Study: “Reproductive and Overall Health Outcomes and Their Economic Consequences for Households in Accra, Ghana”
PI(s): Hill, Alan
Co-PI(s): Aryeetey, Ernest; Fink, Günther; Blanchard, Kelly
Affiliation(s): Harvard University; University of Ghana; Ibis Reproductive Health
Institutional Partner(s): PRB Center
Project Dates:
Start: 2008
End: 2010
Data Source(s): Sub-National Survey Data (Cross-Sectional)
Methods: Multilevel Analysis
Geographic Location(s): Ghana
The purpose of this study is to examine the interaction between fertility patterns, reproductive health, and labor force productivity at the household level. The data from Wave-I and Wave II of the Women’s Health Survey includes 3,200 women and households in rural Ghana. Overall, women work long hours and for moderate wages throughout their lives. Findings show that pregnancy and child care do not interrupt women’s labor force participation, which may be partially explained by the fact that the majority of women work for themselves in the informal sector where young children can accompany their mothers. Therefore, the research concludes that family size does not have a strong effect on labor force participation. However, a large number of pregnancies may have negative effects on women’s health, possibly because of continued need to support the family. The ultimate goal of the study is to promote the welfare of women and children by drawing attention to the failure of the family planning program to encourage widespread adoption of modern contraceptive use and improvement in national health insurance. The study lays the foundation for rigorous cost-effectiveness and decision analysis models to enable governments to effectively estimate the cost of underinvesting in reproductive health in these regions.
Research Outputs:
Adanu, Richard, Seffah, Joseph, Anarfi, John, Lince, Naomi & Blanchard, Kelly. (2012). Sexual and Reproductive Health in Accra, Ghana. Ghana Medical Journal, 46 (2), 58–65. PMID: 22942453
Benkeser, R. M., Biritwum, R., & Hill, A. G. (2012). Prevalence of overweight and obesity and perception of healthy and desirable body size in urban, Ghanaian women. Ghana medical journal, 46(2), 66-75. PMID: 22942454
Douptcheva, Nedialka, Hill, Allan G., Adanu, Richard, Anarfi, John, Blanchard, Kelly, Fink, Günther, Lince, Naomi & Oliveras, Isaac Osei-Akoto. (2011). Women’s Health Study of Accra: Wave II (WHSA-II) (Technical Publication No. 91). Accra, Ghana: Institute of Statistical, Social & Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana.
Fink, Gunther, Weeks, John R. & Hill, Allan G.. (2012). Income and Health in Accra, Ghana: Results from a Time Use and Health Study. The American Jounral of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 87(4): 608-615. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0062
Karra, Mahesh & Lee, Marlene. (2012). The economics of reproductive health in Accra, Ghana. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau. DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.1196991
Stoler, Justin, Fink, Günther, Weeks, John R., Hill, Allan G. & Otoo, Joseph A. A.. (2012). When urban taps run dry: Sachet water consumption and health effects in low income neighborhoods of Accra, Ghana. Health & Place, 8 (2), 250-262. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.020
Stoler, Justin, Weeks, John R., Getis, Arthur & Hill, Allan G.. (2009). Distance threshold for the effect of urban agriculture on elevated self-reported malaria prevalence in Accra, Ghana. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 80 (4), 547-54.
Weeks, John R., Getis, Arthur, Hill, Allan G., Agyei-Mensah, Samuel & Rain, David. (2010). Neighborhoods and Fertility in Accra, Ghana: An AMOEBA-based Approach. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 100(3): 558-578. DOI: 10.1080/00045601003791391