Papers by EMMANUEL ACQUAH
Experimental Studies on Tee Weldment Joints (Non-Destructive Testing)
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology
British Journal of Surgery
Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and mid... more Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality wa...
Systematic Literature Review on Digital Learning Games
SLR on the impacts of digital learning games on learning, motivation, and with a specific focus o... more SLR on the impacts of digital learning games on learning, motivation, and with a specific focus on language acquisition
Ecotourism can be an incentive for conservation and may also provide socio-cultural impact on the... more Ecotourism can be an incentive for conservation and may also provide socio-cultural impact on the host communities. This study examined the negative and positive socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism activities in the park-adjacent communities around Mole National Park, Kakum National Park and Shai Hills Resource Reserve in Ghana Three communities were selected around each protected area. The study employed primary data collection, where questionnaires were used to interview 648 respondents around the three protected areas concerning the socio-cultural impact of ecotourism. The study revealed a loss of farmland and pasture lands, local residents paying equal inflated prices for goods and services just like tourists and increased pressure on existing infrastructure and amenities and these were the major socio-cultural concerns of ecotourism in the fringe communities. Increased awareness and respect for local culture, putting the communities in the global spotlight and increased suppor...
The Future of African Think Tanks
The Future of Think Tanks and Policy Advice Around the World, 2021
European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, 2020
Plateau ecosystems are of special scientific and conservation interests as they harbour rich plan... more Plateau ecosystems are of special scientific and conservation interests as they harbour rich plant diversity and exhibit considerable spatial variability along elevation gradients. In this study, variations in floristic composition and structure in relation to elevation were studied in six-fringed communities Hohoe (HH), Alavanyo (AL), Santrokofi (SA), Akpafu (AK), Bowuri (BO), and Nkonya (NK) of the Togo Plateau Forest Reserve in Ghana to help provide explicit and effective management of this ecological hotspot. A total of 180 plots (each measuring 25m × 25m) were demarcated across the six communities for sampling of trees (DBH measured at 1.3 m above ground ≥10 cm). Smaller nested plots, measuring 5m × 5m and 1m × 1m, were used for sampling saplings (DBH < 10 cm, height > 1.5 m) and seedlings (DBH < 3 cm, height < 1.5 m), respectively. Species identity and abundance and elevation were recorded for each plot. Relationships of elevation gradient with vegetation attribute...
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2020
Soil-Species correlation studies help in understanding the ecology of plateau ecosystems. However... more Soil-Species correlation studies help in understanding the ecology of plateau ecosystems. However, this information is scarse thereby posing a challenge in their effective management in Ghana. Hence, the study on the influence of soil physicochemical parameters on species composition and structure in the six fringed communities which constitute the focus of the study: Bowuri (BO), Nkonya (NK), Akpafu (AK), Santrokofi (SA), Hohoe (HH) and Alavanyo (AL) in the Togo Plateau Forest Reserve in Ghana. Soil and vegetation parameters were recorded in a total of 180 plots (each measuring 25m × 25m) demarcated across the communities and analyzed. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) results showed that pH, OC, TN, OM, TCa, TMg, TK, Na, T.E.B, ex. Acidity, ECEC, Base sat, AVI – P (ppmP), Sand and Silt were the drivers of trees, saplings and seedlings composition and structure (including density, richness, shannon, evenness and basal area (BA)) on the plateau. This vegetation attributes were se...
International Journal of Ecology, 2018
The study assessed factors that influenced bird-habitat preference, diversity, and spatial distri... more The study assessed factors that influenced bird-habitat preference, diversity, and spatial distribution in Mole National Park. Birds were identified using point count sampling method, while ordination techniques were performed to determine the influence of environmental factors on bird-habitat preference. A total of 4951 individuals belonging to 131 species were identified across the four habitat types in the wet (n= 3033) and dry (n= 1648) seasons. Despite the high abundance and richness of birds in the woodland and shrubland habitats, grassland habitat was the most diverse, due to the high spatial evenness distribution of the birds. Bushfire, patchiness, and animal trampling were the key environmental determinants in bird assemblages and habitat preferences and accounted for 62.02% and 81.82% variations in the two seasons. Rarer birds like White-Backed Vulture (NT) and White-Headed Vulture (CR), Bateleur Eagle (NT), and Woolly-Necked Stork (VU), with high conservation concern, sug...
BJS Open, 2019
Background: End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-i... more Background: End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-income settings, being influenced by patient, disease, surgeon and system factors. This study aimed to assess global variation in end colostomy rates after left-sided colorectal resection. Methods: This study comprised an analysis of GlobalSurg-1 and-2 international, prospective, observational cohort studies (2014, 2016), including consecutive adult patients undergoing elective or emergency left-sided colorectal resection within discrete 2-week windows. Countries were grouped into high-, middle-and low-income tertiles according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Factors associated with colostomy formation versus primary anastomosis were explored using a multilevel, multivariable logistic regression model. Results: In total, 1635 patients from 242 hospitals in 57 countries undergoing left-sided colorectal resection were included: 113 (6⋅9 per cent) from low-HDI, 254 (15⋅5 per cent) from middle-HDI and 1268 (77⋅6 per cent) from high-HDI countries. There was a higher proportion of patients with perforated disease (57⋅5, 40⋅9 and 35⋅4 per cent; P < 0⋅001) and subsequent use of end colostomy (52⋅2, 24⋅8 and 18⋅9 per cent; P < 0⋅001) in low-compared with middle-and high-HDI settings. The association with colostomy use in low-HDI settings persisted (odds ratio (OR) 3⋅20, 95 per cent c.i. 1⋅35 to 7⋅57; P = 0⋅008) after risk adjustment for malignant disease (OR 2⋅34, 1⋅65 to 3⋅32; P < 0⋅001), emergency surgery (OR 4⋅08, 2⋅73 to 6⋅10; P < 0⋅001), time to operation at least 48 h (OR 1⋅99, 1⋅28 to 3⋅09; P = 0⋅002) and disease perforation (OR 4⋅00, 2⋅81 to 5⋅69; P < 0⋅001). Conclusion: Global differences existed in the proportion of patients receiving end stomas after left-sided colorectal resection based on income, which went beyond case mix alone.
British Journal of Surgery, 2019
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practi... more Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89·6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle...
International Journal of Forestry Research, 2017
Conventional managed forests and sacred groves are seldom assessed to determine their effectivene... more Conventional managed forests and sacred groves are seldom assessed to determine their effectiveness in biodiversity conservation strategies. This study investigated tree and insect diversity in Jachie sacred grove (JSG) and Nkrabea forest reserve (NFR) in Ashanti region, Ghana. The study area constituted eight plots of 50 × 50 m along two 300 m long transects. Insects were sampled in eight pitfall traps, diagonally between the transects. Out of 150 individuals, 13 species in NFR and 15 species from JSG were registered.Celtis mildbraediiwas the most dominant species in NFR = 43.18% and JSG = 23.58%. Mean DBH showed a significant relationship with basal area in NFR and JSG. Tree diversity and richness were higher in JSG (H′= 1.43–2.3 ± 0.10;D= 1.8–3.69 ± 0.30) compared to NFR (H′= 0.86–1.56 ± 0.09;D= 1.1–2.3 ± 0.57). However, insect diversity was higher in NFR (H′= 1.34 ± 0.10) than in JSG (H′= 0.5 ± 0.005).Camponotus furvusandPachycondyla tarsatawere most abundant in JSG and NFR, res...
Journal of Sustainable Mining, 2016
Mining in tropical countries contributes significantly to the global minerals supplies but unregu... more Mining in tropical countries contributes significantly to the global minerals supplies but unregulated mining activities in reserved forests is associated with destruction, loss of habitats and loss of biodiversity. This study determined the area of the Offin shelterbelt forest reserve, Ghana, degraded through illegal mining (galamsey) and the impacts on the livelihoods of fringe communities. Thirty-two (32) coordinates were recorded around the peripheries of disturbed site in the reserve using hand-held Global Positioning System and were then imported into a geodatabase in ArcGIS which was used to estimate the area degraded. Data was obtained from 60 purposively sampled respondents from two communities fringing the reserve and 10 key informant interviews. Increased income (13%), employment opportunities (6.7%) and increased market activities (2%) were some benefits of the illegal mining activities identified by the respondents. Eight respondents associated their employment with of the advent of illegal mining activities out which 6 (70%) were engaged directly in mining activities, while 2 (30%) were into trading. The miners earned cash income range of US $ 2.9e22.9 daily. Within 5 years, illegal mining had degraded 2.5 km 2 (4.4%) of the total area of the reserve and the destruction of cocoa farms and water sources (31). Farming among respondents reduced from 90% to 76% after illegal mining. The relatively high cost (US$ 6424.1) involved in flushing out and the subsequent return of such miners poses a threat to sustainable forest management and requires a more holistic approach in tackling such a problem.
BMC public health, Jan 19, 2016
Suicide is among the top causes of adolescent mortality worldwide. While correlates of suicidal b... more Suicide is among the top causes of adolescent mortality worldwide. While correlates of suicidal behavior are better understood and delineated in upper-income countries, epidemiologic knowledge of suicidal behavior in low-income countries remains scant, particularly in the African continent. The present study sought to add to the epidemiologic literature on suicidal behavior in Africa by examining the behavioral correlates of suicide attempts among Malawi adolescents. A cross-sectional study using a nationally-representative sample extracted from publically-available data was conducted. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to discern associations between suicide attempts and a host of behavioral variables. 2225 records were included in the study. At the multivariate level, suicide attempters had significantly higher odds of being anxious, being physically bullied, having sustained a serious injury and having a greater number of lifetime sexual partners. Alcohol use (at ...
Concerns and benefits of park-adjacent communities in Northern Ghana: the case of Mole National Park
International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 2016
ABSTRACT Protected areas are increasingly becoming islands of habitat surrounded by seas of culti... more ABSTRACT Protected areas are increasingly becoming islands of habitat surrounded by seas of cultivation and development. Communities experience both costs and benefits associated with nearby PAs, and perception of these influence support for PAs and subsequent conservation related behaviors. This paper explores the concerns and benefits of 10 adjacent communities surrounding Mole National Park in Ghana using key informants, focus groups and household surveys. Overall, most people have a positive attitude towards the park. Yet, in many communities respondents also have negative attitudes. Crop depredation, loss of farmlands, and lack of access to NTFPs are the top three concerns. Increased conservation awareness, provision of ecosystem services and maintenance of cultural identity are the top three benefits. This study examined a number of factors thought to influence attitudes to PAs, and found that the strongest predictor of a community’s attitude towards the park is whether it is involved in a community resource management area (CREMA). Other factors such as distance from the PA, involvement in tourism, culture, and demographics (age and gender) were also significant but of less importance. Knowledge of these influential factors can assist management to create more favourable perceptions of protected areas.
Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1978
Since 1970, increased attention has been devoted to examining the development potential of rural ... more Since 1970, increased attention has been devoted to examining the development potential of rural areas. Among the contributing factors are the reversal of population migration trends which began about 1970, the increasing dispersion of manufacturing activities, and the congestion and population losses of central urban cities. This study, as part of Title V research in Ohio, is an examination of labor force behavior in manufacturing. Although manufacturing employment has declined in relation to total employment in the region, the manufacturing sector has been and continues to be one of the major sources of income and employment. The characteristics and behavior of labor in this region are expected to be similar to those of many other rural areas in the United States, particularly areas of the Appalachian region.
International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER), 2011
The purpose of this paper is to present a lexicographic goal programming (LGP) model to assess fi... more The purpose of this paper is to present a lexicographic goal programming (LGP) model to assess fishery management and related activities and their economic impact on Marylands Coastal Bays. The LGP model is designed to illustrate how LGP can be used as an aid to solving fishery management and related activities with multiple objectives. The technique allows us to find the optimal solution, based on the priorities of the goals in a decision-making environment. In this study, we have used LGP to examine a set of goals and objectives as they relate to the socioeconomic significance of fishery management in Marylands Coastal Bays.
Nature-based tourism in Mole National Park, Ghana
African Geographical Review, 2015
Nature-based tourism (NBT) can provide significant inducement for conservation, as well as provid... more Nature-based tourism (NBT) can provide significant inducement for conservation, as well as providing a setting for sustainable nature tourism that can benefit local communities. This study assesses strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of NBT in Mole National Park, Ghana, compares domestic and foreign tourists, and makes recommendations for improvement using data from key informants, focus groups, and tourists survey (N = 350). International and domestic tourists agreed on a number of issues with seeing wildlife and being close to nature as equally top-ranked motivations. Tourists had high levels of satisfaction with the park environment and guided tour, with elephants as the flagship species.
Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy, 1994
Yam (Dioscorea spp.) cultivation has the potentials to greatly contribute to poverty alleviation ... more Yam (Dioscorea spp.) cultivation has the potentials to greatly contribute to poverty alleviation and food security, in Cameroon. The full production potentials of yams have not been exploited, leaving Cameroon with an annual production of 648,407 metric tons (MT) at the sixth position, among the six countries of the West African yam zone, with 67.3 million MT. This review highlights research gaps in the yam production chain, which can be exploited to enhance production in the country. Subsistent yam cultivation takes place in all five agro-ecological zones of the country. Although with many fluctuations, yield and production quantities have recorded a marginal net increase, since 1961. Cameroon has nine cultivated and 17 wild species, exploited by Baka pigmies for food, but there is no established genebank, thereby exposing the genotypes to genetic erosion. Cultivated species are both indigenous and exotic, and traditional seed systems (sorting, junking, and milking) are exploited for seed procurement. Minisett technology is also gaining grounds. Yam processing is very limited, and, coupled with poor conservation facilities, contributes to elevated post-harvest losses. The yam marketing system is poorly organized, and hinders farmers from reaping optimum benefit from the activity. Other major constraints to yam production include high labour demand, pests and diseases, absence of improved seeds and research neglect. There is the need for concerted efforts involving all stake holders in the yam production chain to enhance yam production in Cameroon.
Social Sciences, 2014
Physical fighting is an important behavioral concern of public health importance among adolescent... more Physical fighting is an important behavioral concern of public health importance among adolescents worldwide. The present study examines the patterns and correlates of physical fighting among a school-based population in a low-income country setting. Data on 6235 adolescents aged 11-16 years were derived from the Republic of Ghana contributions to the Global School-based Health Survey. Three thresholds of participation in a physical fight during a 12-month recall period were compared against several independent sociodemographic variables. Bivariate analyses were used to screen for statistically significant associations and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine significant relationships while adjusting for covariates. Within the recall period, 32% of adolescents had reported being involved in two or more physical fights. Those involved in a physical fight during three or more days during the recall period were more likely to have been bullied (relative risk ratios (RRR) = 1.86; 99% confidence intervals (CI): 1.38-2.52), have had a troubled experience with alcohol (RRR = 2.202; CI = 1.55-2.64), and miss days of school (RRR = 2.02; CI = 1.39-2.92). When adjusted only for age and sex, having understanding parents was protective (RRR = 0.64; CI = 0.53-0.78) as was having a positive school environment (RRR = 0.73; CI = 0.55-0.97). Our findings
Social Sciences, 2014
Bullying is relatively common and is considered to be a public health problem among adolescents w... more Bullying is relatively common and is considered to be a public health problem among adolescents worldwide. The present study examined the risk factors associated with bullying behavior among adolescents in a lower-middle-income country setting. Data on 6235 adolescents aged 11-16 years, derived from the Republic of Ghana's contribution to the Global School-based Health Survey, were analyzed using bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analysis. A high prevalence of bullying was found among Ghanaian adolescents. Alcohol-related health compromising behaviors (alcohol use, alcohol misuse and getting into trouble as a result of alcohol) increased the risk of being bullied. In addition, substance use, being physically attacked, being seriously injured, hunger and truancy were also found to increase the risk of being bullied. However, having understanding parents and having classmates who were kind and helpful reduced the likelihood of being bullied. These findings suggest that school-based intervention programs aimed at reducing rates of peer victimization should simultaneously target multiple risk behaviors. Teachers can also reduce
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Papers by EMMANUEL ACQUAH