Socioeconomic Status and Elderly Adult Mortality in Rural Ghana: Evidence from the Navrongo DSS

Clifford O. Odimegwu, University of the Witwatersrand
Khagayi Sammy, Kenya Medical Research Institute/Centres for Disease Control, University of Witwatersrand
Cornelius Y. Debpuur, Navrongo Health Research Centre

In Africa, elderly adult mortality, has not been adequately addressed by research. This study explored the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and elderly adult mortality in an economically deprived region of rural Ghana.Data from the Navrongo DSS was used for the analysis. SES was determined from the asset data using principal component analysis. We investigated the relationship using Cox proportional hazards regression methods while controlling for other variables. Socioeconomic status (SES) was found not to be a determinant of elderly mortality. Compared to the lowest SES quintile, the adjusted hazards ratios were, 0.94 (95%CI: 0.79–1.12) for second quintile, 0.91 (95%CI: 0.76–1.08) for third quintile, 0.89 (95%CI: 0.75–1.07) for fourth quintile and 1.02 (95%CI: 0.86–1.21) for the highest income quintile. However, living without a spouse [HR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.74–2.25], being male [HR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.59–2.04] and age [HR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.04–1.05] were significant factors for elderly adult mortality. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.