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Health Indicators

The purpose of measuring key health indicators in different parts of the world is to track the overall global health status. Data and evidence help identify health conditions that are affecting masses of people. Tracking this information allows a better understanding of the causes of suffering and best ways to intervene. The leading key health indicators include:

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  • Infant mortality rate,

  • life expectancy at birth,

  • maternal mortality rate,

  • neonatal mortality rate, and

  • under-5 child mortality rate (Skolnik, 2020). 

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An analysis of Ghana's current health status statistics determines

over a quarter of the population suffers from poverty, shortage of

healthcare workers, minimal government-aided healthcare, all of which

contribute to high mortality rates. The data proves that lower-income

countries have higher mortality rates than middle to high-income countries. 

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World Health Organization. (2016). Ghana key indicators. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.cco.ki-GHA?lang=en

The leading cause of death in Ghana is related to malaria. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. Malaria causes fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms, leading to more severe complications if left untreated. The U.S. Malaria Initiative under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has supported the implementation of malaria prevention and control interventions, including long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, preventing malaria in pregnancy, and improving diagnostics and case management (CDC, 2019).

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There is a significant difference in comparing Ghana's health indicators to the United States. Health financing is a critical factor in healthcare accessibility; general government expenditure on health in the U.S. is 21.29% compared to Ghana's 6.82% (WHO, 2016). The neonatal mortality rate (per 1000 live births) is 3.5% in the U.S, compared to 23.9% in Ghana. Additionally, life expectancy at birth for both sexes (years) is 78.5 in the U.S. and 63.4 in Ghana (WHO, 2016). There is a significant gap in health indicator statistics when comparing the United States and Ghana. The risk factors that affect the health status in Ghana include poverty, lack of hospital access, high cost of healthcare, poor nutrition, unsanitary conditions, and the prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

World Health Organization. (2016). United states of America key indicators. [Image]. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.cco.ki-USA?lang=en

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