Ghana Journal of Geography

From Agriculture to Urban: Land Use Changes in Ho Municipality, Ghana.

Dela Tepson — 2025-10-31

This paper examines land use and land cover (LULC) changes in the Ho Municipality, a secondary city in Ghana, over a twenty-year period (2004–2024). Using a mixed methods approach that integrates remote sensing analysis of Landsat images with in-depth interviews of residents and municipal officials, the study quantifies spatial transformations and explores their social and economic drivers. The results show that built-up areas expanded nearly fourfold, largely at the expense of farmland and grasslands. While this pattern is consistent with the late stage of Urban Transition Theory, the Ho case reveals distinctive dynamics: land revaluation is incremental and household-led rather than driven by large-scale developers, and livelihood transitions remain limited due to a narrow economic base. Farmers and residents increasingly view land as a financial asset for rental housing and commercial development, reflecting a shift from agrarian to rent-based livelihoods. The findings demonstrate that secondary cities like Ho experience urban land transitions without corresponding economic diversification, deepening livelihood precarity while accelerating environmental degradation. By situating Ho within wider African urbanization debates, the paper highlights the need for context-sensitive planning and governance frameworks that can mediate land commodification while safeguarding livelihoods and ecological sustainability.

Determinants of antenatal care service utilization among pastoralist women in Kiteto District, Tanzania.

Theresia Francis — 2025-10-31

Utilization of antenatal care services is associated with improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes among pregnant women in Kiteto District. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the association between the independent variables and the outcome variable among targeted population at a single point in time. The Andersen’s Behavioral Model of health services utilization was adopted because it explains why individuals use healthcare services through predisposing, enabling and need based factors. Stratified and simple random sampling was used sample 427 women aged between 15-49 years for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A structured questionnaire which constituted socio-demographic characteristics, number and timing of antenatal care visits, place of delivery and assistance during child birth was used in this study. The data was analyzed using logistic regression to predict key determinants influencing outcome variable. The finding shows that 73.3% of the respondents received antenatal care services; among them only 30% made at least four visits during their last pregnancy. This suggests that while initial ANC access is relatively high, structural barriers like distance, cost, or competing demands likely to hinder consistent care utilization throughout pregnancy. The results further indicate that a small proportion (19.2%) had first antenatal care (ANC) visit during the first trimester of pregnancy. The multivariate regression analysis show that being a small business woman (AOR=1.31, 95% CI=0.738-2.334) and urban residency (AOR=2.19, 95% CI=1.219-3.947) encouraged the antenatal care utilization while higher parity of ≥4 (AOR=0.523, 95% CI=0.264-1.035) was inversely associated with ANC utilization as compared to women who had 1-3 parity. Similarly, women with primary or above education level were more likely to visit ANC services (AOR=5.591, 95% CI=3.050-9.181) as compared to women who had no formal education. The study recommends that mothers should be educated and made to access skilled health providers for antenatal, delivery and postnatal care to enable early detection of pregnancy complications and allow prompt treatment for a mother and the newborn. Similarly, the study recommends a comprehensive policy interventions including mobile clinics and outreach program to improve antenatal care (ANC) utilization among pastoralist communities.

Gender Norms and Agro-Pastoral Women’s Participation in Economic Activities in North-Eastern Nigeria.

Rebecca Oghale John-Abebe — 2025-10-31

For the promotion of women's empowerment, there is a need to explore effective and efficient time management among marginalised rural women agriculturalists. This study investigates the relationship between gender attitudes and time management among agro-pastoralists in North-eastern Nigeria. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed in the analysis of the data, which included a household survey of 3041 participants and 30 key informants. Data were analysed using SPSS 23, and the study area map was produced by ArcGIS 10 software. Descriptive and multiple regressions (simple and stepwise) were used for data analysis. The findings reveal significant gender differences in time management, with women assuming a greater share of household and childcare responsibilities. Women's and men's attitudes toward time management are affected by patriarchal norms and societal beliefs. The study shows that above 80% of the population is primarily engaged in full-time agriculture and livestock production. The findings revealed mixed farming practices among the agro-pastoralists, with their participation in crop farming (62%), livestock (73%), and non-farm (51%) activities. The regression results indicate that nine variables significantly influence time management, with a statistical significance level of 72%. Most gender differences in time management are marked by the involvement of most women in domestic and household responsibilities/tasks rather than income-generating activities. Women spend longer hours working daily and fewer leisure hours (3 hours). There is a need to encourage attitudinal change at the community level regarding gender roles and responsibilities, implement gender equality policies and effective time management, which affords more time for incomegenerating tasks for females in this sector of the economy.