An explorative study on the adoption and dis-adoption of improved rice varieties among farmers in the Northern region of Ghana

Rice consumption in Ghana has increased steadily over the years. To enhance rice productivity to meet demand, several high-performing rice varieties have been disseminated via numerous interventions to smallholders in Northern Ghana. Nevertheless, productivity is still low at farm gate compared to research stations, due to smallholder poor adoption of the varieties. Using primary data collected from 404 farmers, the study examines the adoption levels of the main rice varieties among farmers and investigates the reasons for their adoption and dis-adoption. The empirical results revealed that rice varieties namely, Agra, Sakai, Jasmine 85, and Afife were the most adopted in the study area. Also, the study finds that GR-18, Nerica, Digang, Tox, Mandee, and Faro-15 were the most dis-adopted rice varieties. The main reasons for which farmers adopted the improved rice varieties were availability of a ready market for the produce, crop resistance to pests and diseases, consumer higher demand for rice, advice by extension staff to cultivate, and encouragement from researchers to adopt. The reasons for the dis-adoption of improved rice varieties in the study area were high input requirements, lack of ready market for the varieties, and unfavorable climatic conditions. The findings of the study give direction as to the angle from which the adoption of improved rice varieties can be stepped up while dis-adoption is reduced. Research scientists should research into rice varieties that are more suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the study area and continue to sensitize and motivate the farmers to adopt them, while government should step up its support for the research scientists as well as the extension officers to deliver on their mandate

Willingness to undergo HIV testing in the Kintampo districts of Ghana

Background: HIV testing is currently a major prevention intervention and remains an entry point to early treatment, care and support. Uptake is  however low and alternative approaches are currently being adopted.Objective: An HIV module was incorporated into the routine survey of the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS) to assess the willingness of adults living in the Kintampo North and South districts to undergo HIV testing.Design: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional household survey.  Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify predictors of the willingness to undergo HIV testing.Participants: Respondents were community members aged 15 to 49 years and selected from randomly generated household listings from the KHDSS.Results: A total of 11,604 respondents were interviewed, 10,982 (94.6%) of respondents had good general knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Among those with knowledge about HIV/AIDS, 10,819 (98.5%) indicated their willingness to get tested for HIV. Rural residents were more willing to undergo HIV testing than urban dwellers Odds ratio=1.42 (95% Confidence interval:1.03, 1.96; P-value=0.031). Respondents with primary education were more likely to go for testing relative to those without any education OR=2.02 (95% CI: 0.87, 4.70; P-value=0.046).Conclusion: Expressed willingness to test for HIV is high in this population. Exploring community and population-based interventions to HIV testing and counseling could increase uptake of HIV testing services and should be considered. The underlying motivations need to be explored in order to translate willingness into actual testing.Key words: HIV/AIDS, Routine survey, Willingness to test, Logistic regression, Ghan

Predictors of abortions in Rural Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Abortion continues to be used as a method of family planning by many women. The complications of unsafe abortions are a major contributor to maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. This study explored the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on abortions in 156 communities within the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS) area located in the middle part of Ghana. METHODS: A survey on Sexual and Reproductive Health among a representative sample of females aged 15-49 years was conducted in 2011. They were asked about the outcome of pregnancies that occurred between January 2008 and December 2011. Data on their socio-demographic characteristics including household assets were accessed from the database of the KHDSS. Univariate and multivariate random effects logistic regression models were used to explore the predictors of all reported cases of abortion (induced or spontaneous) and cases of induced abortion respectively. RESULTS: A total of 3554 women were interviewed. Of this total, 2197 women reported on the outcomes of 2723 pregnancies that occurred over the period. The number of all reported cases of abortions (induced and spontaneous) and induced abortions were 370 (13.6%) and 101 (3.7%) respectively. Unmarried women were more likely to have abortion as compared to married women (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.21-2.58], p = 0.003). Women aged 20-29 years were 43% less likely to have abortion in comparison with those within the ages 13-19 years (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI [0.34-0.95], p = 0.030). Women with primary, middle/junior high school (JHS) and at least secondary education had higher odds of having abortion as compared to women without education. Compared with the most poor women, wealthiest women were three-fold likely to have abortion. Unmarried women had higher odds of having induced abortion as compared to married women (aOR = 7.73, 95% CI [2.79-21.44], p < 0.001). Women aged 20-29 years, 30-39 years and 40-49 years were less likely to have induced abortion as compared to those 13-19 years of age. CONCLUSION: Extra efforts are needed to ensure that family planning services, educational programs on abortion and abortion care reach the target groups identified in this study

Microbiological quality and antimicrobial resistance of Bacteria species recovered from ready-to-eat food, water samples, and palm swabs of food vendors in Accra, Ghana

This study sought to investigate microbial quality and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria species from Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food, water, and vendor palm swab samples. Between 2019 and 2020, RTE food, water and vendor palm swab samples were collected from food vending sites in Accra, Ghana. Samples were cultured and confirmed using the Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was conducted using disk diffusion method. Beta-lactamase and Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) genes were determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Total plate count (TPC) and Total coliform count (TCC) were performed on food and water samples. In total, 179 RTE food, 72 water and 10 vendor palm swab samples were collected. Enterobacter spp. (16.8 %), Citrobacter spp. (10.1 %), Enterococcus faecalis (7.8 %), Pseudomonas spp. (6.7 %) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.0 %) occurred in food. Isolates from water and palm were Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.8 %), Aeromonas spp. (16.7 %) and Enterobacter cloacae (11.1 %). Resistance to Amoxicillin-clavulanate, Tetracycline, Azithromycin, Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and Nitrofurantoin were common among Enterobacterales. High mean TPC and TCC showed in some RTE food and different water types used in vending depicting their unsafe condition for consumption and usage. The bla(SHV) and bla(TEM) genes were present in some Enterobacterales from food and water. The lt gene was identified in two food samples. AMR organisms associated with nosocomial infections in the samples investigated, calls for continuous surveillance in the food industry in Ghana. Also, the unsafe outcome of RTE food and water depicts the need for the enforcement of Ghana's food safety laws

Clustering of childhood mortality in the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Ghana

Background: Childhood mortality in Ghana has generally declined in the last four decades. However, estimates tend to conceal substantial variability among regions and districts. The lack of population-based data in Ghana, as in other less developed countries, has hindered the development of effective programmes targeted specifically at clusters where mortality levels are significantly higher. Objective: This paper seeks to test for the existence of statistically significant clusters of childhood mortality within the Kintampo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS) between 2005 and 2007. Design: In this study, mortality rates were generated using mortality data extracted from the health and demographic surveillance database of the KHDSS and exported into STATA. The spatial and spatio-temporal scan statistic by Kulldorff was used to identify significant clusters of childhood mortality within the KHDSS. Results: A significant cluster of villages with high under-five mortality in the south-eastern part of the KHDSS in 2006 was identified. This is a remote location where poverty levels are relatively higher, health facilities are more sparse and these are compounded by poor transport services in case of emergencies. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of the surveillance platform to demonstrate the spatial dimensions of childhood mortality clustering. It is apparent, though, that further studies need to be carried out in order to explore the underlying risk factors for potential mortality clusters that could emerge later

Open defecation and attainment of Sustainable Development Goal Six: evidence from Kintampo Surveillance System, Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether the open-defecation (OD) free target is achievable by 2030. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: Seven sub-Districts of Kintampo North Municipal, and five sub-Districts of Kintampo South District. DATA SOURCE: Kintampo health and demographic surveillance system PARTICIPANTS: Data was collected from household heads or their representatives over a 12-year period from 2005 to 2016. MAIN OUTCOME: Open-defecation and attainment of OD free by 2030. RESULTS: In an exploratory analysis, the correlation between the total number of households, year, and total number of OD households was obtained. The average percentage yearly increase or decrease in OD was computed and used to project the percentage of OD for the years 2020, 2025 and 2030. In addition, geo-spatial technology was used to visualize variability in OD across the twelve sub-Districts. The results showed that the OD free target is not achievable in 2030 or even if the current trend continues. In 2016, 44.2 per cent of the 31,571 households defecated openly. In six out of the 12 sub-Districts, more than half of the households openly defecated. Four out of these six sub-Districts were in the Kintampo North Municipality.Conclusion: The 2030 OD free target is not achievable in the Kintampo districts of Ghana if the current trend continues

Family Planning Awareness, Perceptions and Practice among Community Members in the Kintampo Districts of Ghana

Family planning is known to prevent maternal deaths, but some social norms, limited supplies and inconsistent use makes this difficult to achieve in most low- and middle-income countries. In spite of the high fertility levels in most sub-Saharan African countries and the potential economic benefits of family planning, its patronage remains very low in the sub-region. This study was with the objective of identifying the levels of awareness, utilization, access to and perceptions about family planning and contraception. A cross-sectional study design was used for the study, with data collected from multiple sources using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Relevant findings included a marked disconnect between family planning/contraceptive knowledge and use. The pills and injectables were the most frequently used, but females in the study population poorly patronised emergency contraception. Supplies of most family planning methods were found to be health facility based, requiring clients to have to necessarily go there for services. Some respondents harboured perceptions that family planning was the responsibility of females alone and that it fuelled promiscuity among female users. Recommendations made include ensuring that health facilities had adequate staff and expertise to provide facility-based family planning services and also to disabuse the minds of community members of the negative perceptions towards family planning

Knowledge and utilisation of family planning services among tertiary students in northern Ghana : the case of College of Nursing and Midwifery, Nalerigu

Though tertiary students studying health-related programs are assumed knowledgeable about family planning, this does not always translate to increased use of family planning services. In a cross-sectional survey, this study assessed 411 nursing, midwifery and allied health students' knowledge of family planning, contraceptive use, perceptions, and factors affecting the utilisation of family planning services. Each student completed a 24-itemised questionnaire in a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing Survey. The data was analysed with Stata /IC version 16. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Overall knowledge of family planning was 99.7%, commonly gained in school (51.8%), followed by clinics and hospitals (41.4%). Only 21.7% of the students used family planning services. Menstrual cramps (57.9%), infertility (33.1%), and weight gain (32.5%) were the commonly perceived side effects of contraceptive use. The high proximity of participants to family planning service providers and lack of community, family, and partner acceptance of modern contraceptives were associated with underutilisation. Despite the high level of knowledge of family planning, the student's utilisation of family planning services was poor. To boost family planning service uptake among tertiary health students, it is essential to tackle barriers related to community, family, and partner acceptance. This can be achieved through educational programs that involve men in family planning discussions and by enhancing service accessibility.Même si les étudiants du supérieur qui étudient dans des programmes liés à la santé sont censés connaître la planification familiale, cela ne se traduit pas toujours par une utilisation accrue des services de planification familiale. Dans le cadre d'une enquête transversale, cette étude a évalué les connaissances de 411 étudiants en soins infirmiers, obstétricaux et paramédicaux en matière de planification familiale, d'utilisation des contraceptifs, de perceptions et de facteurs affectant l'utilisation des services de planification familiale. Chaque étudiant a rempli un questionnaire en 24 points dans le cadre d'une enquête par entretien personnel assisté par ordinateur. Les données ont été analysées avec Stata/IC version 16. La signification statistique a été fixée à p<0,05. La connaissance globale de la planification familiale était de 99,7 %, généralement acquise à l'école (51,8 %), suivie par les cliniques et les hôpitaux (41,4 %). Seulement 21,7% des étudiants ont utilisé les services de planification familiale. Les crampes menstruelles (57,9 %), l'infertilité (33,1 %) et la prise de poids (32,5 %) étaient les effets secondaires couramment perçus de l'utilisation de contraceptifs. La grande proximité des participants avec les prestataires de services de planification familiale et le manque d'acceptation des contraceptifs modernes par la communauté, la famille et les partenaires étaient associés à la sous-utilisation. Malgré le niveau élevé de connaissances en matière de planification familiale, l'utilisation des services de planification familiale par les étudiants était faible. Pour stimuler le recours aux services de planification familiale parmi les étudiants de l'enseignement supérieur en santé, il est essentiel de s'attaquer aux obstacles liés à l'acceptation par la communauté, la famille et les partenaires. Cet objectif peut être atteint grâce à des programmes éducatifs qui impliquent les hommes dans les discussions sur la planification familiale et en améliorant l'accessibilité des services.https://journals.co.za/content/journal/ajrhSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

Sustainable P-enriched biochar-compost production: harnessing the prospects of maize stover and groundnut husk in Ghana’s Guinea Savanna

Farmers in resource-poor areas of the Guinea Savanna zone of Ghana often face declining soil fertility due to the continuous removal of nutrient-rich harvested produce from their fields. This study focuses on the Lawra Municipality in the Guinea Savanna zone of Ghana, where low soil fertility, specifically, limits phosphorus (P) bioavailability and hinders crop production. The objective of this research is to formulate P-enhanced biochar-compost from maize stover (MS) and groundnut husk, which abound in the area, to close the nutrient loop. MS was co-composted with groundnut husk biochar at varying rates of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% by volume. To facilitate decomposition using the windrow system, the composting heaps were inoculated with decomposing cow dung, and the moisture content was kept at 60% throughout the monitoring period. The addition of biochar shortened the lag phase of composting. However, rates above 20% resulted in reduced degradation of MS. Biochar incorporation enriched the available phosphorus content in the final compost from 286.7 mg kg−1 in the non-biochar-compost to 320, 370, 546, and 840.0 mg kg−1 in the 10, 20, 30, and 40% biochar-compost, respectively

Farmers’ perceptions of climate change : identifying types

Ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture have been set by both national governments and their respective livestock sectors. We hypothesize that farmer self-identity influences their assessment of climate change and their willingness to im- plement measures which address the issue. Perceptions of climate change were determined from 286 beef/sheep farmers and evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA). The analysis elicits two components which evaluate identity (productivism and environmental responsibility), and two components which evaluate behavioral capacity to adopt mitigation and adaptation measures (awareness and risk perception). Subsequent Cluster Analyses reveal four farmer types based on the PCA scores. ‘The Productivist’ and ‘The Countryside Steward’ portray low levels of awareness of climate change, but differ in their motivation to adopt pro-environmental behavior. Conversely, both ‘The Environmentalist’ and ‘The Dejected’ score higher in their awareness of the issue. In addition, ‘The Dejected’ holds a high sense of perceived risk; however, their awareness is not conflated with an explicit understanding of agricultural GHG sources. With the exception of ‘The Environmentalist’, there is an evident disconnect between perceptions of agricultural emission sources and their contribution towards GHG emissions amongst all types. If such linkages are not con- ceptualized, it is unlikely that behavioral capacities will be realized. Effective communication channels which encour- age action should target farmers based on the groupings depicted. Therefore, understanding farmer types through the constructs used in this study can facilitate effective and tai- lored policy development and implementation