Univ., Diss.--Bonn, 2002.

Texte remanié de: Th.--University of Ghana, 1978. / Bibliogr. p. 298-303.

Diss. phil. Basel (kein Austausch). / Literaturverz.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 343-361). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of History, Jun. 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 230-243). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1999. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-106).

This research explores boys’ perspectives on peer ‘bullying’ in one Ghanaian secondary school. Since the 1970s, empirical studies on bullying in the UK (and other global north countries where the term bullying is commonly used) have received increasing attention (Sondergaard, 2012). This extensive body of work, which is often multidisciplinary, has examined bullying in schools and focused particularly on harassment and aggression amongst peers (Sercombe and Donnelly, 2012). To date however, no empirical studies on understanding bullying in schools in Ghana have been conducted. This exploratory qualitative study is positioned within a constructivist paradigm using a case study design. Twenty boys from one secondary school in Ghana were interviewed using one-to-one semi-structured interviews, which were supplemented by using a vignette (hypothetical scenario) in order to stimulate discussion among boys. In addition, group interviews, observations, school mapping exercises, and interviews with adults were conducted. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The key findings of this research include the observation that while the boys engaged in interactions and competitive behaviours that have been readily associated with ‘bullying’ in other national settings such as the UK, boys who participated in this study did not use the term bullying (or any similar word) to describe such behaviour. Many of ‘bullying-like’ behaviours amongst the boys were not construed as negative; rather, they tended to be normalised and viewed as a ‘natural’ way in which children mature and grow up. They were also interpreted by boys as a way of gaining status which warranted little or no adult intervention. This study suggests that ‘bullying’ acts were not named or labelled as such because they happened in a friendly and generally supportive atmosphere, where the boys related to each other as members of a cohesive community. The boys coped with such ‘bullying’ behaviours by acting in ways defined as masculine, as expected in their socio-cultural (as well as institutional) context. It followed that those boys who did not play out the expected and quintessential masculine roles were disadvantaged in such interactions. The informal socio-cultural conventions of the current case study school dictated a hierarchical environment where boys (men) were placed on a socially advantageous platform that also expected them to be tough and to hide their vulnerabilities. The current study emphasizes the need to thoroughly examine the socio cultural setting when understanding the phenomenon of ‘bullying’ and related behaviours. This study’s approach, informed by symbolic interactionism (Goffman, 1959), has unveiled an alternative understanding of ‘bullying’ behaviours in the case study school which has some implications for understanding the phenomenon of bullying behaviour more generally in other national settings.

This thesis explores the continued relevance of matriliny among the present-day Asante of Pranum District in Ghana. At the core of this investigation is Domeabra-Owerriman Traditional Area which is in a state of crisis caused by the decline in cocoa production and the superimposition, by government edict, of the World Bank's 'Structural Adjustment Programme'. An examination of household economic strategy in Domeabra-Owerriman reveals that, as in the traditional past, in the face of ecological and economic catastrophes Asante continue to invoke matrilineal notions. These days such notions are especially pertinent in respect of the organisation of overseas migration. The thesis reviews the organisation of the traditional chiefship institution, and examines its continued relevance to Asante. Engaging with the anthropological literature on matriliny, it argues that, in the present-day world, chiefship crucially supplies legitimacy and value to matriliny, and thus underpins it as an important institution for the articulation of Asante affairs. As a citizen of Domeabra-Owerriman myself, an overseas migrant in both Norway and Britain, and a recent contestant for a local chieftaincy, my own vivid impression and experiences supply much by way of the ethnography reported in this thesis.

The spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment is recognized widely as an important public health issue, with concerns about future ability to treat infectious diseases. The main risk to public health is that the resistance genes are transferred from environmental bacteria to human pathogens. Safe water is one of the most important needs in public health in the twenty first century. The major health threat posed by drinking unsafe water is the transmission of infectious diseases, which are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity for children under the age of 5 and it is estimated to cause 1.5 million deaths annually in developing countries. In addition to the wide spread cases of water-borne diseases resulting from the contamination of water sources, concerns have been raised when these diseases fail to be cured due to development of resistance to most prescribed antibiotics by the contaminating microorganisms. It is now a well-established fact that E.coli is a significant cause of diarrheal illnesses both in infants and adults in many parts of the world. Data on clinical isolates is plenty while less attention has been given to environmental isolates of these enteric pathogens. Samples from the environment such as water may serve as probable reservoirs of these pathogens; this is compounded by the entry of functional compounds of antibiotics into waterways, through humans and animals that have ingested antibiotics. This is because antibiotics are not completely metabolized and may enter waterways through the waste products of these humans or animals.Studies on antimicrobial resistance is important in order to detect changes in patterns of resistance, implement control measures on the use of antimicrobial agents, and to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria. It also provides surveillance data for antibiotic resistances, necessary to define or update guidelines for empirical treatment, as well as a guide for appropriate antibiotic supplies. Study objectives: The objectives of this research were: (i) to determine the total and faecal coliform status of drinking water sources, as an indication of quality; (ii) to determine the bacteriological profile of bacteria flora in the drinking water sources; (iii) to determine prevalence and susceptibility profiles of antibiotic resistant water-borne E.coli; (iv) to investigate the virulence genes associated with multiple antibiotic resistant E. coli isolates; (v) to compare three laboratory based techniques: PCR, API 20E, and Culture based methods used for detection of E.coli and (vi) to determine the association between multiple antibiotic resistance and radiation sensitivity (D10). © University of South Africa 2014 VII Methodology: Four hundred and sixty four (464) water samples were collected for assessment between June 2011 and May 2012. The samples were collected from 57 sampling sites, from six different water sources including: boreholes (10), a canal (1), dams (15), hand-dug wells (15), a river (1), and streams (15). Total coliforms, faecal coliforms, and E. coli analysis were done by the MPN method. Bacteria isolation and identification were done using API 20E, conventional methods, and a PCR based DNA STRIP technology that allows simultaneous detection of virulence genes and confirmation of E. coli isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was also conducted using the Kirby-bauer method. Radiation sensitivity was done using a cobalt 60 source. Results: The results obtained indicated that all the water sources were of poor quality in terms of microbial distributions with total coliform and faecal coliform counts ranging between 0 to 2.4x103 MPN/100ml. E. coli counts ranged between 10 to 7.9x101MPN/100ml. Disease risk assessment of the various water sources indicated that dam water sources presented a high disease risk, while borehole water sources had a low disease risk. A total of five hundred and twenty bacterial isolates (520) were obtained during the period of study. Three hundred and five (305) isolates representing 58.65% of the total were obtained during the dry season, as against (205) representing 41.35% in the rainy season. The most commonly occurring bacteria in the water samples was Klebsiella spp constituting 20%. The next most occurring organism was E. coli (18.7%). This was followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.61%), Enterobacter spp. (15.4%), Proteus vulgaris (13.1%), and Enterococcus faecalis (9.2%). The least isolated bacteria were Vibrio cholerae (1.2%) and Shigella spp. (1.2%). The prevalence of multi drug resistance E. coli was 49.48 %. E. coli isolates showed a high sistance patterns to the tested antibiotics. They were most resistant to penicillin (32.99%), cefuroxime (28.87%), erythromycin (23.71%), and tetracycline (21.45%). In contrast, they were susceptible to nitrofurantoin (93.8%), cefotaxime and amikacin (91.75%), gentamicin (90.7%), nalidixic acid (89.65%), ciprofloxacin (74.2%), chloramphenicol (69.07%), pipemidic acid (65.97%) and cefuroxime (52.58%). Sixty-three percent (63%) of the multidrug resistant E. coli strains recorded a multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index value of >0.2. Six (6%) percent of he multiple antibiotic resistant were eae virulence genes producing however, none of the E. coli isolates produced the stx1 and stx2 virulent gene. The analytical profile index (API) recorded specificity and sensitivity of 99.7% and 98.50 % respectively for the detection of E. coli. The © University of South Africa 2014 VIII culture/ biochemical based methods for detection of E coli recorded specificity of 81.82% and a sensitivity of 96.91%. There was no association (P> 0.05) between radiation sensitivity (D10) and antibiotic resistances. Conclusion: The study has confirmed that majority of the water sources used for drinking and domestic purposes in the study area are highly contaminated with high levels of faecal coliforms above the recommended standards. There were also resence of bacteria of public health importance in the water sources. Both animals and humans could be sources of faecal bacteria contamination of the drinking water sources. The study confirmed a high prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistances in E. coli isolates. The eae virulence gene was associated with some of the multiple resistant E. coli isolates. The study also concludes that API 20E has a high specificity and sensitivity close to that of the PCR. Lastly, There is no association between multiple antibiotic resistant indexes and radiation sensitivity (D10) of antibiotic resistant E. coli. / School of Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Science)

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