Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education

Funding Local Open Access Journals in Sub-Saharan Africa: Ethics and Strategies

Jacob Owusu Sarfo — 2024-11-13

Open access (OA) publishing is altering the scientific, academic, and industrial landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa by enhancing the visibility and accessibility of research. Nevertheless, the sustainability of local OA journals has been reported to be hindered by funding challenges. In this paper, I explored these issues and proposed strategic solutions to ensure the long-term viability of OA journals in the region amidst the current funding constraints. The paper briefly discusses OA publishing, ethical funding models, and strategies to ensure sustainable publishing in the global academic community.

Evaluating Health Markers Response to Aerobic Exercise Among Adult Keep Fit Clubs Members in Ghana: A Paired Analysis Across Genders

Nathaniel Atikumi — 2024-11-13

The prevalence of physical inactivity among adults and adolescents worldwide is alarmingly high, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. The assessment of physiological and anthropometric markers holds significant implications in light of the global burden of physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyles, and non-communicable diseases. A pre-test post-test control group quasi-experimental design was used to examine participants’ health markers response to aerobic exercise among Keep Fit clubs in Accra, Ghana. There was a total of 64 participants, 32 in each training group. Longitudinal data from 12-week intervals was collected on two different occasions to track the changes in the variables over time and among males and females. A paired sample ttest comparison of means was calculated for males and females separately to examine the effectiveness of the exercise protocols on the selected anthropometric and physiological measures. The results showed that males mostly responded to continuous exercise. At the same time, females responded better to single training.

Voices and Visions: An Appreciative Inquiry into International Master’s Students’ Ideal Learning Experience at a Southern Ontario University

William Sarfo Ankomah — 2024-11-13

In this study, the researcher used the Appreciative Inquiry’s dream phase to investigate international master’s students’ ideal learning experiences at a Canadian university. The research question was, “How do international students describe their ideal experience in terms of quality and learning experiences in a master’s program?” Findings revealed a strong desire for an education that blended theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Key themes included the importance of fair tuition fees, meaningful interaction with local students, and comprehensive career development opportunities. These conditions were identified as pivotal to a transformative educational journey. The study findings urge educators and policymakers to focus on international students’ well-being and future employability and highlight the multifaceted benefits for students, institutions, and broader international relations. The insights gathered underscore the potential of a student-centered academic approach in shaping an educational landscape that responds to the aspirations and needs of international graduate students.

Unemployed Graduates’ Business Cooperative Formation Prospects and Challenges in Response to Unemployment: A Descriptive Study of a South African Municipality

Yonela Sotshangane — 2024-11-13

The study investigates unemployed graduates’ cooperative formation prospects in response to unemployment in Ntabankulu Local Municipality. The study’s main objective is to explore unemployed graduates’ cooperative formation prospects and challenges in response to unemployment. The study adopted a theory of People-Centred Development, which entails the cooperation of individuals from a community upping their own institutional abilities to mobilise resources as well as managing them to create a sustainable and equal distribution thereof. The study followed a quantitative research approach, where a survey instrument was employed to collect relevant data from the sample, and a descriptive tool was used to analyse and present the data. This study made use of a sample of 120 participants drawn through a stratified random technique from the unemployed graduate population in Ntabankulu Local Municipality. Among other prospect criteria, the study found graduates having an idea of how to form a cooperative and the realisation that the communities of this study are the right target for the formation of cooperatives. Therefore, unemployed graduates’ willingness to form cooperatives is the most important pointer. Furthermore, the findings of the study revealed the obstacles to start-up cooperatives, including lack of capital and limited resources. The critical challenges faced by the cooperatives, which result in closures within a very short period after establishment, are the unavailability of financial support from relevant agencies, limited resources, and the absence of desired support from the government. The study concludes from these findings that they should form the basis for the design and implementation of viable policy and practice towards the formation of unemployed graduates cooperatives in response to unemployment in the South African context.

Attitudes and Social Norms Influencing Adolescents’ Contraception Utilisation in Bongo District, Ghana

Ramatu Akunvane — 2024-11-13

Adolescent pregnancy poses a significant global challenge, with Ghana experiencing high rates contributing to annual maternal deaths. Effective contraception utilisation can prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among adolescents. This study examines attitudes and social norms influencing adolescents’ contraception utilisation in Bongo District, Ghana, employing a quantitative self-report cross-sectional design. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 379 adolescents, with data collected using a standardized questionnaire. Analysis conducted using SPSS Version 21 revealed a 100 % response rate, predominantly comprising females (66.8 %, n=253), with a mean age of 17.4. Approximately half of the respondents (53.3 %, n=202) reported using contraception, and adolescents’ attitudes towards contraception use were mainly positive (n=229, 60.4 %). Furthermore, subjective norms positively affected contraception use. A majority of participants (n=233, 61.5 %) reported experiencing social pressure or support to use contraception, with the highest level of support coming from healthcare providers (n=237, 62.5 %). The study underscores the critical role of midwives, public health nurses, and healthcare providers in educating and promoting contraception use among adolescents.

Impact of Financial Inclusion on Human Development Indicators for Women in Mexico

Guadalupe del Carmen Briano-Turrent — 2024-11-13

Financial inclusion has become a strategic factor to reduce poverty and income inequality and achieve sustainable economic growth. The objective of this work was to study the impact of financial inclusion (access, owning, and usage of financial services dimensions) on women’s human development indicators (health, education, and standard of living) in the Federal States of Mexico. The study sample was made up of 448 observations during the 2007-2020 period, that is, 14 units of analysis per Federal State. The econometric results showed that access to financial services increases the Human Development Index [HDI] and the education sub-index for women. The owning of financial products improved the HDI and its education, health, and standard of living components for women; credit financial instruments, in particular, enhanced human development indicators for women. The usage of the financial services component increased the HDI as well as the education and standard of living sub-indices. This study has practical implications for those responsible for designing and approving public policies and regulations in Mexico regarding financial inclusion and human development from a gender perspective.

Staff Promotion and Employee Commitment to Work: A Survey in a Ghanaian University Library

Gloria Tachie-Donkor — 2024-11-13

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between job promotion and employee commitment at a Ghanaian University Library. Employing a cross-sectional survey design, primary data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 187 Junior and Senior staff within the library. The Census method was used to include all 187 staff for the study. The reliability of the questionnaire was established through Cronbach Alpha coefficient analysis, confirming internal consistency with all items scoring above 0.70. Hypotheses were tested using Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Coefficient. The study findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between job promotion and employee commitment among library staff. The study concludes by recommending that university libraries in Ghana prioritize job promotion as a means to foster employees’ affective commitment, thereby enhancing organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics between promotion and commitment within the library community, offering practical implications for organizational management and policy formulation.

Climate Change Effects, Multi-Actor Interactions, and Effectiveness of Adaptation Activities on Rice Production in Ghana’s Northern Region

Fatimah Abubakari Von — 2024-11-13

The study evaluated the level of interactions and efficacy of climate change adaptation efforts among farmers, agricultural extension agents (AEAs), and researchers in the northern region of Ghana. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design technique. Three hundred and twentyone smallholder farmers were used for the study. Factor analysis, analysis of variance, frequencies, means, and standard deviations were tools used for quantitative analysis. The results revealed about 68 % variations in the effect of climate change on rice production. The findings also showed that researchers ( ̅ = 3.52a) interacted significantly more with AEAs ( ̅ = 3.16b) than farmers ( ̅ = 2.81c). Farmers stated that the technique and outcome demonstrations were effective in adopting adaption technology, with a mean score of 4.53. Farmers’ limited engagement with Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and researchers hinders the development, modification, and dissemination of adaptation technologies for rice production. The study’s outcome is crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on rice production. Additionally, it reveals how various actors in rice production interact to address climate change through various adaptive measures. Also, the theoretical implication is embedded in higher levels of interaction by researchers and AEAs, compared to farmers, suggesting potential communication and technology transfer gaps that hinder the successful adoption of adaptation technologies among farmers. The originality of this study lies in the interaction among rice production actors in addressing the climate change effect, which is absent in current climate change literature.

Teachers’ Strategies in Embracing Curriculum Change: A Case of Lesotho Urban Teachers

Retselisitsoe Kitima Kojana — 2024-11-13

Curriculum reforms involve changing organisational structures, administration, resource distribution and allocation, communication links, stakeholders’ practices, beliefs, and attitudes. They could devastate the consequences of teaching and learning to teachers as curriculum implementers. They could further affect teachers’ cognitive stability and psychological and social well-being. This study explores the teachers’ experiences in implementing curriculum reforms at the primary school level in Lesotho. An interpretive paradigm and appreciative inquiry framework guided this qualitative study. Thirteen teachers were selected purposively from three primary schools in Maseru. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions allow for the collection and interpretation of data. Their experiences with curriculum change and the coping mechanisms they utilised to survive the demands and challenges surfaced. The thematic findings highlighted how teachers’ resistance to change, inadequate training, and increased workload pressured most participants. To survive the pressure, challenges, and demands of educational change, teachers highlighted the need to form subject panels and schemes, accessibility and the use of technology and the Internet, and support from school management and the Ministry of Education and Training. Educational change can positively and negatively affect teachers as curriculum implementers. Therefore, teachers need to improvise appropriate coping mechanisms.

Capacity Building in Ghana’s Decentralised Health System: A Qualitative Study

Theresa Barnes — 2024-11-13

Capacity building is a crucial management tool used to enhance and sharpen the competencies of staff in health facilities. The core objective of this study is to assess how health performance in decentralised health systems can improve through capacity building. The study adopted a descriptive-exploratory design with a qualitative approach. A semi-structured interview guide is the primary tool for data collection in this study. The purposeful sampling technique was used to sample eight respondents from selected hospitals in Accra, Ghana. A one-to-one interview process was conducted, and sampling continued until saturation was reached. Thematic content analysis is the method employed for data analysis. The results of the study showed that though Ghana’s health system is implementing the decentralisation reform, to some extent, some core functions like human resources, procurement, logistics, and recruitment are still centralised, with the majority of the actions taken at the top management level. Again, capacity building is reported to be carried out in all health facilities, but in some cases, the frequency with which they are organised is the issue, as sometimes they are initiated by the specific department and not by the organisation. All respondents were of the view that the more capacity-building programs are organised, the greater the chance of increased performance as accountability is improved.