Sex and Rural-urban Disparities in Prevalence of Self-reported Chronic Non-communicable Diseases and Health Risks among Older Adults in Ghana: Implications for the National Aging Policy

Authors

  • A.E. Yawson
  • P. Dako-Gyeke
  • S. Hewlett
  • B.N.L. Calys-Tagoe
  • K.L. Malm
  • N.A. Hagan-Seneadza
  • P. Agyei- Baffour
  • N.A. Baddoo
  • P. Martey
  • G. Mensah
  • N. Minicuci
  • N. Naidoo
  • S. Chatterji
  • P. Kowal
  • R.B. Biritwum

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60014/pmjg.v4i2.148

Keywords:

Older adults, Chronic diseases, Sex differences, Rural-urban differences, National ageing policy

Abstract

Objective: Differences exist in the composition and morbidity/mortality patterns of older persons. This analysis determined sex differences and rural-urban disparities in common chronic diseases and health risks among older persons in Ghana.
Methods: This work was based on World Health Organization’s (WHO) multi-country Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), conducted in six countries including Ghana. Nationally representative sample of 4725 persons ≥50 years was involved in this analysis. Data were obtained on eight self-reported chronic diseases and analysed by sex and location.
Results: Women ≥50 years in rural-urban locations self-reported more ill-health than men of comparable age. Educational levels, household incomes and possession of health insurance were lower among rural residents. Alcohol and tobacco use were significantly
higher in rural locations (61% vs. 55.3%) and (29.6% vs. 20.9%) respectively, while obesity was significantly higher among urban residents (17.5% vs. 4.5%). Sex differences in prevalence of chronic conditions were statistically significant for-Angina (F:M 1.8), Arthritis
(F:M 1.7), Depression (F:M 2.9), Diabetes (F:M 1.3), Hypertension (F:M 1.8) and Stroke (F:M 1.2). Urbanrural disparities were significant for chronic lung disease (1% vs. 0.4%), diabetes (6.4% vs. 2.2%), hypertension (22.8% vs. 7.3%) and stroke (4% vs1.7%).
Conclusions: Preventive health programmes and provision and targeting of social protection (improved access to health care and pensions) should consider sex and location of vulnerable older persons as the country implements the national aging policy.

Author Biographies

A.E. Yawson

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.

Public Health Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.

P. Dako-Gyeke

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences , University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

S. Hewlett

University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences. University of Ghana

B.N.L. Calys-Tagoe

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

Public Health Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

K.L. Malm

National Malaria Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana

N.A. Hagan-Seneadza

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

Public Health Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

P. Agyei- Baffour

Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi

N.A. Baddoo

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

Public Health Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

P. Martey

Department of Child Health, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana

G. Mensah

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

N. Minicuci

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute, Italy

N. Naidoo

World Health Organization, Multi-Country Studies unit, Geneva, Switzerland

S. Chatterji

World Health Organization, Multi-Country Studies unit, Geneva, Switzerland

P. Kowal

World Health Organization, Multi-Country Studies unit, Geneva, Switzerland

University of Newcastle Research Centre on Gender, Health and Aging, Newcastle, Australia.

R.B. Biritwum

Department of Community Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

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Published

2022-07-12

How to Cite

Yawson, A., Dako-Gyeke, P., Hewlett, S., Calys-Tagoe, B., Malm, K., Hagan-Seneadza, N., Agyei- Baffour, P., Baddoo, N., Martey, P., Mensah, G., Minicuci, N., Naidoo, N., Chatterji, S., Kowal, P., & Biritwum, R. (2022). Sex and Rural-urban Disparities in Prevalence of Self-reported Chronic Non-communicable Diseases and Health Risks among Older Adults in Ghana: Implications for the National Aging Policy. Postgraduate Medical Journal of Ghana, 4(2), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.60014/pmjg.v4i2.148

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