BackgroundMass and continuous distribution channels have significantly increased access to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in Ghana since 2000. Despite these gains, a large gap remains between ITN access and use.MethodsA qualitative research study was carried out to explore the individual and contextual factors influencing ITN use among those with access in three sites in Ghana. Eighteen focus group discussions, and free listing and ranking activities were carried out with 174 participants; seven of those participants were selected for in-depth case study. Focus group discussions and case study interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.ResultsITN use, as described by study participants, was not binary; it varied throughout the night, across seasons, and over time. Heat was the most commonly cited barrier to consistent ITN use and contributed to low reported ITN use during the dry season. Barriers to ITN use throughout the year included skin irritation; lack of airflow in the sleeping space; and, in some cases, a lack of information on the connection between the use of ITNs and malaria prevention. Falling ill or losing a loved one to malaria was the most powerful motivator for consistent ITN use. Participants also discussed developing a habit of ITN use and the economic benefit of prevention over treatment as facilitating factors. Participants reported gender differences in ITN use, noting that men were more likely than women and children to stay outdoors late at night and more likely to sleep outdoors without an ITN.ConclusionThe study results suggest the greatest gains in ITN use among those with access could be made by promoting consistent use throughout the year among occasional and seasonal users. Opportunities for improving communication messages, such as increasing the time ITNs are aired before first use, as well as structural approaches to enhance the usability of ITNs in challenging contexts, such as promoting solutions for outdoor ITN use, were identified from this work. The information from this study can be used to inform social and behaviour change messaging and innovative approaches to closing the ITN use gap in Ghana.

Studies have shown that pupils’ academic performance is not only determined by their parents’ socio-economic status but also parental involvement in the education processes. The study, therefore, examined the socio-economic status of parents and its influence on pupils’ academic performance looking at the role of parental involvement in that relationship. With Walberg’s theory of educational productivity as a lens, the findings were based on surveys with 120 pupils selected randomly from Kwaprow Basic School and 10 and 5 interviews with parents and teachers respectively. The study found that parents’ education did not significantly affect students’ academic performance. Parents were not assisting their children in their academic activities including failure to attend Parent-Teacher Association meetings and not assisting them with homework. This was largely attributed to parental low educational level. However, with a 0.045, 0.028, 0.041 and 0.036, as p-values, the study showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between parental involvement, occupation and family size and academic performance of pupils. In order to improve students’ academic performance, the study recommended that the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) should intensively sensitise parents on the need to involve themselves in their wards’ education so as to aid them to perform better academically.

Children are mostly the victims of child sexual abuse however, most children have little or no idea about what child sexual abuse entails and the forms it takes. In addition, the opinions of children have mostly been neglected in cases of child sexual abuse. The study therefore was carried out to explore how much children know about child sexual abuse and to suggest ways of publicising the phenomenon among children. A proportional sample of 256 children was selected from five public basic schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis to participate in the study. From interviews with the children, varied ideas were obtained. Parenting styles, child's age, child's educational level and sex of the child were found to influence the perception of the child on child sexual abuse. The cultural belief of "sex as a secret" was also found to be integrally related to child's perception on sexual abuse in Cape Coast. Recommendations are made and the most important thing that the Ghana Education Service should intensify is sex education in the basic schools' curriculum to enable them to identify and report such cases whenever experienced.

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