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Pelvic floor exercise: Awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting
(KNUST, 2026-04-13) Awaitey, Bright Anneh
Background Pregnancy and childbirth increase the risk of pelvic floor muscle damage, leading to conditions such as urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ pro lapse. This makes it imperative to adopt strategies such as pelvic floor muscle exer cises (PFMEs) to ensure positive antenatal and postnatal experiences for women. Hence, the study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, practices, and beliefs of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting. Objective We assessed the awareness, knowledge, practices and beliefs of PFMEs among pregnant women in a Ghanaian setting. Design A cross-sectional descriptive research was conducted, recruiting 134 pregnant women through convenient sampling in selected antenatal clinics in Kumasi metropo lis, Ashanti Region. Methods The study adopted the questionnaire regarding pelvic floor muscle training among pregnant women used by Teerayut Temtanakitpaisan, Suvit Bunyavejchevin, Pranom Buppasiri and Chompilas Chongsomcha. Data on the socio-demographic character istics of the women, their awareness, knowledge, beliefs and practices about PFMEs were recorded. Results More than half (64.9%) of the respondents were not aware of PFMEs. Subsequent analysis for this work was therefore done for participants who reported being aware (35.1%). Also, the principal sources of information from which the subjects acquired the knowledge of PFME were health-care providers (42.6%) and media outside the hospital (36.2%). With reference to beliefs 80.3% believed that PFME could reduce vaginal trauma and 83.0% believe PFME aids vaginal birth. In terms of PFME prac tice, 36.2% of the aware women performed PFME regularly. Conclusion To ensure pregnant women are well-informed about PFMEs, physiotherapists should work with antenatal care providers to develop comprehensive courses that include detailed information on PFME’s.
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Housing Affordability in Urban Ghana: Prospects and Challenges in Asokore Mampong, Kumasi
(KNUST, 2026-02-01) Dinye Irene-Nora
Housing affordability had emerged as a critical urban challenge in Ghana, yet empirical evidence at the sub-city level remained limited. This study examined the dynamics of rental affordability in Asokore Mampong, a rapidly urbanizing municipality within the Kumasi Metropolis. Using a mixed methods design, the study integrated survey data from 120 households with qualitative insights from 10 key informants to assess the prospects and constraints shaping access to affordable housing. Guided by Shelter Poverty Theory and Institutional Theory, the analysis explored how income levels, rent structures, cultural tenure systems, and governance inefficiencies interacted to influence affordability outcomes. By providing one of the few localized, municipal-level assessments of rental affordability in Ghana, the study offered empirical insights that remain largely absent from current scholarship. The findings showed that 74% of households spent more than 30% of their income on rent, indicating widespread shelter poverty. Two-year advance rent payments, agent exploitation, and weak rent regulation were identified as the most severe constraints. Although compound houses and family-based tenure systems provided partial affordability buffers, these were increasingly undermined by rising land values, overcrowding, and infrastructural deficits. Institutional weaknesses, particularly limited enforcement capacity, low public awareness of housing programmes, and fragmented land-governance systems further restricted affordable housing access. The paper concluded that affordability challenges in Asokore Mampong resulted from the combined effects of household-level vulnerability and systemic governance deficits. Strengthening rent regulation, improving institutional coordination, upgrading informal housing stock, and expanding financial support for low-income tenants were recommended.
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Entrepreneurship education in Ghana– the case of the KNUST entrepreneurship clinic
(KNUST, 2017-06-01) Nyadu-Addo, Ralph
Purpose– Entrepreneurship education thrives on the pillars of experiential education. Using the case of the KwameNkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, the purpose of this paper is to examine the entrepreneurship clinic (EC) as a viable pedagogy for the promotion of experiential education in entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach– The paper relies on insider action research to analyse, within Joplin’s five-step model, the case of the EC at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Findings– Theanalysis showed that the KNUSTclinic comprises five main activities including preparation, orientation, selection and matching, coaching and monitoring and evaluation. In relation to Joplin’s five-step model, the first three stages of the clinic provide focus for the clinic while the remaining two stages– coaching and monitoring and evaluation– entail activities that are geared towards action, support, feedback and debrief. Through the clinic, thousands of tertiary students have been trained in entrepreneurship and new venture creation; some selected participants have been coached while others have had the opportunity to qualify for business incubation. Research limitations/implications– Although the paper discusses some achievements of the clinic in relation to enrolment and fundraising, it does not assess the impact of the clinic on the entrepreneurial competencies, intentions and initiatives of participants, hence, these issues are recommended for future research. Practical implications– The paper demonstrates that it is feasible to implement the EC methodology, irrespective of the cost and time implications that are often associated with experiential educational methodologies. However, support from university management, funding raising from internal and external sources and technical support from industry and government agencies are key to the sustainability of clinics. Originality/value– The paper adds novelty to the entrepreneurship education literature by bringing to the fore how a university in an emerging African economy is implementing and managing the EC pedagogy.
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Assessing the Efficacy of High-Dose Rifampicin plus Albendazole against Onchocerciasis
(KNUST, 2026) Ahiadorme, Monica; Debrah, Linda Batsa; Debrah, Alexander Yaw; et al.
The dataset provides de identified participant data from the ASTAWOL clinical trial (https://kccr-ghana.org/research-impact/research-groups/filariasis-2/), a phase II pilot study investigating the efficacy and safety of high-dose rifampicin (RIF) plus albendazole (ALB) in treating onchocerciasis. The trial was conducted in the Sefwi Akontombra District, Ghana – an area endemic for this parasitic disease. Study Design: Participants (adults aged 18–55 with confirmed onchocercomata and microfilaria) were randomized into four treatment arms: RIF+ALB (7 or 14 days), ALB alone (14 days), and No Treatment, alongside six-month ivermectin administration. Data Included: The dataset encompasses comprehensive clinical data including demographic characteristics, treatment allocation, adverse events, laboratory safety parameters, skin microfilarial densities, Wolbachia depletion measurements via qPCR, and detailed immunohistology analysis of surgically removed onchocercomata tissue to assess embryogenesis and worm viability. Access and Use: Access to this dataset is subject to reasonable requests to the corresponding author, obtaining relevant institutional ethics approval, and proper acknowledgement and citation of the original study.
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Energy Drink Consumption: Pattern and Effect on Commercial Drivers in Kumasi
(KNUST, 2019-11) Pobee, Elizabeth Lomokei
For decades, the consumption of caffeinated beverages intended to “energize” has increased significantly. In Ghana, commercial drivers in major cities are rather at risk of daytime fatigue because of the many trips these drivers make to earn more money due to lack of regulation on the number of trips one makes in a day. Field observation shows that many commercial drivers rely heavily on energy drinks, however not much on this has been investigated. To address this, a cross sectional study was conducted on 210 commercial drivers across five taxi/bus stations in the Kumasi Metropolis. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and other information on the drivers’ pattern of energy drinks consumption. Five brands of energy drinks were sampled and analysed for presence of psychoactive agents such as benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, tetrahydrocanobinoids and tramadol using the dip 6 test kit. HPLC was used to detect and quantify caffeine in the energy drinks and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for detection of heavy metal contamination. The study showed the absence of the psychoactive agents’ benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, tetrahydrocanobinoids and tramadol in the energy drinks. However, varying amounts of caffeine were detected in the energy drinks. The study also showed significant association between the number of trips and the number of bottles of energy drinks consumed (r = 0.631. p-value < 0.05). Hence, an increase in the number of bottles will cause an increase in the number of trips taken. The R square value 0.398 (~0.4) shows a 40% probability that consumption of energy drinks makes drivers make more trips. This result is desirable enough to lead drivers on to consume more energy drinks, thereby making them only go on long hours of drive while reducing their efficiency (by causing restlessness, insomnmia and confusion) as drivers on the road due to the cognitive changes of the psychoactive substance. Heavy metal iron was detected in all of the energy drinks tested, and copper in one of them, all below the allowed concentrations. In conclusion, this study showed a high consumption of energy drinks among the drivers with no regard to safety on our roads.
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Effects of dopants on the conductivity of polyaniline Synthesized by chemical oxidation and electrochemical methods
(KNUST, 2019-08-25) AWUAH, Joseph Asare
Polyaniline salts (PANI-ES) were synthesized by chemical and electrochemical oxidation using primary dopants such as HCL, HNO3, H2SO4 and CH3COOH and the aniline as the monomer. All the synthesized PANI have resulted in emeraldine salts form as indicated by dark green colour of the salts. Various characterization techniques employed were UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR and Cyclic voltammetery studies. All these techniques confirm the various properties of PANI. The characteristic bands in UV-Visible spectra of the samples indicate that effective doping has occurred in the synthesized polymer. Quinoid and benzenoid peaks at 1553-1596 cm- 1 and 1437 – 1496 cm-1 respectively were observed in all the samples. The band gaps for all the samples, both bulk and thin film, were obtained using the absorption spectra and Stern relation. PANI-H2SO4 had the least band gap for both bulk and thin film samples whereas PANI CH3COOH had the highest band gap. The voltammogram showed the various oxidation states during the electrochemical deposition at potential of 0.8 V. Four probe method was used to study the conductivity of both thin and bulk samples. The conductivity values for PANI-H2SO4 were found to be highest i.e. 1.183 S.cm−1 and 3.424 S.cm−1 for bulk and thin film respectively
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Analyse des procédés de traduction utilisés dans La traduction Anglaise d'une vie de boy (houseboy)
(KNUST, 2021-04-01) Ajongbah, Thomas
This study entitled Analyse des procédés de traduction utilisés dans la traduction anglaise d'Une vie de boy (Houseboy) is about an analysis of the translation procedures used by the translator of Ferdinand Oyono's novel, Une vie de boy from French into English.The novel Une vie de boy (Houseboy) has been of much research especially in literature. There has not been enough research on the translation of this book into English. This is the gap that our work seeks to help fill. Our particular interest is in the seven translation procedures of Vinay et Darbelnet and the two methods of translation of Peter Newmark. The seven procedures of Vinay and Darbelnet are divided into two groups, namely direct and oblique translation. Newmark identified eight technics but concludes that it is semantic and communicative translations that meet the two objectives of translation: exactitude and economy. The methodology we used is that, we studied the seven translation procedures of Vinay and Darbelnet and the two methods of Newmark. We then examined how the translator used these procedures and methods to do his translation. In the course of our analysis, we discovered that Reed maintainned words borrowed from Spanish, Latin and Ewondo (a Cameroonian local language) in the original text. In addition, he translated certain African proverbs literally. Also, we realized that he did some faulty translations. Finally, we observed that human languages have some linguistic units in common despite the linguistic {fferences. These common linguistic units facilitate translating from one language into another.