University of Education, Winneba

Birth preparedness and complication readiness have the goal of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. This concept requires pregnant women to seek health care without delay in case of obstetric complications and delivery. This study determined the practices and factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. A facility-based cross-sectional design was employed among 384 participants, collecting data using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzing them using Stata (Version 16) at the 0.05 significance level and 95% CI. The practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness was 53.4%, and single pregnant women were more likely to practice birth preparedness and complication readiness (AOR=2.19; 95% CI=1.13, 3.45; p=0.020). Respondents whose husbands had completed the tertiary education level were more likely to practice birth preparedness and complication readiness (AOR=1.15; 95% CI=0.05, 1.46; p<0.001). Pregnant women who did not have enough money to cater for expenses, those who had no means of transportation to the health facility, those who did not have someone to accompany them to the health facility, those who did not receive advice from a birth attendant regarding their pregnancy, and those who did not have enough food at home to cater for the household were less likely to practice birth preparedness and complication readiness (all: p<0.05). Health promotion programs to increase the practice of birth preparedness and complication readiness should target all women, particularly those with limited social and financial support and families with no or basic education.

This paper advocates a re-thinking of the artistic meaning, where in the work of some contemporary artists meaning is not merely a representation, but essentially a physical act of manufacture and the natural qualities of the materials used. Going beyond a semiotic or strictly conceptual approach, this paper used the method of comparative analysis to show that materiality and process are in turn the main bearers of content. It is examined with reference to the specific practices of four influential artists: William Kentridge, who uses erasable charcoal to create a palimpsest that literally embodies the process of memory and the process of historical change; Toyin Ojih Odutola, whose labour-intensive, mark-intensive practice physically enacts the convoluted systems of globalized information and power; Roni Horn, whose flowing behaviour of poured pigment or the meditative accretion of graphite marks is a direct enquiry into states of matter and directed perception; and Julie Mehretu, whose accumulative of ink and paint materialize the chaotic, overlapping systems of globalized information and power. With this narrowed analysis, the article argues that the act of creating something physical and the distinct features of the selected material is not merely a means to an end but, rather, the dwelling place of the conceptual and metaphorical strength of the work.

Gender disparities in mathematics achievement, particularly in fractions, remain a concern in basic education. This study examined gender differences in fractions achievement among Basic Six pupils in the Effutu Municipality and assessed the effect of the indigenous game kyempe on narrowing this gap. A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test non-equivalent control group design was employed, involving 80 pupils (37 males and 43 females) selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using a 14-item fractions test and analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests in SPSS (version 25). Pre-test results indicated a statistically significant gender difference in fractions performance, with a higher proportion of females exhibiting low achievement compared to males. However, post-test results showed no significant difference between male and female pupils following the kyempe intervention. The intervention demonstrated a moderate effect in reducing gender differences (Cohen’s d = 0.659). These findings suggest that kyempe effectively reduced gender disparities in fractions achievement. The study recommends integrating culturally relevant games such as kyempe into mathematics instruction to enhance learning outcomes and promote gender equity in Ghanaian basic schools.

This study assessed the environmental impacts of discarded Mobile Telecommunication Technology equipment on soil quality and examined the health risks associated with heavy metals detected in soil samples from the Agbogbloshie e-waste dumpsite in Accra, Ghana. Heavy metal analysis of soils at the mobile electronic waste disposal site in Agbogbloshie, Accra was done to determine the concentrations of Fe, Hg, Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb and As to ascertain the metal or metals existing naturally. Forty-five (45) soil samples were collected at a depth of 8 cm at sites with heavy deposits of wastes and analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Results of the analysis indicated mean levels in mg/kg of heavy metals as; 14.92 (Fe), 0.53 (Hg), 11.77 (Ni), 1.2 (Cd), 6.85 (Cr), 11.01 (Cu), 1.67 (Zn), 6.22 (Pb) and 5.19 (As). Heavy metal level of Hg was above the threshold of 0.2mg/kg whilst that of Cd had reached the threshold of 1.2mg/kg set by the US EPA. Multivariate analysis of soil data showed that, only Fe occurs naturally whilst the others were associated with anthropogenic activities. Consequently, all the heavy metals analyzed may not pose any health risk to the public except Fe, Hg and Cd. Indeed, this suggests that, a research that consistently monitor quantitatively heavy metals in body fluids of residents in and around dumpsites should be initiated.

This study explores the employability and work performance of accounting education graduates from a Ghanaian university, contributing to scholarship on higher education effectiveness in sub-Saharan Africa. Using a mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 222 graduates through a structured survey, complemented by qualitative interviews with three graduates and three employers. Graduates reported strong self-perceived competencies in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, while employers highlighted strengths in adaptability but also noted specific gaps in practical application of accounting tools. The study situates its findings within higher education employability debates (Employability in Higher Education, 2006; Educ + Train 59:338-352, 2017), demonstrating how program design influences graduate outcomes in resource-constrained contexts. While the use of snowball sampling and self-assessment measures limits generalizability (J Bus Psychol 34:125-137, 2019), the findings provide valuable insights for curriculum reform and employer engagement. The study recommends aligning accounting curricula with employer expectations and integrating practical skills training to enhance graduate readiness.

Management of mental disorders has been a challenging task in many countries of the world likewise in African countries where healthcare systems are not as sophisticated as those of the developed nations. One of the major challenges that hinder full service delivery in many mental health facilities in underprivileged African communities are those relating to barriers to access to care. In these regions, the mental health professionals are limited to cater for the population seeking care. The objectives of this review were to identify and synthesise the barriers faced in accessing or delivering mental health services in underprivileged African communities and offer recommendations to address such barriers and enhance service delivery and utilization. The study was carried out following scoping review guidelines and studies included in the review were pulled from various databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Dimensions, and African Journal Online and 8 studies were included in the review. The findings from this study reveal a wide range of barriers, including lack of trained personnel, stigma, cultural beliefs, geographical inaccessibility, and financial constraints. Healthcare providers and service users both identified these challenges, with significant overlap in the barriers reported by both groups. Addressing these barriers requires comprehensive policy reforms, increased training for healthcare workers, public awareness campaigns, and better integration of mental health services into primary healthcare.

Purpose: The study highlights the perceived challenges and expectations of the implementation of Critical Pedagogy (CP) in one college of education in Ghana. Injustice and bias have existed in social settings, including educational institutions, over the years. Consequently, staff and students endure suppression biases. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed a qualitative research design, employing focus group discussions. From a target population of all academic and managerial staff, fifty-two (52) staff attended a seminar, with forty (40) voluntarily participating in panel group discussion. A thematic analysis approach was employed to analyse the data. Findings: The discussion revealed that ignorance, resistance, staff and student background diversity, curriculum constraints, and assessment demands are among the challenges that impede the implementation of CP. Research Limitation: A sample of one college of education may limit the generalisability of the findings. Practical Implication: Implementing CP has the potential to transform staff and students into reflective teachers for the basic schools. This will consequently produce functionally transformative global teachers to facilitate the standards-based curriculum. Implementing CP in the college offers opportunities to create transformative learning experiences that foster critical thinking in students, ensure institutional harmony, and enhance academic productivity. Social Implication: When teacher trainers ensure that pre-service teachers assume their respective roles in college, they develop functional philosophies around creating an inclusive and reflective classroom. They will, in turn, teach to empower young children to grow and become functional and responsive global citizens. Originality/Value: The study is a novel approach that encourages teacher trainers to recognise the collective impact of CP on students’ liberation and capacity-building initiatives, thereby contributing to justice, equality, and empowerment in schools and society.

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is a pathogen responsible for white spots, typically 0.5–2 mm in diameter, on the shrimp cephalothorax. WSSV is capable of causing mass mortality rates of up to 100% within 3 to 10 days of symptom onset. The rapid transmission and detection challenges associated with WSSV have resulted in significant economic losses for Indonesian shrimp farmers. In Bali, Litopenaeus vannamei (Vannamei shrimp) is the second-largest marine aquaculture commodity after seaweed, with major seed production centered in the Gerokgak and Seririt Districts of Buleleng Regency. Given the difficulty in controlling WSSV, identifying its emergence and characteristics is critical. This study aimed to determine the distribution of WSSV in Bali by examining the relationship between water quality and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection results, and by analyzing the correlation between water quality, WSSV incidence, and mortality rates in monitoring ponds. The research focused on PCR analysis and water quality assessment of Vannamei shrimp from the Karangasem, Buleleng, and Jembrana Regencies, conducted by the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (BKI). Water quality parameters, including temperature, transparency, pH, DO, salinity, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate, were measured using test kits. The study detected no WSSV during the examination period. PCR analysis showed amplification products ranging from 200 to 400 bp, distinct from the standard WSSV-positive marker at 941 bp. Furthermore, all water quality samples met the criteria and compliance parameters established by the Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Center (BBKKIT).