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Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar/ Proceedings/ Lecture Series
A collection of conference, workshop, seminar, proceedings, and lecture series showcasing diverse topics and cutting-edge research from faculty and staff of Daystar University.
Daystar Archives
An archival collection chronicling the institutional history, academic achievements, and diverse heritage of Daystar University.
Daystar University Publications
A collection of Publications by faculty and staff showcasing research, academic achievements, and institutional insights of Daystar University.
Lectures and Speeches
A collection of Lectures and Speeches from distinguished speakers across various disciplines of Daystar University.
Policies
A collection Policies and Operational Manuals from different departments of Daystar University.

Recent Submissions

Association of Frailty with Functional Difficulty in Older Ghanaians: Stability Between Women and Men in Two Samples with Different Income Levels
(BMC Geriatrics, 2024) Asiamah, Nestor; Danquah, Emelia; Vieira,Edgar Ramos; Hjorth, Peter; Mensah, Reginald Arthur‑ Jnr; Agyemang, Simon Mawulorm; Khan,Hafiz T. A.; Yarfi, Cosmos; Muhonja, Faith Hope
Research to date suggests that frailty is higher in women and is associated with functional difficulty. This study builds on the evidence by examining the association between frailty and functional difficulty between lowand higher-income groups and between older men and women in these income groups. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional design that complied with the STROBE checklist and included steps against confounding and common methods bias. The population was community-dwelling older adults aged 50 years or older in two urban neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana. Participants were either in the low-income group in a low socioeconomic neighbourhood (n=704) or the higher-income group in a high socioeconomic neighbour‑hood (n=510). The minimum sample necessary was calculated, and the hierarchical linear regression analysis was utilised to analyse the data. Results Frailty was positively associated with functional difficulty in the low- and higher-income samples, but this association was stronger in the higher-income sample. Frailty was positively associated with frailty in men and women within the low- and higher-income samples. Conclusion The association of frailty with functional difficulty was consistent between low- and higher-income samples, although the strength of the relationship differed between these samples. In both income samples, the fore‑going relationship was consistent between men and women, although the strength of the relationship differed between men and women.
Food insecurity and Mobility Difficulty in middle aged and older adults: The importance of bio psychosocial factors
(Journal of psychosomatic research, 2024) Gyasi, Razak M.; Asiedu, Hubert Bimpeh; Siaw, Lawrencia Pokuah; Nyaaba, Emmanuel; Osei, Emmanuel Affum; Lamptey, Richard Bruce; Muhonja, Faith Hope; Arthur, Dominic Degraft; Asamoah, Edward; Nimoh, Michael; Gyamfi, Samuel Adu
Food insecurity has been associated with mobility difficulty (MD) in old age. However, there is a scarcity of research on this topic from low- and middle-income countries, while the bio-psychological factors underlying this association are largely unknown. We investigated the food insecurity-MD link in Ghana and explored how sleep, anxiety, loneliness, and physical activity (PA) mediate the association. Methods: Community-based, representative cross-sectional data from the Aging, Health, Well-being, and Health-seeking Behavior Study were analyzed (N = 1201; Mage = 66.5; women = 63%). MD was assessed with items from the SF-36 of the Medical Outcomes Study. We assessed food insecurity with items on hunger and breakfast-skipping frequency due to lack of food and resources. Adjusted OLS and mediation models via bootstrapping technique evaluated the associations. Results: Results revealed the expected association between food insecurity and MD, such that greater food insecurity was significantly and positively associated with MD across paths (from β = 0.33 to β = 0.42, p < .001). Analyses of indirect effects showed that sleep problems (27.8%), anxiety (15.5%), loneliness (17.5%), and PA (18.0%) mediated the association between food insecurity and MD. Cross-level interactions revealed that food insecurity significantly modified the link between each mediator and MD. Conclusions: Our data provide novel evidence that bio-psychological mechanisms may underlie the food insecurity-MD link and should, there, be considered relevant targets for interventions to prevent/manage MD in later life.
Internet Self‑Efficacy Moderates the Association of Information Technology Ability with Successful Ageing among Older Employees in Three African Samples
(European Journal of Ageing, 2024) Asiamah, Nestor; Hatsu, Sylvester; Opuni, Frank Frimpong; Muhonja, Faith Hope; Opara, Confidence Chinwe; Sghaier, Sarra; Danquah, Emelia
The literature suggests that two distinct competencies [i.e., information technology ability (ITA), and internet self-efficacy] are necessary for the effective use of information technologies for successful ageing, but no study has examined the association of these skills on successful ageing and its domains (i.e., illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life). This study investigated whether Internet Self-Efficacy (ISE) moderates the potential association of ITA with successful ageing. The study adopted a cross-sectional design based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist and includes measures against confounding and common methods bias. The participants were 1186 older workers aged 50 years or older in three African countries (Kenya=350; Nigeria=260; Ghana=576). The minimum sample size necessary was calculated, and data were analysed with hierarchical linear regression analysis. After controlling for the covariates, ITA and ISE had a positive association with successful ageing as well as illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life in the whole sample. ITA was also positively associated with successful ageing and its domains in Kenya and Ghana. The associations of ITA with successful ageing and its domains were positively moderated by ISE in the whole sample and within each of the three samples. Higher ITA can be associated with successful ageing among working older adults, and ITA positively influences successful ageing at different levels of ISE. Older adults with high ITA are more likely to avoid illness at a higher ISE.
The Children of The Sudd
(School of Communication, 2025) Marnath, Moses Elijah
The Children of the Sudd is a poetic performance that describe the nature and importance of the Sudd Wetlands of South Sudan and its coexistence with its indigenous communities for thousands of years. It employs scientific findings as well as interview records to tell the stories of the Sudd; past, present and future. Drawing from historical archives, published research, and oral traditions, it exposes the Sudd’s duality as both protector and threat, through the stories of the indigenous peoples of the Sudd. The work translates scientific findings and research into evocative stories, revealing how climate disruptions erode traditional livelihoods while exacerbating political fragility. The performance also highlights indigenous spiritual ties to the land and advocates for inclusive climate solutions. Aligning with the sub-theme Climate Change and the Arts, it hopes to translate scientific research into poetic performance; on an area which, due to conflict and instability, is often understudied. The Children of the Sudd communicates the reality of climate change in South Sudan to those who are unable to access published academic research themselves
From Fiction to Reality: Parallels between Ng’angá Mbugua’s Terrorist of the Aberdare and Different Colours, and Kenyan Media Coverage of Climate Change
(School of Communication, 2025) Gachari, Regina; Rugendo, Caroline Marigu Nyaga
Fiction often serves as a mirror to reality, and in the context of this paper, it not only reflects the reality of climate change but also plays a crucial role in shaping how we perceive and respond to it, explore the consequences, propose innovative solutions, influence public discourse and shape societal attitudes towards climate change. This paper therefore explores the parallels between Ng’angá Mbugua’s novels, Terrorist of the Aberdare and Different Colours, and the Kenyan media's coverage of climate change. By juxtaposing fiction with media reportage, this study underscores the role of literature in shaping public discourse on climate change and illustrates how fictional narratives can reflect and influence real-world environmental concerns. Using ecocriticism as a literary framework and framing theory in media, this study explores the parallels between Ngángá Mbugua’s fictional works and Kenyan media coverage of climate change between August and October 2024. This will include textual analysis of Mbugua’s novels and content analysis of Kenyan media reports on climate change. The key findings will emphasize the importance of integrating literary and media approaches to enhance climate change communication and advocacy.