Deconstructing public discourse on undocumented immigration in the United States in the twenty first century

As the United States prepares to elect a new president, immigration continues to be one of the most controversial topics on the national agenda. While Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president with the intent to build a wall along the border with Mexico, the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, has opted, instead to push for comprehensive immigration reform. The difference in approach is symptomatic of the divisiveness within the immigration debate. To explore this divide in depth, the dissertation’s research question is: What does the discourse on undocumented immigration in the United States in the 2000s reveal about the most salient drivers of conflict related to immigration. Using qualitative discourse analysis, the dissertation investigated coverage of the discourse on undocumented immigration in the mainstream news media, hoping to break the discourse into parts that can be examined to gain a deeper understanding of sources of conflict. Through the use of qualitative data analysis software, coding categories determined through identified sources of tension in the discourse spawned themes and topics that helped to analyze points of conflict. Through analyses of these themes, the research uncovered elements in the discourse that facilitated intergroup conflict through negative constructions of the out-group by the in-group. In order to mitigate conflict, the discourse on undocumented immigrants in the United States needs to be reconstructed in a way that untangles immigration issues from security issues and addresses the racialization and criminalization of immigration. In-depth media coverage of immigration stories with context can help facilitate a more constructive discourse

A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SERVICE DELIVERY AMONG MOBILE NETWORK PROVIDERS IN GHANA: A CASE OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

The aim of the study was to identify the dimensions of mobile telecommunication services in Ghana as well as to develop a model to identify consumer satisfaction. The research was a non-experimental, explorative, quantitative study. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of hundred (300) participants from the University of Ghana.The result showed that the majority of the respondents were satisfied with the overall mobile service offered by their service providers. From the results, call quality was found to be the most important determinant of consumer satisfaction with mobile telecommunication services (β = 0.276, t= 5.729, P< 0.001).This was followed by Network charges (β =0.209, t= 4.344, P< 0.01). In conclusion, the study results suggests that customer niche is a very peculiar one, with several unique characteristic with regards to their demographic and preferences and therefore should be targeted with the kind marketing activities that is likely to interest the

The Effect of Leadership Styles on Learners’ Performance. The Case of Asonomaso Nkwanta in the Kwabre District Assembly of Ashanti Region in Ghana

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of leadership styles on academic performance in Junior High Schools (JHS) in Asonomaso Nkwanta in the Kwabre District Assembly of Ashanti Region in Ghana. The design for the study was a mixed study using both the qualitative and quantitative analyzes. It was a correlation survey designed to establish the relationship between leadership styles and academic performance in schools in Asonomaso Nkwanta in the Kwabre District Assembly. Data collected on the leadership styles of the school leaders were the independent variables and the academic performance as dependent variables. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22 and Epi-Info, a data capturing and analysis software. The study noted that unless the headmasters are well equipped with knowledge and skills in leadership they would not know if they have any influence on their schools and on academic work. The study also established that even though respondents agreed that a leadership style can affect academic performance, the headmasters do not gain the confidence of the stakeholders enough in order to build terms that can enhance quality of teaching and learning. Based on these establishments, it was recommended that teacher training institutions should incorporate in their curriculum, training in the art and science of leadership in order to groom leaders’ right from school. Again, it is recommended that compulsory continuous professional development in leadership should be institutionalized in Ghana Education Service (GES) for headmasters. Keywords: Leadership, Learners’ performance, Education, schoo

Body Image and Eating Disorders among Female Students: A Pilot Nutritional Psychology Study in Ghana

Body image and eating disorders have emerged as an essential facet of bio-psychosocial well-being. Although considered less prevalent in Ghana than in the West, body image and eating disorders are issues of global concern. One hundred (100) female participants with a mean age of approximately 21 years were recruited after informed consent for this pilot study. Results showed a positive correlation between body image and eating disorders. In addition, there was no significant difference between the levels of university education on female body image and eating distortions in Ghana. These findings underscore the importance for more future studies in nutritional psychology and related clinical management

Psychometric Properties of a Safety Culture Index among Mental Health Workers in Ghana

Safety culture among mental health workers is essential, especially in developing countries where workplace safety seems neglected. However, few studies have provided detailed psychometric analyses of convenient safety instruments with practical relevance for the healthcare industry in the Sub-Saharan African context. We sampled 574 (54.4 % females, 45.6 % males) mental health workers from three Specialist Psychiatric Teaching Hospitals in Ghana. Initially, we collected data using adapted items from Edkins and Coakes’ 25-item Airline Safety Culture Index (ASCI). Consequently, we conducted a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using the Diagonally Weighted Least Squares estimator. We also used the item reduction analysis (Gradual Response Model) to reduce the adapted 25-item scale to 11 items (Modified Safety Culture Index, MSCI- 11). Finally, we conducted reliability analyses (alpha and omega) for the MSCI-11. We observed that the data in the CFA showed adequate fit indices [χ2 (df = 44, N = 574) = 223.752, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.975; TLI = 0.968; RM- SEA = 0.084 (CI 90 % 0.074- 0.096); SRMR = 0.063]. The MSCI- 11 is parsimonious and has good reliability estimates [α = 0.853 (95 % CI 0.835 – 0.870) and ω = 0.853 (95 % CI 0.837- 0.087)]. Future studies should use additional cross-validation in other high-risk jobs to generalise the new scale

Asante Bekwai United Schools’ Arts and Crafts Centre: a Model of Technical/Vocational Education (TVE) Curriculum Diversification and Utilization of local Expertise in colonial Ghana (1940-1950)

The paper discusses the general organization and operation of Asante Bekwai United Schools’ Arts and Crafts Centre as a model of TVE in the country during the 1940s.  In particular, it focuses, inter alia, on the positive consequences of judiciously utilizing the “top-down change” and “bottom-up change” to use the words of  Fullan (2007) in TVE educational policy formulation and implementation in colonial Ghana.  This feat was achieved through the leadership efforts of  the British colonial administration, the four missionary bodies then  at Asante Bekwai (namely the Methodist Mission, the English Church Mission, the Catholic Mission and the Seventh-day Adventist Mission) the Asante Bekwai traditional authority and the Achimota College in Accra.  It further discusses the nature of the curriculum of the Centre and its utilization of local expertise in the teaching and learning process   It further discusses the effects of the income generation activities at the Centre.  In this endeavour, a critical analysis of relevant historical information retrieved from the Public Record and Archives Department (PRAAD) office in Asante Region of Ghana was undertaken by the authors. The study, inter alia, revealed that the collaboration between the Centre and stakeholders greatly contributed to the steady progress of the Centre. It was again observed   that the curriculum of the Centre was quite versatile; capable of equipping its beneficiaries to acquire relevant skills for productive livelihoods. The vibrant nature of the Centre was also evident by the fact that the income that was generated from the activities was used to procure some tools for the Centre. Undoubtedly, such an educational initiative was bound to grapple with teething challenges and it was anticipated that such challenges would be quickly addressed for smooth progress of the Centre. Future studies into such challenges and their remedies are thus encouraged. Keywords: Asante Bekwai; Arts and Crafts; mat weaving; pottery, curriculum, Achimot

Evidence-based practice in local public health service in Ghana

While the role of evidence-based public health in improving health outcomes is frequently touted, there remains a dearth of research examining the use of evidence in public health service particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, the aim of this research was to examine the use of evidence in local public health service in Ghana, a lower middle-income country. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with local health managers from 11 District Directorates of Health in Ashanti Region. Three organising themes emerged from the interview transcripts: understanding of evidence-based public health; the process of using evidence; and the value of evidence in public health practice. The study suggests that though evidence-based practice was not new to the local health managers, its application was very low. The process of using evidence commenced with making a decision about the direction of a programme which had been already prioritised and planned by other high-level actors and then various sources of information, including available research evidence, were used to justify the decision. The study has revealed that there is an urgent need for pre-service and in-service training programmes that build and maintain common skill sets and language among local public health practitioners in Ghana to accomplish evidence-based public health goals. Similarly, giving local health managers flexibility to prioritise and make decisions would result in increased uptake of evidence in local public health service

Assessment of knowledge and treatment practices of hepatitis B infection in children among health professionals in Krachi districts in Ghana:a cross-sectional study

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains one of the neglected infectious diseases. Children infected with HBV are at higher risk of becoming chronic carriers. Barriers to measures against HBV in children are attributed to inadequate knowledge by some health professionals. This study assessed knowledge and treatment practices of HBV in children among health professionals. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among health professionals (185) in three districts in Krachi using a structured questionnaire. Stata version 15 was used to analyze participants’ responses on awareness, knowledge, and treatment practices. Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between knowledge and treatment practices. Multivariate regression analysis assessed the relationships between variables at P&lt;0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Results. 20% were not aware of HBV in children and 85% had only fair knowledge about HBV in children. Only 29% indicated good knowledge and treatment practices of HBV in children. A unit increase in knowledge of HBV in children leads to a 1.42 unit increase in awareness (P&lt;0.01), and a 1.3 unit increase in treatment practice (P&lt;0.01) of HBV in children. Conclusions. Participants demonstrated only fair knowledge about HBV in children. Seminars and workshops on HBV in children for health professionals must intensify.</p

Profile and outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary institution hospital in Ghana

Background: In high-income countries, mortality related to hospitalized patients with the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is approximately 4-5%. However, data on COVID-19 admissions from sub-Saharan Africa are scanty.Objective: To describe the clinical profile and determinants of outcomes of patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted at a hospital in Ghana.Methods: A prospective study involving 25 patients with real time polymerase chain reaction confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the treatment centre of the University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana from 1st June to 27th July, 2020. They were managed and followed up for outcomes. Data were analysed descriptively, and predictors of mortality assessed using a multivariate logistic regression modelling.Results: The mean age of the patients was 59.3 ± 20.6 years, and 14 (56%) were males. The main symptoms at presentation were breathlessness (68%) followed by fever (56%). The cases were categorized as mild (6), moderate (6), severe (10) and critical (3). Hypertension was the commonest comorbidity present in 72% of patients. Medications used in patient management included dexamethasone (68%), azithromycin (96%), and hydroxychloroquine (4%). Five of 25 cases died (Case fatality ratio 20%). Increasing age and high systolic blood pressure were associated with mortality.Conclusion: Case fatality in this sample of hospitalized COVID-19 patients was high. Thorough clinical assessment, severity stratification, aggressive management of underlying co-morbidities and standardized protocols incountry might improve outcomes

Challenges and coping strategies when caring for terminally ill persons with cancer: perspectives of family caregivers

© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Introduction: Terminal illness is an irreversible illness that, without life-sustaining procedures, usually results in death or permanent disability from which recovery is unlikely. When involved, family caregivers are believed to improve health outcomes, such as reduced hospitalization, and establishing a patient’s initial access to professional treatment services. However, caring for a patient with a terminal illness is viewed as one of the most difficult aspects of providing care. This study aimed to identify the challenges, and coping strategies developed by family caregivers to cope with the care of the terminally ill person. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was used. Twenty (20) family caregivers voluntarily participated in the study from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. The transcribed interviews were then analysed using thematic analysis. Results: From the analysis, three main themes emerged: challenges, coping strategies, and social support. These themes encompassed sixteen subthemes including financial burden, bad health conditions, faith and prayer, and support from health professionals. From the study, both male and female family caregivers narrated that providing care for sick relatives undergoing terminal disease is characterized as a daily duty demanding one’s time and fraught with emotional strain. In addition, even though it was a difficult job, family members who provided care for ailing relatives never gave up, citing responsibility, the importance of family, and religious beliefs as the primary motivations for doing so. Conclusion: The difficulties and demands of family caregiving roles for terminally ill relatives are complex and multifactorial. The findings call for multidisciplinary professional attention for family caregivers and policies that will support their lives holistically.Peer reviewe