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THE PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG DWELLERS IN A PERI-URBAN DISTRICT OF GHANA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

2025-07-09T11:31:14Z

Title: THE PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG DWELLERS IN A PERI-URBAN DISTRICT OF GHANA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY Authors: Opare-Asamoah, K.; Majeed, S. F.; Owusu, A. O.; Keelson, K.O.; Owusu, E. A.; Wondoh, P. M.; Kunfah, S. M. P.; Fosu, S. E.; Yorke, J.; Yakong, V. N.; Tabiri, S. Abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health issue affecting about 296 million people worldwide. The disease is of great public health concern in Ghana as the country is within the endemic region of HBV infection. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HBV infection and associated risk factors among dwellers in a peri-urban district of Ghana. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Sunyani West District of the Bono Region of Ghana. Respondents aged ≥18 years were purposively recruited from the four major towns in the District with health centres. A questionnaire was used to collect data from participants, and a rapid diagnostic test for the sero-presence or otherwise of hepatitis B infection was conducted. A total of 992 respondents took part in the study, with the prevalence of HBV infection using HBsAg as a marker among all the study participants being 2.9% (male 4.0% (12/298), female 2.5% (17/694)). Females aged between 20-29 years had a comparatively higher prevalence of hepatitis B infection than their corresponding males. The intake of alcohol (RR=4.23; 95% CI:2.05-8.74, p <0.000), previously diagnosed of having a sexually transmitted disease (RR= 2.43; 95% CI: 1.03-5.71, p = .04) and having multiple sexual partners (RR= 2.27; 95% CI: 1.11-4.65, p = .02) were the significant risk factors for HBV infection among the study participants. The study showed a low prevalence of HBV infection in the Sunyani West District of Ghana using HBsAg as a serum marker to diagnose the infection

NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE, COOKING PRACTICES, AND CONSUMPTION OF INDIGENOUS LEAFY VEGETABLES AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN SAGNARIGU MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

2025-02-11T12:09:12Z

Title: NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE, COOKING PRACTICES, AND CONSUMPTION OF INDIGENOUS LEAFY VEGETABLES AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN SAGNARIGU MUNICIPALITY, GHANA Authors: Awuni, V.; Adjei Yeboah, G.; Mohammed Misbah, J.; Zakaria, A.; Amagloh, F. K. Abstract: This study assessed nutrition knowledge, cooking practices, and consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables (IGLVs) among households in the Sagnarigu Municipality, Ghana. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data on socio-demographics, nutrition knowledge scores, cooking practices, and consumption of IGLVs in the Sagnarigu Municipality. The study was cross-sectional, with a multi-stage sampling to select 399 respondents responsible for preparing family meals. More than half of the respondents had a low nutrition knowledge of IGLVs. Respondents with basic education were 67% (OR = 0.410, 95% CI: 0.170–0.986, p = 0.047) less likely to have high nutrition knowledge of IGLVs than those with tertiary education. Most respondents (65.7%) chopped their IGLVs before washing, and almost all (90.2%) discarded stock after cooking. Concerning the consumption of IGLVs, almost all respondents’ households consumed kenaf and jute leaves representing 90.2% and 99.5% respectively. A few of the respondents indicated that availability, low cost and high nutrient content were significant drivers in the consumption of IGLVs (27.1%, 13.3% and 8.8%, respectively). Therefore, interventions by both the government and non-governmental organisations to increase nutrition knowledge and consumption of IGLVs should include strategies to promote the production, utilisation, and commercialisation of IGLVs, especially in the Northern Region.

FEASIBILITY OF RICE HUSK FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION: A CASE STUDY AT AVNASH RICE MILL

2025-02-04T11:17:21Z

Title: FEASIBILITY OF RICE HUSK FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION: A CASE STUDY AT AVNASH RICE MILL Authors: Kumih, F.; Issahaku, M. Abstract: The erratic power supply from the national grid has the potential to decrease the production hours of industries. Climate change is altering rainfall patterns and threatening crop production and food security. Rice factories' process capacity is affected negatively. The Hybrid Optimization for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software used in the study provided the technical and economic modeling to provide power for a rice mill in northern Ghana. A biomass system is considered the optimal system comprising a 1250 kW biogas generator, with a gasification ratio of 0.4, an estimated daily rice husk generation of 50 tonnes/day, and a daily load demand 3689.75kWh/day. The cost of energy (COE) of the proposed system was US$ 0.0703/kWh, with a total net present cost (NPC) of $712,082.00 and initial capital of US$ 437,500.00. The base system which was a 1300kW diesel generator, with NPC of US$ 2.93M, COE of US$ 0.290/kWh, and lower initial investment capital of US$ 186,697.00. The proposed system could generate electricity in a 98,158 kWh/yr surplus, which could power the mill's administrative building with zero unmet loads. Analysis of the system showed that the quantity of rice husk produced at the Avnash mill was sufficient for power generation from a biogas generator at current production. It suggested that the mill could be self-sufficient and contribute significantly to reducing GHG emissions.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ENROLMENT OF GIRLS AND PERFORMANCE IN GHANA: THE CASE OF KASSENA-NANKANA EAST MUNICIPALITY

2025-01-30T15:31:50Z

Title: THE JOURNEY SO FAR IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ENROLMENT OF GIRLS AND PERFORMANCE IN GHANA: THE CASE OF KASSENA-NANKANA EAST MUNICIPALITY Authors: Alua, M. A.; Agalga, J.; Akamba, M. Abstract: Empowering the girl child has long been the goal of many countries especially countries hard hit by gender disparity in education. Ghana, just like other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has implemented policies to help address gender disparity in education. This study sought to assess factors that limit female enrolment and performance despite policies and programmes put in place to solve gender disparity in education. Using a quantitative research approach, questionnaires were administered to 1,070 students and 170 teachers. Secondary data on enrolment and performance were also acquired from the Kassena-Nankana East Municipal office of the Ghana Education Service. The study revealed that though enrolment in senior high schools increased for both boys and girls from 2010/2011 to 2019/2020 academic years, girls still lagged behind boys in enrolment and performed inversely in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. Poor parental control, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, poverty, early marriage and betrothal, and gender roles, still have significant effects on female enrolment. Access to money for upkeep affects the concentration of girls in school while policies and programmes put in place to help address gender disparity, are riddled with limitations. The way forward is to ensure that policies meet their goals as well as encouraging girls to take education serious through initiatives such as rewarding brilliant students and enhancing mentorship in schools.