Population Health and Nutrition in Ghana

Health and nutrition are necessary for the well-being of populations. Therefore, it is important to continually monitor the health and nutritional status of a country to inform policies and interventions that will ensure optimum health. This chapter provides a broad overview of the state of the health of Ghana’s population and highlights changes in different indicators of health across diverse demographic and socio-economic sub-groups. Different health indicators were assessed using nationally representative data from the Population and Housing Census, Demographic and Health Survey, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and District Health Information Management System (DHIMS), among others. The findings highlight a double burden of diseases. In contrast, non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, are on the rise, particularly among women. Stunting among children under five continues to be prevalent, although there has been a significant decline from 45.5% in 2008 to 18.0% in 2022. There has also been a notable increase in the number of women with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions, while a higher prevalence of substance abuse is observed among males. The disparities in communicable versus non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by place of residence require targeted interventions, while the rising prevalence of NCDs underscores the importance of addressing lifestyle behaviours and improving access to healthcare. Additionally, improving healthcare infrastructure and workforce capacity, particularly in rural areas, is crucial for ensuring equitable access to healthcare services. It concludes that addressing these health and nutrition challenges through comprehensive, targeted interventions will strengthen Ghana’s socio-economic development.