A recent study undertaken by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has indicated that more than half of pregnant women in the country suffer from anaemia, contrasting with 40 percent of non-pregnant women.
The findings, outlined in the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey, highlight the prevalence of anaemia among children aged 6-59 months in households, with the highest rates observed in the Northern region at 69 percent and Ahafo at 35 percent.
Notably, the survey reflects a decline in anaemia prevalence among children since 2008 when it peaked at 78 percent.
Anaemia among adults, known for its adverse health effects like fatigue and lethargy, remains a significant concern, particularly among pregnant women, as it can contribute to heightened maternal mortality and unfavorable birth outcomes.
The report also sheds light on the frequency of caesarean operations, revealing that urban areas exhibit a higher incidence (27 percent) compared to rural areas (15 percent). Approximately 21 percent of live births in the two years preceding the survey were delivered through caesarean operations.
In terms of HIV knowledge, the survey uncovered that two percent of women aged 15–49 engaged in sexual activity with multiple partners in the year leading up to the survey.
Of this group, only 12 percent reported using condoms during their last sexual encounter. Similarly, 15 percent of men aged 15–49 acknowledged having multiple sexual partners, with 18 percent of them using condoms during their last sexual activity.
Dr. Chris Opoku Fofie, Deputy Director in Charge of Reproductive and Child Health at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the significance of the survey in providing timely information for authorities to develop comprehensive policies addressing identified issues. Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director-General of the Ghana Aids Commission, called for the creation of an enabling legal policy to tackle the HIV/AIDS challenge.
The survey, the seventh of its kind conducted in Ghana since 1988, aimed to furnish data for monitoring population and health dynamics. It involved a nationally representative sample of 15,014 women aged 15–49 in 17,933 households and 7,044 men aged 15–49 in half of the selected households, achieving a remarkable response rate of 98 percent among women and 97 percent among men.
Funding for the survey was provided by various organizations, including USAID, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank, the Global Fund, KOICA, the World Health Organization, and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.