KNUSTSpace

Institutional Repository of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

On this portal we showcase the intellectual output of the university..

 

Communities in DSpace

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 5 of 7

Recent Submissions

No Thumbnail Available
Item
Assessing the prevalence and risk factors of neural tube defects at the Komfo Anokye teaching hospital, Kumasi
(KNUST, 2019-06) Ankwah, Yaa Konadu
Neural 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.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Assessing 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, Frank
A 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.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Production and characterisation of cocoa pod briquette and sawdust
(KNUST, 2019-07) Ofori, Prince
The 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.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Multiple regression analysis on cocoa yield in Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly
(KNUST, 2019-10) Thomas Yaw Duah
The 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
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Evaluation of user perception of biometric system A case study of Acacia Medical Centre
(KNUST, 2018-11) Yeboah Jones
Biometric 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.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Dissecting the Ghana roselle (hibiscus sabdariffa var. Altissima) accessions for genetic diversity using agro-morphological evaluation
(KNUST, 2019-06) Ankrah, Nii Ayi
Roselle altissima is a bast fiber crop of global economic importance. Although West Africa is considered the centre of diversity, research and utilization in roselle is widely ignored. The awakening of industrialization in Ghana presents roselle as candidate crop for exploration, however, information on genotypes of economic importance is lacking. Characterization and genetic diversity estimation identifies genotypes having important traits for incorporation into breeding programmes, and reveal within and between population variability, divergence between genotypes and relationships among them. Our objective was to map roselle geographical origin in northern Ghana, determine regions of substantial genetic diversity, examine genetic variability, estimate the distance within the collection, and identify relationships in the genotypes. Sixty-one accessions collected from 21 districts were evaluated in a two-season field trial using a 6 × 6 lattice square design for 36 accessions and 5 × 5 lattice square design for 25 accessions in three replications each from July to November 2016 and 2017, respectively. The genotypes were evaluated using twelve qualitative and five quantitative morphological traits covering plant type, leaf, stem and flower characteristics, and growth habit. Data were analysed by Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (SDI), analysis of variance, genetic distance, cluster, principal component, and stepwise discriminant analysis. Except for conserved traits in growth habit, calyx pubescence, and capsule shape, large variability was observed in plant type, branching habit, stem pubescence, leaf form, and calyx pigmentation. Large between population differences were identified in plant height, branch number, basal diameter, and days to flowering. A large within population variation of 0.74 to 0.85 for branch number, plant height, basal diameter, and days to flowering resided in the accessions. Height after first branching was somewhat identical in season 1. Mean plant height ranged from 184 cm to 355 cm, basal diameter 13 mm to 24 mm, height at first branching 6 cm to 157 cm, branch number 2 to 12, and days to 50 % flowering from 97 to 101 days after planting. Twenty-one accessions were selected based on tall plant height with few branches at high branch points, and large basal diameter were HA-07, HA-11, HA-12, HA-21, HA-33, HA-37, HA-38, HA-39, HA-42, HA-43, HA-44, HA-45, HA-46, HA-47, HA-49, HA-50, HA-52, HA-54, HA-55, HA-57, and HA-58. Seven districts exhibited largest diversity by SDI estimates Kassena-Nankana (0.87), Bolgatanga Municipal (0.83), West Mamprusi (0.82), Savelugu-Nanton (0.73), Tamale Metropolitan (0.68), Gowri-Yorogo and Talensi (0.67). Mean district SDI values ranged from 0.53 to 0.87. Savelugu-Nanton district accessions had the highest mean plant height of 308.27 ± 48.91 cm, highest branching point at 107.19 ± 64.66 cm, and less than five branches. Low correlation coefficients of r = 0.11 in plant height and basal diameter to r =0.13 in plant height and branch number was identified. Mean genetic distance based on Euclidean estimate was 3.03 ± 0.90 and ranged from 0.41 to 5.17 representing substantial genetic diversity in the region. Clustering based on Ward’s minimum variance produced three clusters independent of their geographical origin suggesting seed flow in the region. The first three principal components explained 100 % of the total variance with the highest loadings from branch number, height at first branching and basal diameter, then plant height and days to 50 % flowering. Stepwise discriminant analysis identified branch number, plant height and days to 50 % flowering to be most important traits in the structuring of roselle altissima. The findings would be beneficial for planning a systematic collection, for conservation, and for trait improvement in breeding roselle.
No Thumbnail Available
Item
Contribution of cocoa certification to environmental management and protection in the Amenfi west municipality, Ghana
(KNUST, 2019-07) Duah, Nelson
The study examined cocoa certification in Amenfi West Municipality, its contribution to environmental management and protection. The study sought to determine the contribution of certification to environmental management and protection, levels of soil chemical properties (organic carbon, soil organic matter, soil pH, etc.) between systems of production, evaluated the perception of farmers on impact of voluntary standards and certification schemes on sustainability of cocoa production and verified the extent of management control plans on cocoa farms. The study obtained information from one hundred and fifty (150) respondents mainly through questionnaires. The results indicated that farmers of Utz and Rainforest Alliance were strongly convinced that voluntary certification had impacted on their production. It was realized that certified schemes help farmers get market for their produce, certification organizations give right prices or premium to cocoa produce. On management control plans adopted on cocoa farms, the study showed that certified farmers avoided the burning of bushes and forest in order to preserve organic life and save the forest. More so, Utz and RA certified farms had buffer zones between farms aquatic systems and areas of human activity from agrochemicals. The main aim is to protect contamination of water bodies. The results from conventional farms however showed that majority of them had no buffer zones. On agrochemical storage and the usage of protective gears for applying fertilizers and pesticides, the results showed that most certified farmers stored and kept agrochemicals in agro stores or temporal sheds compared to only a few conventional farmers who kept such chemicals in their kitchen and bedrooms. Among the recommendations made were that cocoa farmers employ resourced person to help explain such certification, its impacts and challenges to them before enrolling as there is more to these certified programmes than what cocoa farmers in the Amenfi West Municipality know. It was also recommended that training programmes on the use of agrochemicals and other harmful pesticides should be extended to non-certified farmers as they all fall or live within the same municipality and rely on each other. Training non certified farmers will go a long way to safeguard water bodies and other environmental issues.