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| Title: | An in-depth analysis of socio-demographics, living arrangements and health conditions of Ghana's older population |
| Authors: | Mba, Chuks Addico, Gifty Adanu, Richard |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Periodical: | Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412) |
| Volume: | 23 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Pages: | 61-70 |
| Language: | English |
| Notes: | biblio. refs. |
| Geographic terms: | Ghana West Africa |
| Subjects: | elderly living conditions demography Older people--Social conditions health Demographic surveys Population aging |
| Abstract: | Because of poor economic and health circumstances, plus the undermined status and declining support due to the nucleating and fragmentation of families, the elderly in Ghana are vulnerable. A pilot study was carried out to explore the living arrangements, health and socioeconomic conditions of Ghana's elderly population with particular reference to one urban slum and two middle class residential areas in the Greater Accra Region, as well as one rural HIV/AIDS endemic locality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The localities were selected in order to reflect the different infrastructure, culture and social contexts in rural and urban areas in Ghana. In-depth interviews were held in October 2006 with persons aged 60 years and above. The findings show, amongst others, that 70 percent of the respondents were in marital relationships, while 20 percent had lost their spouses. Over 80 percent of the elderly lived with their spouses and children. But less than 40 percent had received monetary support from their adult children in the month preceding the interview, while for most cases the financial support was not regular. 70 percent of the respondents received nonmonetary support, while over 60 percent said they were satisfied with that level of support. Most respondents said they had a physical or medical condition that interfered with their ability to work or manage day-to-day activities. Almost half of the respondents felt their life was good or getting better compared to twelve months ago, while almost all of them had heard of AIDS and associated it mainly with unprotected sexual intercourse. Modernization appears to be impacting on the living arrangements of the elderly in Ghana. In spite of the low financial support for the elderly, they have managed to develop some coping mechanisms. Bibliogr., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract, edited] |