Financing A Tertiary Level Health Facility In Kumasi - Ghana

The researchers sought to study the revenue and expenditure policy in the health sector. The study was conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Health institutions are financed through either private expenditure or public expenditure. Non-probability sampling technique was used in order to achieve the objectives set for the research. And also, financial statements of the hospital for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 were used. The study revealed that the main sources of funding for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital were from the Internally Generated Funds (IGF), Government of Ghana subventions (GoG) and the Donor Pool Fund (DPF). With regards to percentage contribution to revenue in terms of cash IGF, DPF and GoG contributes 88%, 3.35% and 8.97% respectively to the total cash revenue of the health sector. Thus, IGF is the main source of funding in the health sector with very little contributions from the other sources. Expenditure items in the health sector are broadly categorized into four categories namely; personnel emolument, administration, service delivery and investment. The analyses of these expenditure items revealed that expenditure on service delivery (service and drugs) constitute the biggest expenditure item. This was followed by personnel emoluments, administration and investment respectively. Since IGF is now the most reliable source of revenue in the health sector, policies, strategies and controls must be put in place in order to enhance revenue mobilization in the health sector. KEY WORDS: Financing; Healthcare; Expenditure

Measuring the Performance of Automobile Services Sector in Ghana: A Pricing Orientation Approach

This study examines the role of pricing orientation in firm performance – focusing on specific components such as value-oriented pricing, costoriented pricing, competition- oriented pricing, demand-oriented pricing and customer oriented pricing. The study sample comprised of Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) automobile services firms in Ghana. 498 firms participated in the study. A hierarchical regression was conducted to estimate the paths between pricing orientation and firm performance. All the pricing orientation components; value, cost, competition, demand, and customer oriented prices were found to have positively and statistically significant effects on the outcome of the firm performance. Some limitations of the study were identified, and areas for future studies have been duly provided to aid the continuous research into the operations of SMEs automobile services industry

Customer Perceived Risks and the Choice of Mobile Phone Brand in Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to develop, measure and empirically validate the contribution of performance risk, social risk, financial risk and psychological risk to the customer choice of mobile phone. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 267 mobile phone users applying the convenience sampling method. The study finds that performance risk, social risk, financial risk, and psychological risk relate to customer choice. Further study results demonstrate that all the predictor variables after controlling for experience and means of acquisition are statistically significant in predicting customer choice of mobile phone brand. However, performance risk showed the highest effects on customer choice. The study contributes to the development of a multi-dimensional scale for customer perceived risk and choice of mobile phone in the Ghanaian context. The study provides firms in the mobile phone industry with a deeper understanding of how the performance, financial, social and psychological factors are relevant in the development of marketing programmes in the mobile phone industry

Strategic planning and performance of SMEs in Ghana: The moderating effect of market dynamism

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the interacting effect of market dynamism and strategic planning on the performance of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach - This study has used quantitative approach in dealing with the interacting effect of market dynamic on strategic planning and SMEs’ performance in Ghana. Purposive sampling is used to select 200 small- and medium-sized manufacturing and service firms in Ghana. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis is performed to test the hypotheses. Findings - This study finds that a consistent application of strategic planning methodologies contributes to the advancement of SME performance in Ghana. In addition, it was ascertained that market dynamism has a significant positive relationship with firm performance, although its effect is not significant. Finally, the study reveals that market dynamism only influences SME performance when there is strategic planning. Research limitations/implications - The findings are limited to the SMEs in Ghana. The study of market dynamism, strategic planning and performance is a very complex activity; therefore, to gather rich data on such research work may be best accomplished if the researchers adopt mixed method data gathering techniques. This will enrich the understanding on market dynamism, strategic planning and SMEs’ performance relationship. Practical implications - The findings of this research work offer guidance to owners or managers considering how to develop market dynamics and strategic planning to enhance firm performance. Originality/value - This study reports on an obvious gap in the prevailing literature that few empirical research works have explored on the possible impacts of market dynamism and strategic planning on performance of SMEs in a third world country

Consumer Choice Analysis of Imported and Locally Produced Chicken Products: Evidence from Ghana.

An understanding of why a person makes purchasing is very important in the marketing process of those consumers located at Kumasi metropolis. The paper investigated into consumer choice analysis of imported and locally produced chicken in Kumasi metropolis. Of which convenience sampling was used to select the sample size of three hundred and fifty (350) respondents to answer the questionnaires. The study revealed that influence of price on purchasing decision was high. Also issues of   quality had poor influence in the purchasing decision of chicken products thus accounting for the higher rate of neutrality of respondents view in that regard. In addition, the study showed that participants responded to all the elements on the influence of quality on the demand for chicken products in the Kumasi metropolis, as well as influence of quantity on the demand and purchase for chicken products. The recommendations are based on the weaknesses identified in the study:  effect of price, quality and quantity. It is believed that the recommendations such as ensuring effective competitive price for locally produced chicken by providing adequate and readily funding for farmers. Also, improving the packaging of the locally produce chicken to be at par with an international standard. These will help to improve the bottlenecks associated with the production of locally produced chicken. Key words: Consumer; Purchasing; Behaviour; Decision makin

Innovative capability, strategic goals and financial performance of SMEs in Ghana

Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the moderating role of innovation capability and strategic goals in the financial performance of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach - Innovative capabilities and strategic goals in SMEs and their influence on financial performance were recognized and briefly debated according to the existing literature. Hypotheses were tested on research data on 340 SMEs in Ghana, which were conveniently selected. Finally, quantitative analysis was done, followed by a discussion of the research findings. Findings - Results from the study have proved that strategic goals have a strong positive relationship with financial performance. Also, there is a strong, positive and highly significant impact innovative capacity has on financial performance. Finally, the study found that innovative capability moderates the relationship between strategic goals and financial performance. It showed that at high levels of innovative capacity, high levels of strategic goals boost financial performance massively. Research limitations/implications - The findings are limited to SMEs in Ghana. Researchers should study why SMEs may not pursue any innovation capability activities as they have positive impact on their financial performance. They may also focus on strategic goals and financial performance. Practical implications - The study shows a necessity for longer-term innovation perspectives and a higher level of the importance of the application and assessment of strategic goals. Business owners and caretakers need greater awareness about the importance of innovation capability and strategic goals and their influence on the overall financial performance of SMEs. This will help them to adopt right innovate procedures for their businesses. Originality/value - One of few research works to examine innovation capability and strategic goals on the financial performance of SMEs in a developing country

Psychological health in preschool children with underweight, overweight or obesity: a regional cohort study

Objective To examine if underweight (UW), overweight (OW) or obesity (OB), or body mass index (BMI) expressed as its SD score (BMI SDS), were associated with psychological difficulties in preschool children. Design Regional cohort study. Setting Oppland County, Norway. Methods At the routine school entry health assessment at 5–6 years of age, parents were invited to participate by local public health nurses. The parents completed questionnaires on sociodemographic, health and lifestyle factors of the child and the family, and on the child’s neurocognitive development. They assessed psychological health with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Public health nurses measured weight and height on all eligible children and reported age, sex, height and weight anonymously for the children who declined to participate. Participants We obtained information on 1088 of 1895 (57%) eligible children. The proportion of UW, OW and OB was slightly higher among the children who declined. Main outcome measures SDQ subscale and Total Difficulties Scores. Results The mean SDQ scores and proportion of scores ≥the 90th percentile had a curvilinear pattern from UW through normal weight (NW), OW and OB with NW as nadir, but the pattern was only significant for the mean Emotional problems, Peer problems and Total SDQ Scales, and for the Total SDQ Score ≥the 90th percentile (TDS90). After adjusting for relevant social, developmental, health and behavioural characteristics, TDS90 was only significantly associated with UW in multiple logistic regression analyses, and only with the lowest quartile of BMI SDS in a linear spline regression analysis. Conclusions The study suggests that UW and low BMI, but not OW, OB or higher BMI, are independent risk factors for having psychological symptoms in preschool children.publishedVersio

Antimalarial Drugs in Ghana: A Case Study on Personal Preferences

Malaria is a serious infection affecting millions of people in Africa. Our study investigated the personal preferences and applications of antimalarial medicines in Ghana. Based on over 1000 questionnaires distributed in Ghana from January to May 2019, we noticed that although Western medications to fight this disease are widely available, most patients in Ghana prefer treatment with locally produced herbal remedies. This preference appears to be due to a combination of traditional venues for obtaining medicines “on the street” rather than in licensed pharmacies, trust in local and “green” products, extensive advertisement of such local products, and an inherent distrust of imported and synthetic or orthodox medicines. Going local and natural is a trend also observed in other countries across the globe and adds to the acceptance or rejection of drugs regardless of their activity or toxicity. In fact, adverse side effects associated with herbal remedies, such as general weakness, swelling and sore mouth, do not seem to deter the respondents of this study in Ghana. We propose a combination of (a) increasing public awareness of the benefits of modern medicine and (b) an improvement and control of the quality of herbal remedies to raise the standard for the treatment of malaria in countries such as Ghana

Risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis: a clinic-based case control study in The Gambia

BACKGROUND: The tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Africa is on the rise, even in low-HIV prevalence settings. Few studies have attempted to identify possible reasons for this. We aimed to identify risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis in those attending a general outpatients clinic in The Gambia, a sub-Saharan African country with relatively low HIV prevalence in the community and in TB patients. METHODS: We conducted a case control study at the Medical Research Council Outpatients' clinic in The Gambia. Pulmonary TB cases were at least 15 years old, controls were age and sex matched clinic attendees. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: 100 sputum smear positive TB cases and 200 clinic controls were recruited. HIV prevalence was 6.1% in cases and 3.3% in controls. Multivariable assessment of host factors showed that risk of TB was increased among the Jola ethnic group and smokers, and decreased in those in a professional occupation. Assessment of environmental factors showed an increased risk with household crowding, history of household exposure to a known TB case, and absence of a ceiling in the house. In a combined multivariable host-environment model, the risk of TB increased with crowding, exposure to a known TB case, as well as amongst the Jola ethnic group. CONCLUSION: In The Gambia, household crowding and past household exposure to a known TB case are the standout risk factors for TB disease. Further research is needed to identify why risk of TB seems to differ according to ethnicity

No significant associations between breastfeeding practices and overweight in 8-year-old children

AIM: The aim was to examine if breastfeeding practices were associated with body mass index (BMI) and risk of overweight or obesity in third grade (8 years) of elementary school. METHODS: In a regional cohort, we related BMI z-scores and presence of overweight or obesity at 8 years of age with ever being breastfed and with duration of exclusive and partial breastfeeding after adjusting for potential confounders. Parents completed questionnaires on breastfeeding and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors at school entry, and public health nurses measured height and weight. For non-participants, the nurses anonymously reported these measurements together with sex and age. RESULTS: 90% of participants had been breastfed. In adjusted analyses, BMI z-scores were not significantly related to whether or not the child had been breastfed (P = .64), or to the duration of exclusive (P = .80) or partial breastfeeding (P = .94). Logistic regression also showed no significant association between breastfeeding measures and overweight or obesity. CONCLUSION: This study on 8-year-old Norwegian children did not support a commonly held notion that breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight or obesity.This study was supported by unrestricted grants from the Innlandet Hospital Trust. The funding source did not play any role in the design and implementation of the study; collection, management, analysis or interpretation of the data and preparation, review or approval of the manuscript.publishedVersio