Saeed B.I., Xicang Z., Yawson A.E., Nguah S.B., Nsowah-Nuamah N.N.N.
School of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Mathematics and Statistics Department, Kumasi Polytechnic, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu Accra, Ghana; Paediatric Department, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Polytechnic, Kumasi, Ghana
Saeed, B.I., School of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China, Mathematics and Statistics Department, Kumasi Polytechnic, Kumasi, Ghana; Xicang, Z., School of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Yawson, A.E., Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu Accra, Ghana; Nguah, S.B., Paediatric Department, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; Nsowah-Nuamah, N.N.N., Kumasi Polytechnic, Kumasi, Ghana
Background: This study attempts to examine the impact of socioeconomic and medical conditions in health and healthcare utilization among older adults in Ghana. Five separate models with varying input variables were estimated for each response variable. Methods: Data (Wave 1 data) were drawn from the World Health Organization Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) conducted during 2007-2008 and included a total of 4770 respondents aged 50+ and 803 aged 18-49 in Ghana. Ordered logits was estimated for self-rated health, and binary logits for functional limitation and healthcare utilization. Results: Our results show that the study provides enough grounds for further research on the interplay between socioeconomic and medical conditions on one hand and the health of the aged on the other. Controlling for socioeconomic status substantially contributes significantly to utilization. Also, aged women experience worse health than men, as shown by functioning assessment, self-rated health, chronic conditions and functional limitations. Women have higher rates of healthcare utilization, as shown by significantly higher rates of hospitalization and outpatient encounters. Conclusion: Expansion of the national health insurance scheme to cover the entire older population- for those in both formal and informal employments- is likely to garner increased access and improved health states for the older population. © 2015 Saeed et al.; licensee BioMed Central.
adolescent; adult; age; aged; chronic disease; female; geriatric assessment; Ghana; health care delivery; health disparity; health status; health survey; hospitalization; human; male; middle aged; patient attitude; social class; socioeconomics; statistics and numerical data; utilization; world health organization; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Chronic Disease; Delivery of Health Care; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Ghana; Health Status; Health Status Disparities; Health Surveys; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; World Health Organization; Young Adult