PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Geographic region and health outcomes: Examining health determinants and outcomes of older adults across Ghana’s North‒South divide

Research Square
2024
  • 0
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 0
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Article Description

Healthcare services and outcomes are often not evenly distributed across geographic regions. This study used the harmonized Research on Early Life and Aging Trends and Effects (RELATE) dataset to compare health outcomes across the North‒South divide of Ghana and determine the factors underlying the difference in health outcomes. Although the literature indicates that the South has more health resources and better health indicators, the study found that health outcomes in the North were comparatively better than those in the South. According to the optimal health index scores, people in the North are living at 86 percent of their optimal health, while 82 percent are living at their optimal health in the South. In both regions, optimal health was substantially influenced by work-related physical activity and age. Older adults whose work involved vigorous activities had better health outcomes, but health outcomes decreased as people aged. The study also revealed that healthcare use and sex influence health outcomes, particularly in the southern region. The results showed that older adult women in the South have poorer health outcomes than their male counterparts. It has also been shown that older adults in the South are more likely to contact health professionals for medical conditions.

Bibliographic Details

Yale Kodwo-Nyameazea; Nana Akua Amponsah

Research Square Platform LLC

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Immunology and Microbiology; Medicine; Neuroscience; Psychology; Dentistry

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know