Kendall trend test was used to assess rainfall and temperature trends over the study period. Results from the trend analysis indicated an inconsistent pattern in rainfall and an increasing trend in temperature in the municipality. Results also showed that farmers perceived decreasing trend in rainfall as well as increasing temperature. Farmers’ perception of decreased trend in rainfall was inconsistent with the analysed rainfall data as the trend of rainfall was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) and Sen's slope confirmed a positive slope indicating that amounts of rainfall had increased in the municipality. The farmers employed a variety of on-farm and off-farm practices including the use of traditional agroecological knowledge, use of improved varieties of crops and temporary migration to adapt to the impacts of climate change in the study communities. The farmers predicted rainfall onset using a variety of traditional agroecological indicators including direction of wind, croaking of frogs, appearance of cattle egret and flowering and fruiting of local trees. The study recommends the putting in place of a framework that blends traditional agroecological knowledge and scientific knowledge to develop effective climate change adaptation strategies

Environmental and socio-economic characteristics of the Kpene catchment in Northern Ghana: implications for soil and water conservation

Abstract: A detailed agro-ecosystem characterization was carried out in the Kpene catchment of the Jolo-Kwaha watershed in Northern Ghana at a scale of 1:5000. The objective was to examine the environmental and socio-economic characteristics of the Kpene area and identify the constraints on sustainable agricultural production, especially soil and water management. Environmental data, particularly land use and soil types were obtained through transect surveys while socio-economic data through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques. The area falls within the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana with a unimodal rainfall regime. With a Land Use Ratio (LUR) of almost 100%, land use is very intense and fallow is almost non-existent the farming system. The uplands have mainly deep, well -drained and nonconcretionary Lixisols, and the lowlands, deep and imperfectly to poorly drained Planosols and Gleysols. The Kpene community has an average of 40 persons per household, with majority (45%) being between 15-45 years of age. The major occupation is farming with land ownership being entirely through inheritance. Major crops grown are maize, yam, rice and groundnuts. In soil fertility management, 70% apply mineral fertilisers, especially to rice. Some constraints on agricultural production are erratic and unreliable rainfall, low soil fertility and poor water management. Levelling for proper water conservation in the valley bottoms and water harvesting can enhance agricultural production