Characterization of functional disability among older adults in Ghana: A multi-level analysis of the study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) Wave II
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS ONE
Abstract
Background
Functional disability is a common public health problem that affects the health and quality of
life of older adults. This causes them to be highly dependent on other members of their fam ily, receive home care, or to be institutionalized. Although functional disability has been
widely studied in developed country settings, very limited studies have focused on age related functional disability in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Ghana. The purpose of
this study is to assess various factors associated with the difficulties in performing basic and
instrumental activities of daily living among older adults in Ghana.
Methods
This cross-sectional study used data on 1610 older adults aged 50 years and above from
the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) survey Wave II conducted in Ghana.
Nine standard functioning difficulty tools of WHODAS II was used for the analysis. The
WHODAS II offers continuous summary scores with higher scores showing higher disability,
and vice versa. A multi-level regression model was used to identify individual and household
level risk factors linked to the functional disability of older adults.
Results
Female older adults (53.7%) reported having functional disability. The mean functional dis ability among older adults aged 50 years and above was 5.2 (± 5.9). Results indicated that
older adults who are females, aged 70 years and above, and had three or more chronic con ditions had a higher functional disability. Also, older adults who have adequate fruit intake
and belong to wealthier households were found to have a lower functional disability.
Conclusions
The study reveals that functional disability among older adults is frequent in Ghana and is
associated with having three or more chronic conditions and being overweight/obese. Pre vention of functional disability in old age in Ghana is therefore a matter of great social and
economic concern, which calls for coordinate efforts across the board to mitigate this public
health challenge
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Ghana, sub-Saharan Africa, Functional disability
Citation
Citation: Darkwah KA, Iddi S, Nonvignon J, Aikins M (2022) Characterization of functional disability among older adults in Ghana: A multi-level analysis of the study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) Wave II. PLoS ONE 17(11): e0277125. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277125