By Roselyn Ganyaglo
Statistics from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), show that the country has retrogressed in some health indicators across the 16 administrative regions.
50 percent of women aged 15 to 49 are obsessed or overweight, only 5 percent have ever tested for cervical cancer and about 54 percent have issues accessing health care.
Speaking at the launch of the survey report in Accra, Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Anim noted that health improvement is a shared responsibility, and to this end, efforts must be accelerated if the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved.
“Data was obtained from the seven out of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, we were, for instance, able to provide updated data on no poverty and zero hunger, looking at the entire value chain of health,” he added.
Professor Anim said despite the challenges recorded, some gains were made in neonatal and under-five mortalities, with the country meeting its national target of 24 percent, constituting 17 deaths per 1000 live births. He was quick to add that some regions are still recording high numbers, especially the newly created ones.
“Wealth and education remain key drivers in addressing health challenges at the individual level. This is why a lot more investment is needed to attain the SDGs, especially 2, 3, and 5,” he noted.
Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, indicated that the survey is essential in formulating policies, adding that more efforts will be channeled to problem areas.
“Improved funding is needed to tackle urgently the issues head on,” he maintained.
The 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) provides data for monitoring the health situation of the population in Ghana. It is the 7th Demographic and Health Survey, conducted in 618 clusters in all 261 districts in the country.
It provides estimates at the national and regional levels, as well as for urban and rural areas. The survey, conducted with a sample of 15,014 women aged 15–49 and 7,044 men aged 15–49, had a response rate of 98 per cent for women and 97 per cent for men.
It was conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service with funding from development partners.
