Mixed methods study into social impacts of work-related heat stress on Ghanaian mining workers: A pragmatic research approach

Although mixed methods research proves significant in understanding complex social phenomenon, inadequate research has explored its utility in heat exposure studies. The convergent mixed methods analysis comprising 320 surveys and two focus group interviews were used to evaluate the social impacts of occupational heat stress on Ghanaian mineworkers to enlighten policy choices for the purpose of complementarity. The study contributes to mixed methods study by affirming the practical use of between-method triangulation and complementarity. The merged quantitative and qualitative results also showed adequate corroboration and complementarity between both data, to illustrate the social impacts of work-related heat stress on mining workers as heat-related comorbidity, productive capacity loss, anxiety, slow pace of work, and inadequate social well-being. The mixed methods results would inform policy options on the health and safety of work settings, managing occupational heat stress, and adaptation guidelines in the mining industry

Social impacts of climate change and occupational heat stress and adaptation strategies of mining workers in Ghana

Excessive heat exposure due to rising temperatures associated with climate change adversely affects workers’ health, safety, productivity, and psychosocial well-being in occupational settings. In the hot and tropical regions of developing countries, long hours of physically demanding work, coupled with inadequate adaptation policies to climate change, increases the occurrence of heat-related illnesses and injuries, and contributes to the loss of productive capacity, poor decision making, and other negative effects on the social well-being of workers. Based on the theories of social impact assessment, risk assessment, adaptation and resilience planning, this study assesses the social impacts of climate change and occupational heat stress and adaptation strategies of mining workers in Ghana, and thus fills a significant gap in the existing literature. Guided by the pragmatists’ research philosophical paradigm, this study adopted the convergent mixed methods approach by utilising data obtained from four temperature and humidity data loggers, 346 surveys of mining workers, two focus groups and three in-depth interviews. The quantitative data was processed with Microsoft Excel 2016, XLSTAT 2019, and analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 25 while the qualitative data was processed utilising NVivo version 11 and thematically analysed. The findings suggest that the use of convergent mixed methods showed adequate corroboration and complementarity between the qualitative and quantitative data and helped to obtain credible data relevant for policy decisions on heat stress management, workplace health and safety, and adaptation strategies. Supervisors’ climate change risks perception was adequate, workplace heat exposure risks concerns were moderate and their views of workers’ heat stress experiences were heat-related illness and minor injuries. The differences in supervisors’ climate change risk perceptions and occupational heat stress risk experiences across job experience and adaptation strategies across educational status were significant (p\u3c0.05). Workers’ concerns about climate change effects and workplace heat exposure risks; heat-related morbidities experienced by workers; and their use of heat stress prevention measures significantly differed between Small-Scale Mining (SSM) and Large-Scale Mining (LSM) (p\u3c0.001). The disparity in heat exposure risk factors across workers’ gender, education level, workload, work hours, physical work exertion, and proximity to heat sources was significant (p\u3c0.05). Thermal assessments demonstrated that workers were exposed to high ambient heat conditions that raise their heat stress risk. Workers’ adaptation strategies, social protection measures, and barriers to adaptation strategies differed significantly across the type of mining activity (p\u3c0.001). Based on the seven publications related to the social impacts of climate change and occupational heat stress and adaptation strategies of mining workers, this study recommends that there needs to be a concerted global effort at providing adequate and effective heat exposure and adaptation policies to promote workers’ health and safety, productive capacity and psychosocial well-being; to reduce their vulnerability to heat stress, improve their adaptive capacity and resilience; and enlighten policy decisions and enforcement in the mining industry

Conceptualisation of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Promotion for Human Capital Development

The objective of this paper is to set out the conceptual linkage between sexual and reproduction health promotion for human capital development. It provides a two-stage conceptual framework which shows the linkage between adolescent sexual and reproductive health promotion and human capital development. The paper is a critical review of the concepts of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and its implication for human capital development. It reviews the conceptual framework of Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on factors that promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health; and constructs a framework that presents mechanisms through which socioeconomic development is achieved through improved human capital development. The analysis in this paper apparently indicates that sexual and reproductive health promotion is fundamental to the development of human capital. The inextricable link between sexual and reproductive health promotion and development of human capital is shown in the conceptual frameworks. First, individual, social and environmental factors lead to the promotion of sexual and reproductive health. Second, investments that promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health improve human capital by contributing to knowledge, skills, health, self-esteem and moral values. The paper advocates that sustainable investments that promote sexual and reproductive health improve human capital development in the long run. Keywords: Adolescents, sexual and reproductive health, human capital developmen

An Econometric Model of Factors Influencing Households’ Willingness to Pay for Improved Solid Waste Management Service within the Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolis in the Western Region of Ghana

Solid waste disposal, in particular, has become a daunting task for the municipal authorities. This paper presents an assessment of household's willingness to pay for improved solid waste management service. The paper engaged household's that demand the services of Solid Waste Management (SWM) within Sekondi -Takoradi Metropolis. Data for the study were collected through survey of households living at the Effiakuma estates. Three hundred questionnaires were administered to respondents to gather information on their willingness to pay and the amount they were willing to pay for an improved service. In this study, contingent valuation method (CVM) was used as a method of valuation. Probit and Tobit models were used in the empirical analysis to determine the factors that influence WTP and MWTP of households for improved SWM respectively. The outcome of the study shows that, environmental awareness, occupation, income, perception and house ownership significantly determined households willingness to pay for an improved SWM service. The paper recommends that government should create more employment opportunities so that people can earn regular income. In addition government and various stake holders should make efforts towards improving residents' income as willingness to pay relates positively to income.  More so, educational programs about the dangers of waste in our communities should be organized by various organizations in a quest to increase environmental awareness so as to increase the WTP for improved environmental quality in general and improved solid waste management in particular. Last but not least, the policy frameworks which have been set aside by government for service providers or companies must be given a strict enforcement. Keywords: Solid Waste Management, Willingness to pay, Contingent valuation method, Probit and Tobit model, Marginal effect, Sekondi – Takoradi  and Effiakuma Estate

Mediation roles of pedagogical approaches and personality traits in entrepreneurial curriculum design and entrepreneurial intention nexus

Planned behaviour theory was used in a path analysis modelling to investigate the serial mediation role of teaching methods and personality traits (locus of control, need for achievement and entrepreneurial attitude) in the relationship between entrepreneurship curriculum and entrepreneurial intention among university students in Ghana. A proposed 40-item instrument was used to measure outcomes for six constructs (3 personality trait constructs, entrepreneurship curriculum, teaching methods and entrepreneurial intention) for 324 participants. Acceptable convergent, divergent and construct validity scores were observed for the instrument. Teaching methods fully mediated the first-order relationships between entrepreneurial curriculum and each personality traits. The three constructs of personality traits parallelly mediated the second-order relationship between teaching methods and entrepreneurial intention. Teaching methods and each personality trait serially mediated the relationship between entrepreneurial curriculum and entrepreneurial intention. This empirical evidence provides insight into the design of pragmatic interventions by major stakeholders including entrepreneurship educators to inspire students into start-up activitie

Cultural capital and underdevelopment in less developed countries: The case of northern Ghana

Development paradigms under the sustainable development goals (SDGs) identify cultural capital as an indispensable asset for development in less developed countries. However, the phenomenon of culture and underdevelopment nexus has attracted little research attention in Ghana. The study used modernization theory and ethnographic research methodology to explore the role of cultural capital deficits in northern Ghana\u27s underdevelopment. Our findings suggest a close correlation between cultural capital and underdevelopment relative to unethical attitudinal standards, value deficits, and an anti-development mindset. We recommend the inclusion of cultural reorientation in the design of development intervention programs to uphold high integrity standards. We further suggest that the curriculum and concept of quality education in schools should be broadened to include inculcating high-value standards. Our study has contributed to academic discourses on cultural capital\u27s role in the search for sustainable development in less developed countries, particularly in implementing the SDGs

Perceptions of Stakeholders on the Industrial Attachment Programme of Ghanaian Public Polytechnics

Industrial attachment based on experiential learning offers the most promising strategy in the development of productive and technically skilled human capital potentials of students in Ghanaian public polytechnics for the world of work. However, inadequate logistics, funding and follow-up visits and supervision of students on attachment seem to hinder the success of the industrial attachment programme of polytechnics in Ghana. This paper seeks to assess the perceptions of stakeholders on how the industrial attachment programme in selected Ghanaian public polytechnics affects the development of human capital. Mixed method and analytical research designs were employed in conducting the study with a sample of 594 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. The study found that the industrial attachment programme has been perceived as a catalyst to human capital development in Ghanaian public polytechnics because it serves as a perfect transition from the classroom to the world of work. The disparities in perceptions of the industrial attachment programme for each pair of the four categories of stakeholders was moderate, while disparities in the perceptions of Accra and Kumasi Polytechnics; as well as Kumasi and Takoradi Polytechnics was small. To ensure effective, efficient and holistic practical development of human capital in Ghanaian public polytechnics, experiential learning via industrial attachment should be vigorously pursued by all polytechnics in connection with its stakeholders. Keywords: Perceptions, stakeholders, industrial attachment programme, experiential learning, Ghanaian public polytechnic

Human Capital Development in Polytechnics in Ghana: Prospects of Industrial Attachment

Industrial attachment in polytechnic education based on the philosophy of experiential education facilitates the production of technically skilled and productive human capital for national development. However, the snag of the programme in human capital development relates to inadequacy of logistics and funding, weak polytechnic-industry linkage, inadequate supervision, and evaluation. The objective of the paper is to assess the prospects of the industrial attachment programme in human capital development in selected public polytechnics in Ghana. The mixed method and explanatory research designs were employed in conducting the study. Sample size of 594 respondents was selected based on the purposive, simple random and systematic sampling techniques. The method of survey via questionnaires, interview guide, and focus group discussions was employed in collecting data, while descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data processing and analysis. The difference in the prospects based on the benefits of industrial attachment among the stakeholders of polytechnics was significantly small but no significant differences were found among the four polytechnics involved in the study. A strong and effective polytechnic-industry synergy and an industrial attachment fund have the potential of improving and sustaining the prospects of the industrial attachment programme for developing technically skilled middle level manpower for national development. Keywords: Prospects, Human capital development, Industrial attachment, Experiential learning, Polytechnics in Ghan

Industrial Attachment in Polytechnic Education: An Approach to Polytechnic-Industry Nexus in Human Capital Development of Selected Polytechnics in Ghana

The institution of industrial attachment in polytechnic education is significant. Industrial attachment underpinned by experiential learning is most appropriate option to enhancing polytechnic-industry nexus in the development of technically skilled and productive human capital potentials for the world of work. However, the polytechnic-industry collaboration in human capital development is hampered by inadequate educational infrastructure, logistics, funding for laboratories, workshops and industrial attachment supervision as well as poor Information Communication Technology (ICT) development. The objective of the paper is to examine industrial attachment in polytechnic education as an approach to polytechnic-industry nexus in human capital development. Mixed method and explanatory research designs were employed in conducting the study. Purposive, simple random and systematic sampling techniques were adopted in selecting a sample of 594 respondents. Survey and interviews were adopted as methods of data collection. Instruments such as questionnaire, interview guide, and focus group discussions were used in collecting data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data processing and analysis. The polytechnic-industry collaboration is weak. It is limited to sharpening of lecturer’s skills, practical training for students and the drafting and review of polytechnic curriculum. The relatively weak linkage were in joint research, provision of teaching and learning materials, funds for research, and the use of industry executives as guest lecturers. The Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics and Chief Executive Officers of industries should establish sustainable collaborative structures to enhance the nexus between polytechnics and industry in the development of productive and technically trained human capital in Ghanaian polytechnics. Keywords: Polytechnic-industry nexus, polytechnic education, human capital development, industrial attachment, experiential learning, selected polytechnics in Ghan

Perceptions of climate change and occupational heat stress risks and adaptation strategies of mining workers in Ghana

Heavy physical workload for long hours coupled with increasing workplace heat exposure due to rising temperatures stemming from climate change, especially where there are inadequate prevention and control policies, adversely affect workers\u27 health and safety, productive capacity and social well-being. However, variations in workers\u27 concerns and awareness of occupational heat stress and climate change risks impede the effectiveness of heat stress management. A mixed method approach was used to assess climate change perceptions and occupational heat stress risks and adaptation strategies of Ghanaian mining workers. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data from 320 respondents. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used for data analysis. Workers\u27 climate change risk perception, as confirmed by trends in climate data, was reasonable, but concerns about climate change effects and workplace heat exposure risks varied significantly across types of mining activity (p \u3c 0.001). Workers experienced heat-related morbidities, but the variation in heat-related morbidity experiences across the type of mining activity was not significant. However, the type of heat-related morbidities experienced by workers differed across the type of mining activity (p \u3c 0.001). Workers\u27 awareness of occupational heat stress prevention and control was adequate. The disparities in workers\u27 awareness and use of the prevention and control measures significantly differed across the type of mining activity (p \u3c 0.001). Occupational heat stress prevention activities should focus on workers, and a concerted effort must be made to promote workers\u27 adaptive capacity and inform policy decisions