This Community features research findings from postgraduate students. These findings are submitted as theses or dissertations http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/5 2026-06-24T02:25:14Z 2026-06-24T02:25:14Z ABDUL-KARIM, A. M. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/4715 2026-06-23T12:22:48Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: SOCIO-CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF OPEN DEFECATION AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN THE KINTAMPO NORTH MUNICIPALITY IN THE BONO EAST REGION OF GHANA. Authors: ABDUL-KARIM, A. M. Abstract: Open defecation is a long-standing public health issue, particularly in developing nations like Ghana. In Kintampo North Municipality, the practice is widespread and has significant health, environmental, social, and economic implications. This study investigated these determinants in Kintampo North using a cross-sectional design with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires, focus groups, interviews, and observations. Systematic Random Sampling (SRS) was employed in sampling houses for data collection. A sampling frame of houses was obtained from the Kintampo Health Research Centre. Data collection instruments used in this study included focus group discussion (FGD) guide, key informant (KI) interview guide, structured questionnaire and checklist for latrine observations. Variables included attitudes, beliefs, social norms, sanitation knowledge, and emotional or physical experiences with open defecation. Participants were household heads, men, women, adolescents, health officers, chiefs, and community leaders, totaling 538 individuals. Male household heads comprised of 68.4% and 31.6% female household heads. Most participants (61.2%) had no formal education with nearly 60.2% of households lacked toilet facilities. High costs of constructing and maintaining latrines were reported by 94.8% and 74.4% of respondents respectively. While 31.4% belief that children’s faeces are harmless, another 91.3% is associating OD with ancestral customs. Majority of the respondents, (57.9%) intimated that a big challenge associated with latrine use was the possibility of a foul odour emanating from pits. Other Cultural beliefs like the idea that men and women should not share toilets, feces should not remain in homes, and certain groups like children or menstruating girls should not use toilets also contributed. Open defecation, underpinned by socio-cultural factors is a pervasive practice in the Kintampo North Municipality with far-reaching consequences on the social, cultural, economic, environmental, health and general well-being of the people. These findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive sanitation policies, community-led infrastructure development, strict enforcement of sanitation laws, and engagement with traditional leaders to curb open defecation effectively. Description: AWARD OF MASTER OF PUBIC HEALTH IN PUBLIC HEALTH

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z YAKUBU, A. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/4714 2026-06-23T12:21:22Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: AGENDA SETTING IN FOOTBALL COMMUNICATION WITHIN TAMALE, NORTHERN REGION: AN ANALYSIS OF THE GHANAIAN SPORTS MEDIA. Authors: YAKUBU, A. Abstract: This study examined how sports media in Tamale, Northern Ghana, set the agenda for football communication and how such agenda-setting practices shape public attention to men’s and women’s football. The study was motivated by persistent concerns about the limited visibility of women’s football within sports media discourse and the lack of context-specific evidence on how media coverage patterns reproduce gender inequality in football communication. Guided by an interpretivist paradigm and a phenomenological qualitative design, the study explored the meanings, experiences, and social influences that shape media decisions in football reporting. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 13 participants, comprising sports journalists, footballers, coaches, and football administrators, because they possessed direct knowledge and practical experience relevant to the study. Data were collected through semi-structured key informant interviews and supported with a qualitative review of selected sports programmes, radio discussions, and football-related online and social media content. The data were analysed thematically through an iterative process of coding, categorisation, and interpretation of recurrent patterns. The findings revealed a clear imbalance in football coverage, with men’s football receiving more frequent, prominent, and detailed attention, while women’s football was often marginalised, treated as secondary, or framed as less newsworthy. Participants attributed this imbalance to editorial priorities, perceived audience interest, commercial pressures, professional routines, and entrenched gendered norms within football culture. The study concludes that sports media agenda-setting in Tamale reinforces inequalities in football communication and weakens the visibility, legitimacy, and development of women’s football. It recommends deliberate gender sensitive editorial practices and stronger stakeholder commitment to promote more equitable football coverage.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z ASANA, I. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/4713 2026-06-23T12:20:53Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF ADOLESCENTS IN THE SAGNARIGU MUNICIPALITY Authors: ASANA, I. Abstract: The study aimed to examine the effects of parental participation on the academic performance of adolescents in school. The study specifically analysed the effects of home-based involvement on the academic performance of adolescents; the effects of school-based involvement on the academic performance of adolescents; the effects of home-school communication on the academic performance of adolescents; and analysed the effects of parental involvement on the academic performance of adolescents. The study employed a quantitative approach and a correlational research design. The sample size of 256 was obtained using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample determination table from the population students, teachers and parents. Questionnaire was the instrument used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions tools were used to analyse the hypotheses. Results showed that all three dimensions of parental involvement when employed had the greatest impact on the academic performance of the adolescents with a Beta value of 0.970, followed by home-school communication participation with a Beta value of 0.963, followed by school-based participation with a Beta of 0.934. Both school-based and home-school communication revealed a very strong and significant effects on academic performance of the adolescents. The study concluded that academic work of adolescents is enhanced if parents take active interest and involvement in curricular and co-curricular activities of their children. The study therefore recommended that, parents must be sensitized through PTA meetings to actively participate in their children’s academic both at home and in school in collaboration with teachers and school administrators. Description: AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (MPhil) IN BASIC EDUCATION

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z ADAM, A. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/4712 2026-06-23T12:17:43Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: INFLUENCE OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS’ MOTIVATION ON PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN SAGNARIGU MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY Authors: ADAM, A. Abstract: This study investigated the influence of senior high school teachers' motivation on their participation in Professional Development (PD) activities within the Sagnarigu Municipality. Using a quantitative approach and cross-sectional descriptive survey design, the study randomly selected 405 teachers from four government-assisted senior high schools to participate in the study. A pre-tested questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were utilized to analyzed the study, with logistic regression identifying significant predictors of PD attendance. The findings revealed that motivation has strong influence on high PD participation. Multivariate analysis confirms that teachers with high intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as those engaged in additional business activities are more likely to attend PD sessions. The findings also indicate that age, gender and marital status significantly affect PD attendance, while ethnicity, education level, and teaching experience do not. In view of this, the study recommended that the GES should motivate teachers by instituting motivation packages for them as this would increase teachers’ engagement and also foster a sustained participation in professional development activities. Description: AWARD OF MPHIL IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

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