The elderly in rural Ghana: health-care needs and challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/sajg.v8i1.213Abstract
The health-care needs of elderly persons who live in rural areas of Ghana are considered. Brief socio-demographic information on the population is given. Barriers and challenges to the provision of health care to the population are examined. The Ghanaian pluralistic health system is described briefly. Finally, measures are proposed to meet the challenges of providing health care to the elderly rural population.References
Adlakha, A. 1996. Population trends: Ghana. International Brief. Washington, DC; US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
Apt, N.A. 1992. Family support to elderly people in Ghana. In: Kendig, H., Hashimoto, A. & Coppard, L.C. (Eds) Family support for the elderly. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 203-212.
Apt, N.A. 1994. An approach to health care of the elderly in Africa. Paper read at the WOCHH Conference on Home Health Care, Chicago.
Apt, N.A. 1995. Ageing in Ghana. In: Apt, N.A., Bester, F.C.J. & Insley, M.L. (Eds) Effective response to ageing in Africa by the year 2000. Accra: African Gerontological Society Workshop Report, pp. 47-61.
Apt,N.A.1997. Ageing in Africa. Geneva; World Health Organization, Ageing and Health Programme.
Banga, E.H. 1992. Social changes and the emerging images of the elderly in Ghana: health and nursing implications. In: Aki'.vumi, A. (Ed.) Nursing education for the 21st century. Legon: University of Ghana, Department of Nursing, pp. 58-76.
Banga, E.H. 1993. The emerging image of the aged in Accra, capital of Ghana. BOLD, 3(4): 11-15,
Darkwa, O.K. 1997. Retirement policies and economic security for older people in Africa. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 6(2): 32-36.
Duodo, Y. 1998. The need for geriatric services in Ghana. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 7(2): 33-34.
Nabila, J.S. 1986. Rural urban migration and its implications for rural development in rural Ghana. In: Brown, C.K. (Ed.) Rural development in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Universities Press, pp. 75-89,
Nukunya, G.K. 1992. Tradition and change in Ghana: an introduction to sociology. Accra: Ghana Universities Press.
Richardson, D. 1997. The internet and rural and agricultural development: an integrated approach. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization.
Rimmer, D. 1992. Staying poor: Ghana's political economy 1950-1990. Accra: Pergamon Press.
Rosenmayr, L. 1991. Improving the health status of the rural elderly in Mali. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 6 :301-318.
SatelLife Health Net. 1996. Information services guide. Http: www.healthnet.org
Sherps, C. G. 1996. The diffusion of telemedicine and hospital information systems in the southeastern United States: a rural-urban perspective. The Rural Gazette, 5(1): 1-6.
Twumasi, P.A. 1975. Medical systems in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
United Nations Development Program. 1997. Ghana Human Development Report. Accra, Ghana: UNDP.
US Bureau of the Census. 1996a. Current population reports, Special Studies, P 23-190, 65-r in the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
US Bureau of the Census. 1996b. Global aging in the 21st century. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration.
US Bureau of the Census. 1998. Population pyramid summary for Ghana. International database. Washington, DC: International Programs Center. Http:www.census.gov cgi-bin/ipc'idbpyrs.pl
US Bureau of the Census. 1999. International data base. Washington, DC: International Programs Center. Http ://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ipc/idbsum
Warren, D.M., Bova, G.S., Tregoning, M.A. & Kliewer, M. 1982. Ghanaian national policy toward indigenous healers: the case of the primary health training for indigenous healers (PRHETIH) program. Social Science and Medicine, 16: 1873-1881.
Apt, N.A. 1992. Family support to elderly people in Ghana. In: Kendig, H., Hashimoto, A. & Coppard, L.C. (Eds) Family support for the elderly. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 203-212.
Apt, N.A. 1994. An approach to health care of the elderly in Africa. Paper read at the WOCHH Conference on Home Health Care, Chicago.
Apt, N.A. 1995. Ageing in Ghana. In: Apt, N.A., Bester, F.C.J. & Insley, M.L. (Eds) Effective response to ageing in Africa by the year 2000. Accra: African Gerontological Society Workshop Report, pp. 47-61.
Apt,N.A.1997. Ageing in Africa. Geneva; World Health Organization, Ageing and Health Programme.
Banga, E.H. 1992. Social changes and the emerging images of the elderly in Ghana: health and nursing implications. In: Aki'.vumi, A. (Ed.) Nursing education for the 21st century. Legon: University of Ghana, Department of Nursing, pp. 58-76.
Banga, E.H. 1993. The emerging image of the aged in Accra, capital of Ghana. BOLD, 3(4): 11-15,
Darkwa, O.K. 1997. Retirement policies and economic security for older people in Africa. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 6(2): 32-36.
Duodo, Y. 1998. The need for geriatric services in Ghana. Southern African Journal of Gerontology, 7(2): 33-34.
Nabila, J.S. 1986. Rural urban migration and its implications for rural development in rural Ghana. In: Brown, C.K. (Ed.) Rural development in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Universities Press, pp. 75-89,
Nukunya, G.K. 1992. Tradition and change in Ghana: an introduction to sociology. Accra: Ghana Universities Press.
Richardson, D. 1997. The internet and rural and agricultural development: an integrated approach. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization.
Rimmer, D. 1992. Staying poor: Ghana's political economy 1950-1990. Accra: Pergamon Press.
Rosenmayr, L. 1991. Improving the health status of the rural elderly in Mali. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 6 :301-318.
SatelLife Health Net. 1996. Information services guide. Http: www.healthnet.org
Sherps, C. G. 1996. The diffusion of telemedicine and hospital information systems in the southeastern United States: a rural-urban perspective. The Rural Gazette, 5(1): 1-6.
Twumasi, P.A. 1975. Medical systems in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
United Nations Development Program. 1997. Ghana Human Development Report. Accra, Ghana: UNDP.
US Bureau of the Census. 1996a. Current population reports, Special Studies, P 23-190, 65-r in the United States. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
US Bureau of the Census. 1996b. Global aging in the 21st century. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration.
US Bureau of the Census. 1998. Population pyramid summary for Ghana. International database. Washington, DC: International Programs Center. Http:www.census.gov cgi-bin/ipc'idbpyrs.pl
US Bureau of the Census. 1999. International data base. Washington, DC: International Programs Center. Http ://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ipc/idbsum
Warren, D.M., Bova, G.S., Tregoning, M.A. & Kliewer, M. 1982. Ghanaian national policy toward indigenous healers: the case of the primary health training for indigenous healers (PRHETIH) program. Social Science and Medicine, 16: 1873-1881.
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1999-04-01
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