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Abstract
Ghana's population is rapidly aging and there may be healthcare access and utilization issues. This study investigates some of the issues that may influence outpatient care utilization rate among older Ghanaians. Cross-sectional wave 1 (2007-2010) data from WHO's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health are used, and a sample of 1408 are analyzed. After multiple imputations of missing values, a negative binomial regression model is used to identify the association between outpatient care utilization rate and lifestyle activities. The rate of outpatient care utilization is negatively associated with the rate of eating vegetables (β =0.0830, p < .001), fruits (β =0.0033, p < .05), moderate-exercise (β =0.4010, p < .001), moderate-work (β =0.2049, p < .001), walking/biking (β = 0.0436, p < .001), and positively associated with leisure hours ((β =0.0194, p < .001). To promote better aging situations of older adults in Ghana, poverty and poor education should be addressed as potential barriers to healthcare access. There is a need for policies that encourage healthier lifestyles for older Ghanaian's health. The study was self-funded by the authors.
Highlights
Maintaining optimum health and healthcare utilization are persistent issues among older Ghanaians1,2, and with only 33% of Ghana’s total population covered by the country’s health insurance scheme, it is evident that healthcare access is a problem among poor older Ghanaians.[3]
Some studies indicate that while the population of the 60+ age group in Africa is expected to rise from 45.7 million to 182.6 million, West Africa will have the largest number of the 60+ age group and most will be in Nigeria and Ghana.[9]
In an effort to fill some of the identified gaps, this study explores the association between lifestyle activities and outpatient care utilization rate
Summary
Maintaining optimum health and healthcare utilization are persistent issues among older Ghanaians1,2 , and with only 33% of Ghana’s total population covered by the country’s health insurance scheme, it is evident that healthcare access is a problem among poor older Ghanaians.[3]. By 2050, there may be about 2 billion people aged 60 years and above, and 80% of this particular age group will be found in low and middle-income countries.[8] Some studies indicate that while the population of the 60+ age group in Africa is expected to rise from 45.7 million to 182.6 million, West Africa will have the largest number of the 60+ age group and most will be in Nigeria and Ghana.[9] For example, the 2010 census in Ghana showed that there was a 770% increase in the population of its older people (age 60+) from 213,477 in 1960 to 1,643,381 in 2010.10 there is evidence that Ghana’s young population is rapidly aging and this may have social and health implications
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