Survey on Ghana's current health and population status takes off

Accra, July 24, GNA - The Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) 2003, was launched in Accra on Thursday with a call on policymakers to address chronic child malnutrition and survival needs. Dr Kwaku Twum-Baah, Acting Government Statistician, who made the call in Accra, said chronic malnutrition, manifested in stunted growth, "remain virtually unchanged from 30 per cent in 1988 to 25.9 per cent in 1998".

The 2003 GDHS, the fourth in a series, is expected to cover three months with preliminary results before the end of the year. It is a national representative survey, which provides data on fertility; child mortality; life expectancy; maternal care; access to safe drinking water among other demographic and health data on the Ghanaian population. Dr Twum-Baah said the full report on the survey would be available by June next year.

He said a new feature of the 2003 GDHS would be the testing of the HIV/AIDS status of respondents, who would not know the results of such testing since it would involve anonymity.

"The issue of HIV/AIDS and its social, economic and demographic impact has emerged as a new challenge for population estimation and projections.... the inclusion of HIV testing in this round of GDHS should provide a window of hope in the population puzzle," he explained. The Acting Government Statistician said statistics was not only needed by decision makers but was fundamental to the democratic debate.

He said African Heads of State in June 2002, in Durban echoed the linkages between poverty reduction and good governance resulting in the establishment of the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Dr Twum-Baah said the significance of these household surveys provided feedback on the effectiveness of development.

He said they also provided information on the changing levels of access, utilisation and satisfaction with social and economic services across different population groups, including the poor.

He said the story so far showed that fertility rates were declining, however, he said the worrying factor was that the termination of pregnancies (abortions) was being seen as a greater factor than the use of contraceptive in reducing fertility.

The Health Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, in a speech read for him, said Ghana's current population growth of 2.7 per annum, was high. He said birth control through the use of contraceptive was key in controlling the growth rate.

He noted that one way of ensuring child survival was through the spacing of birth and the promotion of health facility usage by pregnant women.

He thanked the USAID and Macro International Incorporated for supporting the 2003 GDHS.

Dr Afriyie urged the District Assemblies and the communities to co-operate with field workers in the generation of data and information during the 2003 GDHS.

Mrs Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, Chairperson of the National Population Council, touched on the need to disseminate the data on the GDHS after the completion of the exercise.

Dr Twum-Baah said the significance of these household surveys provided feedback on the effectiveness of development.

He said they also provided information on the changing levels of access, utilisation and satisfaction with social and economic services across different population groups, including the poor.

He said the story so far showed that fertility rates were declining, however, he said the worrying factor was that the termination of pregnancies (abortions) was being seen as a greater factor than the use of contraceptive in reducing fertility.

The Health Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, in a speech read for him, said Ghana's current population growth of 2.7 per annum, was high. He said birth control through the use of contraceptive was key in controlling the growth rate.

He noted that one way of ensuring child survival was through the spacing of birth and the promotion of health facility usage by pregnant women.

He thanked the USAID and Macro International Incorporated for supporting the 2003 GDHS.

Dr Afriyie urged the District Assemblies and the communities to co-operate with field workers in the generation of data and information during the 2003 GDHS.

Mrs Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, Chairperson of the National Population Council, touched on the need to disseminate the data on the GDHS after the completion of the exercise.