Soluble fluoride levels in drinking water-a major risk factor of dental fluorosis among children in Bongo community of Ghana

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between fluoride ions in drinking water and the incidence of dental fluorosis in some endemic areas of Bongo District, Ghana.Method: Two hundred children were randomly selected from various homes and taken through a questionnaire. Their teeth were examined for thedetection of dental fluorosis using the Dean’s specific index. Samples of their permanent sources of water were taken for the determination of soluble fluoride levels by SPADNS spectrophotometric method.Results: The study revealed that the incidence of dental fluorosis among the children in the main Bongo township was 63.0%, whereas villages  outside the township recorded less than 10.0%. The respondents from the various communities had similar age group, educational background, sources of drinking water, oral hygiene habits and usage of oral health products, p-value > 0.05. However, there were statistically significant differences in the cases of dental fluorosis and fluoride ions among the communities, p-value <0.05. The fluoride ion concentration in the Bongotownship was above the WHO requirement of 1.50 ppm, whereas the nearby villages showed acceptable fluoride levels. Statistically, there was no significant relationship between the presence of dental fluorosisand the other characteristics, except the age group and fluoride ion concentration of the area.Conclusion: These findings strongly support the association between the dental fluorosis and the high fluoride levels in the underground water of Bongo community. Therefore, policy makers need to consider an alternative source of drinking water for the area.Keywords: Fluorosis, Fluoride, Drinking water, Risk factor, Childre

Profitability of bioethanol production using cassava (Manihot esculantus Crantz) and sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) as raw material

Ethanol imports into developing countries such as Ghana over the past decade have been on the increase. Corn, sugarcane and wheat are major crops that are normally used globally to produce bioethanol. The use of cassava and sweet potato as raw materials for ethanol production has also been demonstrated. Cassava and sweet potato, which grow excellently in Sub-Saharan Africa, could therefore be used as excellent and readily available local raw material for ethanol production to replace the seventy (70) million litres and more of ethanol imported into Ghana in 2016 for various uses. The search for the optimum processing conditions to hydrolyse and ferment sugars from the starches in cassava and sweet potato had been the major focus of all the studies in the past. The price of ethanol produced with cassava and sweet potato compared to the price of ethanol produced with other feedstock in the global market would largely determine the competitiveness and sustainability of producing ethanol with cassava and sweet potato. The objective of this work is to evaluate the cost benefits of ethanol production using cassava and sweet potato as raw materials. Sika bankye (cassava variety) and Apomuden (sweet potato variety) were cultivated and harvested at ten (10) months and three (3) months maturity respectively for the study. Liquefaction, saccharification and fermentation of the cassava and sweet potato varieties to produce ethanol were carried out with Liquozyme SC DS, combination of Spirizyme Fuel and Viscozyme L and Bio-Ferm XR (Lallemand) yeast, respectively. The study indicates that the production of ethanol with a 1:1 mixture of cassava and sweet potato using a 10,000 litres per day capacity ethanol distilling plant generates a net profit of between 9% and 30% over a period of five years. The findings indicate that ethanol production with cassava and sweet potato is a profitable venture

Investigating the Willingness to Pay for a Contributory National Health Insurance Scheme in Saudi Arabia:A Cross-sectional Stated Preference Approach

Background: The Saudi Healthcare System is universal, financed entirely from government revenue principally derived from oil, and is ‘free at the point of delivery’ (non-contributory). However, this system is unlikely to be sustainable in the medium to long term. This study investigates the feasibility and acceptability of healthcare financing reform by examining households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a contributory national health insurance scheme. Methods: Using the contingent valuation method, a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 1187 heads of household in Jeddah province over a 5-month period. Multi-stage sampling was employed to select the study sample. Using a double-bounded dichotomous choice with the follow-up elicitation method, respondents were asked to state their WTP for a hypothetical contributory national health insurance scheme. Tobit regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with WTP and assess the construct validity of elicited WTP. Results: Over two-thirds (69.6%) indicated that they were willing to participate in and pay for a contributory national health insurance scheme. The mean WTP was 50 Saudi Riyal (US$13.33) per household member per month. Tobit regression analysis showed that household size, satisfaction with the quality of public healthcare services, perceptions about financing healthcare, education and income were the main determinants of WTP. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a theoretically valid WTP for a contributory national health insurance scheme by Saudi people. The research shows that willingness to participate in and pay for a contributory national health insurance scheme depends on participant characteristics. Identifying and understanding the main influencing factors associated with WTP are important to help facilitate establishing and implementing the national health insurance scheme. The results could assist policy-makers to develop and set insurance premiums, thus providing an additional source of healthcare financing

Profit Efficiency of Ghana's Maize Farmers

The study analysed the factors influencing profit and its efficiency for smallholder maize farmers in Ghana. The data used was collected from 576 maize farmers in Ghana s four main agro ecological zones using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the stochastic frontier translog profit function were the methods of analysis employed. The results showed that generally, an increase in the prices of fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, seed and labour decreased the profitability of maize production in Ghana. Also, an increase in farm size by Ghanaian maize farmers decreased their profit levels. Furthermore, the maize farmers were found to be seriously profit inefficient as the mean profit efficiency was 48.4%. Maize farmers in the transitional zone of the country were also found to be more efficient in their profit levels than those in other zones. Finally, male gender, formal education, extension contact, access to good roads and credit as well as uses of fertilizer, pesticides and improved seeds were found to be positively related to profit efficiency of the farmers. Recommendations aimed at improving profit efficiency of maize farmers are suggested. Acknowledgement : We are especially indebted to the staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the West Mamprusi, East Gonja, Nkoranza, Ejura Sekyedumase, Fanteakwa, Sekyere South, Gomoa and Ketu districts/municipalities of Ghana for the information they provided about the maize crop and also assisting in the data collection. We are also grateful to the respondent maize farmers in the aforementioned districts/municipalities without whose co-operation the study could not have taken place

Factors Affecting Loan Repayment Performance Among Yam Farmers in the Sene District, Ghana

The study analyzed the factors that are critical in improving loan repayment by yam farmers in the Sene district of Ghana. Random sampling technique was used to select 100 respondents in the district and structured questionnaire was administered to collect data. Descriptive statistics and the probit model were employed. The results show that 42% of yam farmers in Sene district are illiterates. More males (93%) are involved in yam farming than females (7%) and most of the farmers are married (91%). Also most of the yam farmers in the district have a family size of 6-10 households (66%) and 54% of them have 1-10 years of yam farming experience. Also, the results show that education, experience, profit, age, supervision and off-farm income have positive effects on loan repayment performance. Conversely, gender and marriage have negative effects on loan repayment while the effect of household size was found to be ambiguous

Profitability of bioethanol production using cassava (Manihot esculantus crantz) and sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) as raw material

Ethanol imports into developing countries such as Ghana over the past decade have been on the increase. Corn, sugarcane and wheat are major crops that are normally used globally to produce bioethanol. The use of cassava and sweet potato as raw materials for ethanol production has also been demonstrated. Cassava and sweet potato, which grow excellently in Sub-Saharan Africa, could therefore be used as excellent and readily available local raw material for ethanol production to replace the seventy (70) million litres and more of ethanol imported into Ghana in 2016 for various uses. The search for the optimum processing conditions to hydrolyse and ferment sugars from the starches in cassava and sweet potato had been the major focus of all the studies in the past. The price of ethanol produced with cassava and sweet potato compared to the price of ethanol produced with other feedstock in the global market would largely determine the competitiveness and sustainability of producing ethanol with cassava and sweet potato. The objective of this work is to evaluate the cost benefits of ethanol production using cassava and sweet potato as raw materials. Sika bankye (cassava variety) and Apomuden (sweet potato variety) were cultivated and harvested at ten (10) months and three (3) months maturity respectively for the study. Liquefaction, saccharification and fermentation of the cassava and sweet potato varieties to produce ethanol were carried out with Liquozyme SC DS, combination of Spirizyme Fuel and Viscozyme L and Bio-Ferm XR (Lallemand) yeast, respectively. The study indicates that the production of ethanol with a 1:1 mixture of cassava and sweet potato using a 10,000 litres per day capacity ethanol distilling plant generates a net profit of between 9% and 30% over a period of five years. The findings indicate that ethanol production with cassava and sweet potato is a profitable venture