Determinants of Healthcare Utilization among the Ageing Population in Ghana

Abstract

This study is to investigate the factors (social or economic) that influences the patronage of orthodox medical care or otherwise as a measure of healthcare utilization among the ageing population in Ghana. We carry out a cross-sectional analysis of 3,357 adults (aged 50 and above) who participated and had indicated that they needed healthcare in the three years prior to the phase 2007 World Health Organization, a study on Global Ageing and Adult health (SAGE) conducted in Ghana. We explored the social and economic factors that are likely to influence the use or otherwise of orthodox medical services following the framework of Andersen behavioural – model of healthcare utilisation. We employed multivariate logistic regression models. The results suggest that, adjustment for health status (comorbidity) among the ageing Ghanaian population nullified the socio-economic gradients in consulting with orthodox medical services. The outcome points to a potential link with the Ghanaian health policy.