Department of Vocational & Technical Education

Knowledge and Practice of Iodized Salt and Iodine Deficiency Disorders among Men in Nungua, Ghana

2023-09-29T13:22:46Z

Knowledge and Practice of Iodized Salt and Iodine Deficiency Disorders among Men in Nungua, Ghana Setorglo, Jacob; Gorleku, Philip Narteh; Sarpong, Frederick; Buxton, Christiana; Arthur, Francisca Naana; Agyei, Bismark Anin; Steiner-Asiedu, Matilda Background: Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) continues to be a problem in Ghana after several years of salt fortification with iodine. Sustainable IDDs prevention requires a well-informed population and their willingness to use iodized salt. This study determined the levels of knowledge of men on iodized salt, IDDs iodized salt usage. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 400 men (18 years and above) sampled conveniently at Nungua in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Data on socio-demographics, knowledge, use of iodized salt and IDDs were collected. We computed descriptive statistics for socio-demographic data, knowledge of iodized salt, usage of iodized salt and knowledge on IDDs. We grouped scores for knowledge on iodized salt into poor and good. Scores for knowledge on IDDs were split into tertiles and labeled as low, moderate, and high. Chi-Square (χ2) test and multinomial logistic regression were performed to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics, good knowledge on iodized salt and high knowledge about IDDs. Results: Majority of respondents (37.5%) were aged between 26 and 41 years. About 97.8% have heard about iodized salt and 69.3% first heard about iodized salt through the media. About 70.5% used iodized salt in cooking and 76.8 % of the respondents would encourage women to use salt in cooking. When knowledge level was split into two groups, the higher proportion (266 out of 400) had poor knowledge on iodized salt and in tertiles, the majority (184 of 400) had low knowledge on IDDs. There were statistically significant differences between age, marital status and educational level and knowledge on IDDs all at P< 0.001. Those with Junior High School education had 54% less chance, OR= 0.465; 95% CI: (0.244, 0.884) of obtaining good knowledge on iodized salt compared with those who had University education. Conclusions: Knowledge on iodized salt was low, and knowledge on IDDs was low among the men. There is a difference in the level of knowledge of IDDs among the socio-economic groups but not knowledge on iodized salt and its use. The more educated the men are, the more likely they are to use iodized salt.

Healthy Eating and its Barriers: Perceptions and Practices of adolescents in Ghana

2023-09-29T13:13:48Z

Healthy Eating and its Barriers: Perceptions and Practices of adolescents in Ghana Nsiah-Asamoah, Christiana Background: Adolescents are not given much attention when it comes to feeding. However, their nutrient needs are high during this stage of life. It is important, therefore, that adolescents have reliable nutrition information that would enable them to develop healthy dietary practices. Studies of adolescents’ perceptions on healthy foods and the factors that act as barriers to healthy eating are essential for developing interventions that would promote healthy eating habits among adolescents. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of adolescents in Junior High Schools in Ghana regarding what “healthy” and “unhealthy” foods are, the importance of healthy eating and barriers to healthy eating. Methodology: This survey was a cross-sectional study involving 820 adolescents who were sampled from six Junior High Schools. A questionnaire was administered to the students after permission had been obtained from the headteachers and their parents. Results: The surveyed adolescents have some knowledge of what healthy foods are. Fruits as well as roasted and grilled food items were usually cited as healthy foods, while snack food items, fried food items, soft drinks and meat products were generally considered as unhealthy foods. Despite their knowledge of healthy foods, most of them found it difficult to obtain and eat healthy foods. Some barriers to consuming healthy foods include thelimited availability of healthy foods in homes and schools,andthe fact that healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables are expensive and usually not tasty. Conclusions: These findings suggest that healthy eating messages propagated through the lessons taught in schools are reaching adolescents. However, it behooves health educators to plan and implement interventions that would help adolescents translate their knowledge into healthy practices. School authorities and parents should create an environment where healthy foods would be readily available on school premises and at home.

Zipper Failure in the Clothing Industry in Ghana

2022-03-15T13:55:53Z

Zipper Failure in the Clothing Industry in Ghana Nkrumah, E.; Gavor, M. E.; Pardie, S. P. The zipper is by far the most widespread fastener, and is found almost everywhere, installed on clothing, luggage, leather goods, and various other objects. However, a casual observation of zippers used in the clothing industry in Ghana shows that zippers on the market easily fail during use. The aim of the study was to examine zipper failure in the clothing industry in Ghana. The objectives are to assess the effect of zipper type on zipper failure; identify the nature of zipper failure in the clothing industry and to determine the usual cause of zipper failure in the clothing industry. The research design used was cross-sectional survey and the simple random sampling technique was used to sample 325 tailors, dressmakers and fashion students from the Cape Coast Metropolis for their views on zipper failure in the clothing industry in Ghanaian. The main findings of the study were: the type of zipper that usually failed was regular zippers. The nature of zipper failure in garments frequently occurred through teeth separation. Finally the study indicated that the commonest cause of zipper failure was garment fit. The study therefore recommends that dressmakers should upgrade their skills on appropriate garment fit and correct zipper selection to reduce zipper failure. 8p:, ill.

TVET Stigmatization in Developing Countries: Reality or Falacy?

2022-03-15T13:15:05Z

TVET Stigmatization in Developing Countries: Reality or Falacy? Essel, Osuanyi Quaicoo; Agyarkoh, Eric; Sumaila, Mohammed Sumaila; Yankson, Patrique DeGraft TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) programmes have been in existence in most developing African countries including Ghana for decades. But their intended productive and inventive output of producing readily employable and or self-employablegraduates, and serving as real economic bail out for the deteriorating economies in Africa is yetto be achieved. This worrying development has culminated in a stigmatization towards the study of the TVET programmes in higher institutions in Ghana. This paper therefore explores briefly thehistoricity of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana, including the tertiary-based TVET institutions (particularly, polytechnics and universities). Through in-depth inquiry, this paper investigates the root cause of the stigmatization and its concomitant effects on the nation, the learners and the higher institutions of training in such programmes. Using comparative analytical methodology, the study revealed that there is curriculum deficiency in TVET programmes; logistical challenge due to inadequate funding; poor linkage of TVET to industry; unfair trend of inappropriate categorization of graduates on the field and a continuous chain of leadership crisis. The paper recommends more dynamic, innovative and modern curriculum review to include product and industrial design courses such as animation, game design, robotics, interior decoration, multimedia design, aircraft, automobile and ship design, structural and industrial painting and medical engineering. 16p:, ill.