Effectiveness of Health Education in Community-based Malaria Prevention and Control Interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Objective: This review assessed the effectiveness of health education in community-based malaria prevention and control interventions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: We systematically reviewed published and unpublished literature, searching 7 databases and 3 websites namely Malaria Journal, World Health Organization and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to find relevant studies. Study designs included were randomized controlled trials, non-randomized trials, quasi experiments, before and after studies, and surveys. A narrative synthesis was performed on the extracted data. Results: Seventeen studies were included in the review. Nine studies covered health education interventions on Insecticide Treated bet Nets (ITNs), three utilised health education to promote Intermittent Presumptive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), four reported on the effect of health education in home-based management of malaria whilst one study focused on environmental management in malaria control. Factors found to affect health education in malaria control and prevention interventions included educational level of participants, the nature of health messages and the level of community involvement. Conclusion: The results of the review suggest that health education interventions are effective and remain a valuable tool in community-based malaria prevention and control interventions in SSA. This review found moderate evidence that health education interventions influence the uptake of community-based malaria prevention and control interventions, enhance knowledge about malaria and generally improve malaria prevalence and mortality in children under five and pregnant women.   Key words Malaria, systematic review, health education, sub-Saharan Africa

Re-Examining the Akan Gold Weight and its Possible Reuse

Generally Gold weights called mrammou in the Akan language are weights made of brass and used as a measuring system by the people of Akan in West Africa This was used for weighing gold dust which was the currency until that was replaced by paper money and coins These gold weights look like miniature models of everyday objects In the Akan society gold weights have played a significant part so far as the tradition and culture and the economy are concerned The gold weights have several cultural and symbolic undertones that require a study and an understanding by modern society Hence the study was conducted to revealed philosophical cultural and an outstanding value attached to the gold weight

Contract Package as an Antecedent of Value for Money: The Mediating Role of Competitive Procurement.

Given the limited resources available to the government institutions, value for money in procurement is crucial to ensuring the optimal use of finite budgetary resources. This study delves into contract package as an antecedent of value for money; competitive procurement as a mediating role. Fifty-three (53) pre-university educational institutions in the Eastern region of Ghana were selected for the study. Two research objectives were examined whilst two research hypotheses were tested. This study is a quantitative one, which employed purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Model (SEM) for data analysis, the study found no relationship between contract package and value for money. Again, the study revealed that competitive procurement failed to exert significant effect or influence on contract package and value for money linkages. The study recommended that appropriate procurement process at the public sector is highly required to generate wealth, enhance transparency and accountability, encourage consistent procurement procedures and lessen corruption. Through this, value for money can be achieved

Documenting Selected Artefacts of the Royal Regalia of Akwamumanhene

This study which identifies and reviews selected artefacts of the Akwamuhene royal regalia was conducted at the Bogyawe palace in Akwamufie. The research tools employed were questionnaire, observation and interviews to collect and investigate relevant cultural knowledge on the royal regalia of the Akwamuhene. Using the appropriate research instruments, for purposeful analysis and interpretation, the artefacts were documented hence, served as a means of preservation. There were 65 respondents who were interviewed using an interview guide and 30 of respondents were given questionnaire.  The respondents for the study provided names, myths, history, philosophies and significance of the artefacts that make up the royal regalia. The study thus focused on selected royal regalia belonging to the Akwamuhene comprising a variety of royal artforms and monuments such as deities, drums, clothes, palanquins, stools, chairs, Akyeame (spokespersons) staff, swords and sword ornaments, traditional sandals, headgears, jewellery and platforms. Keywords: Regalia, Culture, Symbolism, Deity, Drum, Head Gear, Stool House, Keys DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-10-01 Publication date:May 31st 202

Exploring community perspectives on national health insurance policy in Ghana

Even though a number of studies have examined the implementation of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana, its equity and access significance in relation to community perspective has not been assessed nationally. We looked at the NHIS from the perspective of local communities in focus groups discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews. Qualitative data from nine key informant interviews and seventy-two community respondents in nine focus group discussions were collected. The focus groups took place in seven different communities purposely selected. The data were analysed using thematic network approach. The key informants and focus groups were analysed together. The findings noted a disconnection between NHIS policy and community life. More so, the findings showed an explicit link between equity and access with its impacts on health outcomes. The qualitative results noted lack of voice and understanding as features limiting people from accessing the NHIS facilities. Understanding of equity as a key theme revealed: first, lack of stakeholder engagement and consultation or participation in the NHIS decision making process. Second, the NHIS displayed an overreliance on healthcare and an emphasis on a biomedical approach. Finally, despite being a pro- poor intervention by name, practical management of the NHIS is transmitted down vertical silos from the national level, with the lack of joined-up government at the centre undermining local partnerships. Thus, not only are national expectations being dashed locally, local expectations are dashed nationally. We proposed that community viewpoints should be given higher priority given that NHIS has since its inception been associated with medical treatments and biomedical paradigm. Promoting community participation, understanding and voices should be recognised to shape the future NHIS policy and practice

Estimating the Extent of Degradation in the Bounfum Forest Reserve, Ghana, Using Historical Remotely Sensed Data and Landscape Fragmentation Indices

Land use and land cover changes, especially deforestation and forest degradation and its driving factors, are key factors hindering sustainable forest management. Currently, there is limited knowledge concerning the detection of the extent and interpretation of the spatial and temporal pattern of forest cover dynamics in the Bounfum Forest Reserve, which when available will inform sustainable policies. Using the Landsat TM image of 1986, Landsat ETM+ image of 2002 and Landsat 8 OLI image of 2014, the study identified and quantified the forest cover dynamics in the Bounfum Forest Reserve from 1986 to 2014. The ERDAS maximum likelihood classification algorithm was used to classify the pixels into five major land cover classes namely, bare/built areas, farmlands, closed forest, open forest and shrub/grassland. The Kappa coefficients of 0.83 (1986), 0.72 (2002) and 0.75 (2014) respectively were obtained for the classified images. The findings showed that the closed forests decreased by 3.5% (563.90 ha) per annum whilst the open forests and farm lands increased by 19.5% (385.60 ha) and 2.9% (65.00 ha) per annum within the 28-year period. This implies that the Bounfum forest reserve has been highly degraded over the past 28 years, evident through the trends of its patch densities and the number of patches. Collaborative forest management is required in the management of the forest reserve to conserve the socio-ecological and economic benefits derived from the resource on sustainable basis. Keywords: Land use and land cover change, Bounfum forest reserve, deforestation, forest degradation, remote sensing, sustainable forest managemen

Cash transfers and the social determinants of health : a conceptual framework

Cash transfers (CTs) can play a significant role in tackling the social determinants of health (SDoH), but to date there is a lack of conceptual framework for understanding CTs linkages to the SDoH. This article proposes a framework that identifies the linkages between CTs and SDoH, discusses its implications, and argues for active involvement of health promoters in CT design, implementation and evaluation. The development of the framework followed two stages: evidence review and stakeholder involvement. The evidence review entailed a systematic literature search to identify published and unpublished impact evaluation studies of CTs in sub-Saharan Africa. Critical reflection on the evidence synthesized from the literature formed the basis for the development of the framework. Interviews with CT policy makers, managers and development partners were also carried out to help refine the framework. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcripts were analysed using thematic framework analysis. The study finds that there is limited recognition of SDoH in CT policy making and implementation. The evidence reviewed, however, points to strong impacts of CTs on SDoH. The framework thus conceptualizes how CTs work to influence a broad range of SDoH and health inequities. It also highlights how CT architecture and contexts may influence program impacts. The proposed framework can be used by policy makers to guide CT design, adaptation and operations, and by program managers and researchers to inform CTs’ evaluations, respectively. The framework suggests that to optimize CT impact on SDoH and reduce health inequities, health promoters should be actively engaged in terms of the programs design, implementation and evaluation

The Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils under Continuous Maize (Zea May) Cultivation

The severity and scope of our modern day practices in the last few centuries on the hydraulic conductivity of soil has affected its ability to control water infiltration and surface runoff. Soils exposed to human impact are often stripped of the organic-rich upper horizons, thereby increasing bulk density and reducing soil porosity. The study saw to determine the effects of continuous cultivation on the hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and porosity of soil. The hydraulic conductivity was measured with ring infiltrometer. Hydraulic conductivity was observed to decrease with increasing years of soils cultivation indicating a high impact of land use on this soil property. Hydraulic conductivity (Ks) values of 0.189±0.020cmh-1, 0.162±0.023cmh-1, 0.097±0.011cmh-1, and 0.078±0.028cmh-1 were respectively recorded for undisturbed forest, one year cultivated soil, two years cultivated soil and three years cultivated soil. The dry bulk densities obtained in forested soils, one year cultivated soil, two years continuous cultivated soils and three years continuously cultivate soil were 0.991±0.047gcm-3, 1.025±0.031gcm-3, 1.215±0.102gcm-3, and 1.332±0.074gcm-3 respectively with the least occurring on forest soils owing to high organic matter content and abundant burrowing fauna. To conclude, the study revealed that soil hydraulic conductivity, bulk density and porosity are time-variant and this fact should not be neglected in soil water flow modeling. Keywords: Hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, porosity and continuous cultivation

Optimal Allocation of Flows (Water) Within the Volta Basin System of Ghana

In this paper, a hypothetical network is proposed for the Volta Basin System (V.B.S) using the optimization technique for obtaining corresponding optimal allocation of flows from runoffs in the sub-basins (source) to the sink (Akosombo reservoir). Maximum flow paths and their capacities with consumptive and non-consumptive flows were identified. We are able to determine the optimal withdrawals on these flows for either consumptive or non-consumptive use.Keywords: Network, sub-basins, sources and sinks, consumptive and non-consumptive flows, optimal allocatio

Examining the Effects of Microfinance Services on Incomes and Business Capital in Ghana: The Case of Sinapi Aba Trust Beneficiaries

Microfinance institutions operate with the underlying philosophy that providing easier access to financial services for low income earners can result in increased incomes and business capital of beneficiaries to assist in reducing income inequality. This paper sets out to examine financial intermediation theory, through microfinance services, to expound its effects on incomes of beneficiaries of Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) microfinance institution and provides empirical evidence on how microfinance services affect the incomes and business capital of beneficiaries in Ghana. The cross sectional approach was used to collect data from 361 beneficiaries. Both quantitative and qualitative tools were used, and the findings indicate that SAT services led to improvements in beneficiaries incomes. Even though most of the SAT beneficiaries were classified under the lower middle income group, they were earning incomes higher than the national average for the lower middle income group. Beneficiaries in the manufacturing sector earned higher incomes while those from the agricultural, and food sub-sector earned the lowest. Individual loan beneficiaries had the highest incomes compared to those who obtained group loans. It was further identified that larger loan sizes led to increased incomes. The conclusion, for practitioners, is that microfinance has the potential of increasing the incomes of beneficiaries. Keywords: Beneficiaries, business capital, incomes, microfinance, Sinapi Aba Trust