The Correlates of Childhood Health Outcomes in Ghana: Does Childhood Birth Weight Matter?

Abstract

Survival of children under age five has been a global concern over the years. It is therefore very important to identify the determinants of some adverse childhood health outcomes including perinatal mortality and acute respiratory infection prevalence so as to guide policy on addressing this global concern. Though a number of studies have been carried out on the afore-mentioned health outcomes globally, they received low attention among Ghanaian researchers especially in the direction of their demographic and socioeconomic correlates. This study therefore investigated the association between perinatal mortality, acute respiratory infection prevalence and their determinants including birth weights and birth sizes of babies in Ghana. The study used a binary logistic regression to estimate the demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing perinatal mortality and acute respiratory infection prevalence in Ghana with a combined data of 1998, 2003 and 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The results showed that both demographic and socioeconomic factors have varying association with the perinatal mortality and acute respiratory infection prevalence in Ghana. Child’s sizes at birth especially average birth sizes, breastfeeding for the first time within hours or immediately after birth, normal vaginal delivery, delivery at health facility are inversely and significantly related to perinatal mortality. The implication is that the above factors are more protective against perinatal mortality. Mother’s age however, increases perinatal mortality. Child’s sizes at birth especially larger than average and average birth sizes, child’s age, mother’s age, geographical region of residence are inversely and significantly related to ARI prevalence. Also, no antenatal care visit and rising birth weight are positively and significantly associated with ARI prevalence. Based on the results indicated in this study, there is an urgent need to adopt strategies that would ensure that good feeding practices are promoted among mothers during pregnancy so that they can give birth to babies whose weights and sizes at birth are desirable.