Availability of ICT Facilities and Utilization for Research Output in Ghanaian Academic Libraries: The Case of University for Development Studies Library Systems

The dynamic nature of information use has called for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in entirely every field of the human venture, and information services and academic libraries are not an exception. The adoption of ICT based services has provided the platform where universities can source and access information easily. Though some studies on ICT availability and utilization have been conducted in the developed world, few studies on ICT services availability and utilization exist in Ghana, especially in the University for Development Studies (UDS). Underpinned by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study employed mixed research design to gather data from 300 library users, librarians, and library officers in the UDS. The findings revealed that four major ICT services (Wi-Fi, internet technology, digital library resources, and online public access catalog) are available across the five campuses’ libraries of the University for Development Studies, Ghana. The findings also revealed that less available facilities/services in the UDS libraries are the E-mail facilities and the CD-ROM technology facilities while laptops and iPads were non-available for library users to independently search for information in the absence of their personal laptops. Despite the perceived availability of library facilities and services, the usage of library services and facilities among library users in the UDS is generally modest. The increasing availability of ICT facilities and services has facilitated communication between libraries and among library users. As recommendations, the provision of ICTs facilities and services in university libraries must be accompanied by in-services training

An Analysis of the Correlation Between Academic Library Use and Student’s Academic Performance: A Case Study of UDS -Wa Campus

The University for Development Studies (UDS) was established in May 1992 by the Government of Ghana to “blend the academic world with that of the community in order to provide constructive interaction between the two for the total development of Northern Ghana, in particular, and the country as  a whole” (PNDC Law 279, Section 279). The UDS Library complex provides information and bibliographic support for the four campuses (Nyankpala, Wa, Navrongo, Tamale) and the Graduate School. The collection of the Wa Campus Library has been split into two: one at Kambali, and the other at Bamahu. The Input-Environment-Output (I-E-O) model was adapted to explain relationships between students’ development and students’ input and learning environments. This study discusses the impact library usage has on academic achievement and performance of students. Usage statistics were gathered at the Wa campus library (Bamahu and Kambali). The results showed that students who use the library have a higher CGPA and higher academic performance than non-library users. The findings reveals that students’ use of the library is statistically significant to student grade point average (CGPA), and that access to electronic resources will be the most beneficial resource students should have in order to attain excellent academic performance and development. Keywords: Library use, Academic achievements, students’ performance, UDS-Wa campus, Ghana

Pregnant Women's experiences of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in Ghana

Background & aim: Most of the maternal mortalities are preventable when safe maternal healthcare practices adhere to antenatal care. Lack of birth and emergency preparedness is one of several factors contributing to maternal mortalities. Adequate birth preparedness (BP), as well as emergency, and complication readiness (CR) planning can determine the survival rate of a pregnant woman and her unborn neonate. The present study aimed to describe the experiences of pregnant women at Jachie Health Center regarding BP and CR. Methods: In this qualitative study, a phenomenological approach was used for data collection. In-depth interviewing was conducted with a total of 15 pregnant women from Jachie Health Center. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, reviewed several times, and thematic analysis was performed. NVivo software (version 11) was utilized to manage the data and help with thematic analysis. Results: The pregnant women practiced preparations towards the place of delivery, support person, layette, and warning signs of pregnancy. The majority of the cases were not aware of obligatory preparations in terms of transportation and the need for emergency compatible blood donor prior to delivery. Most of the respondents were not sufficiently prepared for delivery due to poverty and low educational status. Conclusion: The role of community members could include the instruction of pregnant women to attend antenatal clinic to receive education regarding birth preparedness and complications readiness. The district health directorate and public health nurses should train community leaders for the benefits of birth preparedness and complications readiness

Availability and utilization of feed resources in small ruminant production among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana

An evaluation of feed resource availability, utilization and options for improving efficiency of use was investigated in 2 Surveys and 3 Experiments. The first Survey was an assessment of existing feed resources in a crop-livestock production system for identification of critical seasonal shortages. Focus group discussions involving 150 crop – livestock farmers (108 men 42 women) and individual interviews with semi-structured questionnaires were used in collection of data. The results showed that existing feed resources were natural pasture, crop residues, and agro-industrial by-products. However, few farmers (18%) had stands of browse plants like Leucaena leucocephala, Cajanus cajan and Gliricidia sepium. Grazing of natural pasture provided 80% of annual DM requirement of ruminants and 20% supplemented by farmers with collected natural fodder, crop residues and purchased feed. Feed availability was highest between August and November; and a shortage gap occurred in the dry season which became critical between February and April. The second Survey involved an assessment of emerging feed markets in northern Ghana to determine the types and prices of feedstuffs sold. Data were collected from feed markets in Wa, Bolgatanga and Tamale in Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions respectively. A total of 170 respondents were interviewed for this study. Four categories of feedstuffs: crop residues, agro-industrial by-products (AIBPs), fresh grasses and leaves of local browse plants were found in all the three feed markets surveyed. Price of cowpea haulm was highest (P0.05) by supplementation. Season however, affected (P<0.05) faecal output. Nitrogen (N) intake was affected (P<0.05) by concentrate supplementation. The highest N intake was observed during early wet season (14 g/d) and the lowest in the late dry season (7 g/d). Highest N voiding was found in early wet season (6 g/d) and lowest in late dry season (4 g/d). Average daily gain of 34 g/d was observed in animals on concentrate supplementation plus health care and was higher (P<0.05) than 18 g/d in control group. The N content of faeces was higher in early dry and early wet seasons than in other seasons. Thus faeces could be collected as manure for improving poor soils. Due to the cost of concentrate feed, Experiment III was conducted to further investigate the growth performance of Djallonkè sheep on agro-residues supplementation that require minimal cost. The treatments were non-supplementation (T0), supplementation with sole groundnut haulm (T1), sole maize bran (T2) and combination of T1 and T2 in a ratio of 2:1. These 4 treatments were replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design. The supplementation affected (P<0.05) average daily gain of the animals. The Average daily gains of the various treatments were 21, 32, 31 and 46 g/d for T0, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Therefore combined supplementation of crop residues and AIBPs improved the performance of sheep

The use of emergency contraception among female senior high students in the Ho municipality of the Volta Region, Ghana

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) is one option for preventing unplanned pregnancy when it is available and properly used. Unsafe abortions are responsible for nearly one third of maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa and about quarter of unsafe abortions are among teenagers.Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a pretested questionnaire. 260 senior high students were selected using a systematic sampling method in the Volta Region, Ghana. Data were cleaned and entered into SPSS version 22 and analysed into descriptive statistics.Results: Respondents acquired awareness about EC from friends (36.9%), family members (5.6%) and the mass media (41.6%). The required time for EC to be taken were stated as immediately after sex (57.9%), 24 hours after sex (1.2%) and (30.6%) did not know. 28.4% of participants indicated they would not use EC in the future as their faith was against it, 18.0% believed EC is ineffective and 24.9% consider it dangerous to their health. Reasons for use of EC included condom slipped (35.7%), inability to be on daily pill (33.7%), forced unprotected sex (8.2%) and miscalculation of the safe menstrual period (22.4%). There was a significant relationship between age and history of use of EC (p=0.000, c2=8.128, n=260).Conclusions: Strengthening education in Senior High Schools on sexual and reproductive health, with special emphasis on emergency contraceptives as a pregnancy preventive procedure will remain imperative to reducing the canker of maternal mortality attributed to adolescent abortions while improving understanding of the appropriate use of EC

Drying and ensiling on nutritive value of groundnut haulms

United States Agency for International Developmen

Improved forage cultivation for increased in fodder availability and climate change mitigation in the Savanna agro-ecological zone of northern Ghana

The study was conducted to investigate the biomass yield and quality of two forage species Brachiaria ruziziensis (B. ruziziensis) and Sorghum almum (S. almum) in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in two different locations (Bihinayili in the Savelugu District and Zanlerigu in the Nabdam District) in the Savanna agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Agronomic data were collected and representative samples of forage biomass taken at 60 days after planting to estimate dry matter yield and nutritive quality. The two-way interaction effect of forage species and experimental site was not significant for both agronomic and chemical parameters except for tiller number. The average leaf size was broader (P=0.006) in S. almum (299.0 cm2) than B. ruziziensis (85.0 cm2). Number of leaves per plant was higher (P=0.016) in B. ruziziensis (10.75). Number of tillers per plant in B. ruziziensis (9.62) was higher (P=0.001) than S. almum (2.88). Plant height was however, higher in S. almum (183.1 cm) than B. ruziziensis (90.1 cm). Dry matter yield of forages at 60 days after planting was higher (P&lt;0.001) at Bihinayili (8.49 tons/ha) than that at Zanlerigu (2.23 tons/ha). The CP content of the forages at Bihinayili (89.7 g/kg DM) was also higher (P=0.018) than that at Zanlerigu (68.6 g/kg DM). Dry matter yield of B. ruziziensis (4.84 tons/ha) did not differ significantly from that of S. almum (5.88 tons/ha). In conclusion, B. ruziziensis and S. almum performed well within the Savanna agroecological zone and could enhance fodder supply and carbon sequestration

The Role of Mass Communication in Ghana’s Rural Development: A Case Study of Wa West District

Broadcasters cover diverse issues and events and report them in mass media without any scruple and scarcely factual. Despite the overhyped impartiality and self-acclaimed devotion to justices, a case can be made that Ghana mass media has over the years, solely neglected the rural areas. This  research used both qualitative and quantitative data  based on some programme analysis. Study data for this research work was collected through first hand details of information. The study selected one district from the Upper West Region and 3 communities from the selected district (Wa West district). The communities include Siriyiri, Dorimo and Ballefia. The research findings suggest that, rural broadcasting in the Ghana mass media is still below appreciable standard to enable us position an assertion that, rural broadcasting plays any worthwhile role in rural development in Ghana. This is due to the imbalance in information flow (urban to rural) which has no useful value; rather it exacerbates the disparity between urban and rural populace and advance rural-urban drift, thus deteriorating the current unemployment situation in Ghana. Keywords; mass communication, rural development, development broadcasting, Ghana

The Role of Mass Communication in Ghana’s Rural Development: A Case Study of Wa West District

Broadcasters cover diverse issues and events and report them in mass media without any scruple and scarcely factual. Despite the overhyped impartiality and self-acclaimed devotion to justices, a case can be made that Ghana mass media has over the years, solely neglected the rural areas. This research used both qualitative and quantitative data based on some programme analysis. Study data for this research work was collected through first hand details of information. The study selected one district from the Upper West Region and 3 communities from the selected district (Wa West district). The communities include Siriyiri, Dorimo and Ballefia. The research findings suggest that, rural broadcasting in the Ghana mass media is still below appreciable standard to enable us position an assertion that, rural broadcasting plays any worthwhile role in rural development in Ghana. This is due to the imbalance in information flow (urban to rural) which has no useful value; rather it exacerbates the disparity between urban and rural populace and advance rural-urban drift, thus deteriorating the current unemployment situation in Ghana. Keywords: mass communication, rural development, development broadcasting, Ghana