Ghana Journal of Geography

Internal Migration and Access to Health Insurance in Ghana: A Gendered Perspective

Donatus Yaw Atiglo — 2024-06-10

Universal health coverage is a core strategy for attaining Sustainable Development Goal 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing. Migration, like gender, is a social determinant of health and access to health insurance. Complementing recent studies on equitable access to health care, this paper examines the relationship between internal migration and access to health insurance in Ghana using a gendered lens. This study utilises data on 35302 persons (16685 men and 18617 women) aged 15 years and above from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 7. Using gender-stratified logit models, we assess the effects of migrant status on current health insurance enrolment adjusting for other background factors. Overall, about 56% of people are enrolled on health insurance, with higher enrolment among women (60%) than men (43%). Urban non-migrants and urban in-migrants have the highest proportions enrolled while rural in-migrants have the lowest. Apart from urban non-migrants, rural-urban migrants have a higher proportion enrolled than all other categories. Among women, rural-urban migrants are less likely than urban non-migrants to be enrolled but among men only this applies to urban-rural migrants. Rural-rural migrants are the least likely to be enrolled, compared with urban non-migrants among all groups. Internal migration is significantly associated with access to health; however, the patterns of association are different for men and women in Ghana. The findings highlight the unequal access by in-migrants to healthcare. Efforts to improve universal access to health care must strategically target migrants, using a gendered approach, to increase their health insurance coverage in Ghana.

Determinants of Maternal Mortality in Edo South Senatorial District, Nigeria

Rebecca Oghale John-Abebe — 2024-06-10

Nigeria, like most sub-Saharan African countries, has a high number of maternal deaths during pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum. Each time a woman gets pregnant in Nigeria, she is faced with the probability of dying due to maternal issues. This paper seeks to determine the factors influencing the incidence of maternal mortality associated with four levels (individual, household, medical, and community) among pregnant women in the Southern Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria. The respondents comprised of adult women of reproductive age (15–49 years). STATA version 13 was used to conduct multinomial logistic regression for data analysis. The data analysis was carried out using 1546 households in 29 communities in the district. The regression model depicts that maternal mortality outcome is higher in the rural region of the study area. Education, parity, mode of delivery, and history of pregnancy complications are factors influencing maternal mortality in the study area. Rural areas record higher maternal mortality than urban areas. This study recommends that spatially identified factors in the district affecting the best maternal outcome should be addressed, especially in grassroots government intervention programs and policies for overall improvement in living and health standards of the people in the district.

Implementation of School-Based Sexual Health Curriculum in Tanzania: Perspectives of Secondary School Adolescents in Southern Highlands

Ahmad Kamangu — 2024-06-10

This study investigates how adolescents in the Iringa Region of Tanzania perceive the sexual health education curricula currently taught in secondary schools. Utilizing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, the study involved 372 adolescents who filled out survey questionnaires. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics to provide insights into their views. Most participants (95%) were between 15 and 19 years old, with a composition of 64% females and 36% males. About 57.3% were day scholars, while 42.7% were boarders, and the religious composition included 87.4% Christians and 11.3% Muslims. The results showed that 77.7% of adolescents reported receiving sexual health education, which covered many critical topics but notably excluded homosexuality. The study found good comprehension of topics like the reproductive system, puberty, and sexually transmitted diseases, but identified significant gaps in understanding family planning, sexual orientation, and responsible behaviors. Additionally, many adolescents suggested that topics such as confidence in relationships, puberty, sexual health, and behavior should be introduced as early as primary school. The conclusion drawn from the findings is that while sexual health education is implemented in secondary schools within the studied areas, the coverage of topics is incomplete. The study recommends the development of an age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education curriculum that addresses the full spectrum of necessary topics to equip adolescents with the knowledge and skills required for making informed decisions related to their sexual health.

Perceived Workplace Harassment of Informal Public Transport Operators in Two African Cities

Ayobami Popoola — 2024-06-10

Informal public transport (IPT) or paratransit, such as traditional taxis, tricycles (keke), minivans (danfo) and motorcycles (okada) are the preferred means of transportation for many people in cities of developing countries. Despite their importance in the movement of people within African cities, the operators of these urban transport modes are exposed to some occupational risks, such as workplace harassment. It is a factor that puts the sustainability of public urban mobility at risk. This study presents the results of the pilot study of larger research on police harassment and the well-being of informal transport operators in two African cities. The study is based on a sample of IPT operators and stakeholders in Durban, South Africa and Ibadan, Nigeria. The sample for this study was drawn conveniently across various motor parks and taxi ranks in the areas. The interest of the study was to understand the workplace experiences of the sampled operators and contribute to the debate about the well-being of informal operators. The study revealed that harassment exists among IPT operators and is multidimensional. It also explained the shared experiences of harassment by both groups of transport operators. This study further contributes to the debate on the effect of harassment on sustainable well-being of IPT operators.

Social Aspects of Groundwater Use and Management in the Wa West District

Francis Issahaku Malongza Bukari — 2024-06-10

Despite the relevance of groundwater to the rural safe drinking water needs, inadequate description of its distinctive social aspects in the policy documents and empirical literature makes it difficult to assess its specific contribution towards the achievement of policy targets. This paper used a mixed research design to assess the social characterisation of groundwater in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Findings indicated that boreholes and dug wells constituted the major forms of water infrastructure in the study communities. There is an implicit stakeholder framework for the governance and management of groundwater but hardly noticed, as they do not deliberately separate groundwater from surface water governance. Accessibility and affordability were close to meeting policy and standard expectations on average, but quantity of groundwater use fell below the acceptable level attributable to factors such as household size and water storage container size among others. Socio-cultural factors such as whether or not, the construction of graves and pit latrines met regulated standards and the associated impacts on groundwater security. This study recommended the education of communities and promotion of community participation as strategies of addressing any identified challenges of groundwater management.

Evaluating the Effectiveness and Adoptability of Mulching Technology to Control Soil Erosion: Case Study of the Nyabugogo Catchment in Rwanda

Félicien Majoro — 2024-06-10

This research examines mulching as an effective soil erosion control measure in the Nyabugogo catchment of Rwanda. To assess soil erosion causes, effects, and control, this study made use of literature reviews, interviews, and on-site visits. Findings based on the responses of 96 farmers revealed that intense rainfall (32.4%), soil type (31.7%), and steep slopes (30.7%) are the major contributors to soil erosion, while other factors were found to have a minimal influence of 5.2%. Mulching materials are sourced from crop and vegetative residues and differ in various geographical locations. By using the Universal Soil Erosion Equation (USLE) model to simulate the suggested Soil Erosion Control Measures (SECM), the study observed a significant reduction in soil loss from 35.86 t/ha/y to 17.84 t/ha/y. The use of mulching technology further decreased soil erosion rates to permissible levels, reducing the rate from 17.84 t/ha/y to 9.83 t/ha/y. Based on the results, the study recommends the implementation of the site-specific SECM combined with mulching, drainage channels, and stabilizing grasses on the same farmland to effectively reduce soil erosion to acceptable levels within the Nyabugogo drainage area. The study advocates soil erosion control measures as the optimal choice for enhancing soil productivity while minimizing sedimentation in downstream rivers and lakes

Livelihood Strategies for Food Shortages during Dry Seasons in Tanzania: A Case Study of the Halali River Catchment Areas in Wanging’ombe District

Christopher Aaron Mulungu — 2024-06-10

This paper examines the livelihood strategies adopted by people in the Halali River catchment areas of Wanging’ombe District, Njombe region, Tanzania, during food shortage. The study employed a mixed research approach, utilising quantitative and qualitative methods. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focused group discussions (FGDs) and documentary reviews were used for data collection, involving 310 heads of households and 23 key informants. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse data. The results indicate that people in the Halali catchment area adopted various off-farm income-generating activities such as business, carpentry, masonry, pottery, basket making and brewing beer as survival strategies during food shortages. Other sources of off-farm income-generating activities included wage employment, casual agricultural labour and remittances from relatives living far from the basin. It is concluded that most households in the study area were poor and likely to be food insecure due to limited opportunities for off-farm income-generating activities. It is recommended that the government should disseminate knowledge on the availability of reliable markets for agricultural products and the protection of the Halali River catchment areas.

Spatio-Temporal Mapping of Land Use/Cover and Population Change in a Biosphere Reserve: The Case of Lake Bosomtwe Basin in Ashanti Region, Ghana

Albert Nii-Moe Allotey — 2024-06-10

This paper examined land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics over 34 years in the Bosomtwe biosphere vis-à-vis population trends within a buffer of 5km using an integrated remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) approach to assess the changes in the land use and land cover. Supervised classification and post-classification change detection technique in GIS was applied to three multi-temporal Landsat images (1986, 2007, and 2020). The date selection was informed by the availability of Landsat imagery with limited cloud cover. The analysis showed that the built-up category recorded the highest percentage change (260.2%) with an annual rate of 7.7%. Forest cover recorded a loss of 66.3% of area coverage with an increase in farmland from 50.8% in 1986 to 68.5% in 2020. Besides, Lake Bosomtwe was contracted by 0.76 km2 over the period under review. There was a strong positive correlation between population density and both cropland (r = 0.89) and built-up areas (r = 0.70). It is recommended that intensification of monitoring activities by the district assembly would help to reduce the anthropogenic activities being conducted in the area.

Analysis of Rainfall and Temperature Dynamics (1981 to 2021) in Semi-Arid Central Tanzania

Samson Msilu — 2024-06-10

This study investigates the impact of climate change on rainfall and temperature dynamics in Bahi and Mpwapwa Districts , Dodoma Region, Tanzania , over 41 years (1981–2021). The study used historical temperature and precipitation data from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA). The dataset was analyzed using linear regression and the Mann -Kendall trend test using MS Excel (2010) and SPSS V20. The results indicate slight increases in annual rainfall in Mpwapwa (3.717mm) and Bahi (2.743mm). However, mean decadal precipitation analysis reveals that Mpwapwa experienced a decrease in rainfall during the first three decades , followed by a significant increase in the most recent ten years . Conversely, the amount of rainfall in Bahi remained relatively consistent throughout, except for the last ten years, when there was an increase in precipitation compared to the earlier decade . However , the Mpwapwa district is observing an increase in the number of rainy days, whereas Bahi is experiencing a decrease. Additionally , both districts have encountered a notable rise in both minimum and maximum temperatures . These changes , particularly the increase in temperature and fluctuating rainfall , significantly impact agro-pastoral communities in these semi-arid regions . The study underscores the need for these communities to implement stronger adaptation strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.

Custom and Commodification: The Role of Earth Priests, Family Heads, Chiefs and Youth in Land Administration Among the Bulsa of Northern Ghana

Joshua Awienagua Gariba — 2024-06-10

This article assesses the effects of land commodification on the role and authority of earth priests, family heads, chiefs, and youth in the administration of customary land among the Bulsa of the Upper East Region of Ghana. In Ghana, land is not only an economic resource, but also forms the basis of history, power, identity, rootedness, spirituality, and memory claims at both individual and group levels. Consequently, land appropriation tends to generate multiple disputes/conflicts. Using ethnographic research methodology, the article explores how land commodification has redefined customary practice related to land ownership and administration in the Bulsa area, including instigating different types of disputes or contested claims between earth priests, family heads, chiefs, and youth. The article explains how these disputes and contestations that emerge from land commodification implicate a bundle of customary land rights and undermine the legitimate claims of earth priests, family heads, chiefs, and young people to engage in land transactions. The article concludes that, while land commodification in the Bulsa area is inevitable, its occurrence should not create continuous conflict leaving family members especially, the youth, women, and community in a dismal or impoverished state.

Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services Supply and Demand of the Kilombero Valley Floodplain, Tanzania

Nangware Kajia Msofe — 2024-06-10

Effective land use planning requires mapping and assessing ecosystem service supply and demand to inform policy and decision-makers about ecosystem service tradeoffs that are suited for long-term ecological management. This study examined the ecosystem services supply and demand of the Kilombero Valley Floodplain in Southeastern Tanzania. The supply-demand budget index was calculated using land use data from 1990, 2010, and 2016 and an expert-based matrix model examined the dynamic change of supply and demand for the 17 ecosystem services (7 regulating, 8 provisioning, and 2 cultural). The spatial analytic features of ArcGIS 10.2 were utilized to build ecosystem services evaluation matrices and regionally explicit supply, demand, and supply-demand budget maps. The study found that between 1990 and 2016, the supply of ecosystem services within the Kilombero Valley floodplain decreased substantially while the demand for ecosystem services increased spatially towards the core low-lying area of the valley. Furthermore, the average ecosystem service supply-demand budget index declined from 1.8 in 1990 to 1.6 in 2016, with few exceptions of food production, pollination, and freshwater supply, where ecosystem service supply exceeds demand. The decline is linked to deforestation, agricultural expansion, agropastoralists immigration, and encroachment to the wetland area. Thus, this study recommends that the government should create effective land use plans for each ward and village in the Kilombero District, establish afforestation programs, local irrigation schemes for smallholder farmers, and enforce environmental by-laws to ensure sustainable ecological management in the Kilombero Valley Floodplain and its ecosystems.

Comparative Analysis of the Impacts of Commercial Exotic Forestry on Soil Fertility In the Southern Highlands of Tanzania: A Study of Pine, Eucalyptus and Black Wattle Plantations

Luth Mligo — 2024-06-10

Pine, eucalyptus and black wattle trees have been planted worldwide for commercial forestry and carbon sequester. These species affect soil fertility differently depending on climate and ecosystem. In the southern highlands of Tanzania, these trees replaced most of the native forests, grasslands and cropland, but their impacts on soil fertility are uncertain. The study compared Pinus patula, Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia meansii (black wattle) forest soils to surrounding natural forests, grasslands and cropland. 18 study sites were selected based on the related location and land use. Each site had two transects; each transect had three 25 m x 20 m rectangular plots for soil sampling. Soil pH, macro and micro-nutrients were measured to determine the soil fertility. The results show that pine, eucalyptus and wattle trees had significantly lower soil organic carbon than cropland and natural forests (p<0.05). The pine and wattle forests had lower pH than the surrounding cropland and natural forests (p<0.05). Farmlands and natural forests had significantly higher mean soil total nitrogen than the pine, eucalyptus and wattle forests (p<0.05). However, the wattle forests had a higher mean TN (1.16%) than the pine and eucalyptus forests (0.13%). Liming and application of phosphate-based fertilisers are recommended when farmers use the harvested exotic tree farms for food crop production.

Adults’ Qualitative Accounts of Adolescent Sexual Activity in A Resource-Constrained Urban Setting: What Role Does Social Disorganization Play?

Adriana Biney — 2024-06-10

Sexual risk-taking behaviour among adolescents in urban resource-constrained communities has in recent times been deemed more pervasive than in the past. This study sought to interrogate this in an indigenous Ga community in Accra, Ghana by (i) identifying the perceptions on past and present patterns in adolescent sexual behaviour, and (ii) unearthing the factors accounting for the changes in adolescent sexual behaviour over time. We carried out two focus group discussions comprising 18 parents of adolescents and five individual interviews with elders (aged 50 and above) in the study community. The transcripts generated from the interviews were analysed thematically. Parents and elders alluded to adolescent sexual activity not generating as many negative reproductive health consequences in the past as it is in recent times; with adolescents engaging in public sexual acts unlike before. Individual, family and community/structural-level factors accounting for the changes in adolescents’ sexual behaviour over time include child indiscipline, lack of parental care, influence of the media, poverty, population growth, and community features. The changing nature of the urban space has been identified as a potential source of weakening adults’ control over adolescent sexual behaviour. The findings indicate that most of the changes taking place in the community are explained by social disorganization. The solutions to improve their sexual and reproductive health behaviour and outcomes require individual, family and community/structural-level programs and interventions.