Income and health in Accra, Ghana: results from a time use and health study

Abstract

This paper uses newly collected household survey data from Accra, Ghana, to investigate whether incomes affect acute and chronic health outcomes in settings that can be considered representative for the large and rapidly growing urban centers of sub-Saharan Africa. The Time Use and Health Study in Accra collected information on incomes, current health status, and health care use from 5,484 persons in 1,250 households, each repeatedly sampled on a rolling basis for a period of 13 weeks. Data collection took place during September 2008-March 2010 to capture seasonal variations. The study found that incomes varied widely between households, and that a high fraction of persons lived below the poverty line. Despite this level of income poverty and an overall remarkably high burden of treatable disease, no systematic differences in self-reported and objectively measured health conditions were detected across socioeconomic groups.

Figure 1.

Time-Use and Health Study of Accra, Ghana, rolling sample design.

Figure 2.

Survey coverage by calendar month, Accra, Ghana.

Figure 3.

Adult income by educational attainment group (ages 25–59 years), Accra, Ghana. JCS; junior secondary school; SSS = senior secondary school.

Figure 4.

Proportions with chronic health conditions by income group, Accra, Ghana.

Figure 5.

Proportions of women obese and hypertensive by income group, Accra, Ghana.

Figure 6.

Proportions reporting acute health issues by income group, Accra, Ghana.

Figure 7.

Place of treatment of recent illnesses by income group, Accra, Ghana.

Figure 8.

Number of drugs taken per episode of ill health, Accra, Ghana.

Figure 9.

Median expenditure per acute health condition reported, Accra, Ghana. Ghc = cedi.