Browse
Recent Submissions
Now showing 1 - 5 of 2017
- ItemAssessing the prevalence and risk factors of neural tube defects at the Komfo Anokye teaching hospital, Kumasi(KNUST, 2019-06) Ankwah, Yaa KonaduNeural tube defect (NTD) is caused by folic acid deficiency, hereditary, lifestyle, environmental factors and chromosomal abnormalities, and among others it is a remarkable public health burden. However, the documented Ghana health literature is devoid of research studies on prevalence and causes of NTD in Kumasi Metropolis. This study therefore assessed the prevalence and risk factors of NTD at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. The participants in this study were mothers of both live babies with and without NTDs born between the period of January, 2012 to December, 2016. The study collected both primary and secondary data from 65 mothers of babies born with NTD and 65 mothers of babies born without NTD at the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) of KATH. The secondary data were collected from the medical records of the babies with NTD and their mothers while primary data were collected through administration of structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed quantitatively with the help of SPSS version 21.0. The study found out that the prevalence of NTD at KATH was 2.63 per 1000. The commonest type of NTD diagnosed was Meningocele. As mothers advanced in age the likelihood of neural tube defects significantly decreases. Mothers in urban communities had significantly less likelihood to give birth to babies with neural tube defects than mothers in rural communities. Single mothers had higher likelihood of giving birth to babies with neural tube defects than married mothers. Mothers with lower educational level had higher likelihood of giving birth to babies with neural tube defects. Folic acid intake before pregnancy (one year before pregnancy) reduced the likelihood of giving birth to babies with neural tube defects. Mothers in the test group were diagnosed of anaemia and eclampsia more than mothers in the controlled group. Gestational diabetic mothers exposed to smoke from firewood and anemic mothers living in dusty environment had highly significant likelihood of giving birth to babies with NTD. Pregnant women should be educated on nutrition and healthy life style at healthcare facilities as part of their antenatal. Pregnant women should also be made aware of their risk factors to help them know how to interact with the environment to prevent the occurrence of NTDs. Ministry of Health should further embark on massive folic acid intake education to help reduce the occurrence of NTDs.
- ItemAssessing the ecosystem services in the Monkey Hill Reserve Area in Takoradi and the Ankasa Conservation Area in the Jomoro district, Ghana UNE, 2019(KNUST, 2019-06) Okyere, FrankA Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was adopted to elicit values of ecosystem services among sampled households in Monkey Hills, Takoradi and Ankasa conservation, in the Jomoro district. The aim was to assess household’s willingness to pay for biodiversity conservation of forest ecosystems in the mist of prevalent destructive socio-economic activities taking place in the areas; and how it differs along the geographical location and across users groups. Simple random sampling techniques were used to select respondents in the two study areas. Data were collected from 150 respondents in each area using a structured questionnaire. Findings showed that most of the household’s WTP per month ranged from GHȼ 1 to GHȼ 20 in the both Ankasa Conservation Area and Monkey Forest Area. In the Ankasa conservation area age and Gender of the head of household were the factors that had statistically significant effects on household’s willingness to pay as determined by the logistic regression analysis. In the Takoradi Monkey reserve area, none of the demographic characteristics had a significant influence of willingness to pay. The survey showed that majority of households aspired to conserve the biodiversity of the forest ecosystem for the survival of mankind and for future generations. However, the only way they could fulfil this was through increased involvement in decision making on forest ecosystem management and other alternative livelihoods made available to them. The results can be used to mobilize support for conservation and sustainable use of these Forest ecosystems.
- ItemProduction and characterisation of cocoa pod briquette and sawdust(KNUST, 2019-07) Ofori, PrinceThe demand for wood fuels in rural and some urban areas of Ghana keeps on increasing which could lead to forest degradation. The present study sought to produce and characterise briquette made from cocoa pod husk and a mixed sample which comprised of a mixture of cocoa pod husk and sawdust as an alternative source of fuel to reduce the pressure on wood fuels. Simple methods were used to produce the briquette for the study. The physico-chemical properties of the briquettes were conducted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where the proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and calorific value of the briquettes were analysed and compared to the controlled sample charcoal produced from ‘Amire’ species (Terminalia ivorensis) using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replication. A survey was also conducted to determine the usability of the briquettes using purposive sampling technique where sixty (60) respondents were given samples of the two different kind of briquettes produced to use. Results obtained from the ultimate and proximate analysis showed that there were significant differences among the treatments (P < 0.05). Results obtained from the calorific value showed that the mixed briquette (23.6 MJ/Kg) produced significantly (P < 0.05) the highest amount of heat followed by the controlled charcoal (18.5 MJ/Kg) and carbonised cocoa pod briquette (16.7 MJ/Kg). Results from the survey showed that (97%) of the respondent used wood fuels for their heating and cooking activities, (98%) of the respondents were ready to use the new briquettes produced if it is made available. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that the briquettes produced from cocoa pod husk and sawdust could help reduce the pressure on wood fuels, reduce deforestation and also provide cleaner fuel for cooking. The study recommend that more education should be given to the public on the benefit and the use of briquette technologies as a substitute for wood fuels.
- ItemMultiple regression analysis on cocoa yield in Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly(KNUST, 2019-10) Thomas Yaw DuahThe purpose of this study is to indicate how significant the given predictor variables are to cocoa yield and to develop a model that can be used to predict cocoa yield annually. Secondary data for this research was obtained from the farmers, PBC, and Cocoa Abrabopa and the World Bank data website. The dependent variable was cocoa yield of Upper Denkyira East Municipality, and the independent or explanatory variables used were the application of fertilizer per year, number of times applied insecticides per year, land size in acres, and the number of labor applied per year. The was then tested to make sure that it satisfied all the possible assumptions of a good regression data using Anderson-Daring’s test, and related plots. Regression Analysis was then used to further analyze the data using R-code as a tool. In conclusion, the regression model used to explain the significance of the independent variables; however, one of the five predictor variables was significant
- ItemEvaluation of user perception of biometric system A case study of Acacia Medical Centre(KNUST, 2018-11) Yeboah JonesBiometric systems involves security assurance to make our systems very secured and robust. Nowadays biometric technology has been fixed into new systems with the main aim of enforcing strong privacy and security. There have been a lot of innovative systems being introduce and majority have biometric installed to protect military bases, banking machines and other sophisticated systems such as on-line tracking systems and sensitive data protection. This has allow businesses to focus on their core mandate of doing business and have confidence in the data security aspect. Even though biometrics may serve many purposes and improve security, they have vulnerabilities as well. This work attempts to overcome the skepticism by proposing an improved countermeasures techniques to prevent attacks on biometric system. The proposed framework or model involves investigating the biometric vulnerabilities and countermeasures to safeguard against present and future attacks.