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Current Sociology
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Social Class and Health Status in Ghana

Kwame Boadu

This study investigates differences in social class and their influence on health status in Ghana, using malaria as a proxy measure of health status. Data were obtained from the 1997 Ghana Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire (CWIQ) study. A total of 14,514 household heads were interviewed, out of which 9162 were rural and 5352 urban household heads. The research method used in this study involves the construction of a composite index of social class from six indicators: education, dwelling ownership, heads of cattle, modern household items, main source of cooking fuel and type of toilet facility. Social class represents the main predictor variable, and is examined in conjunction with marital status and personal hygiene. Sex, age, place of residence and ecological zone are employed as control variables, while the prevalence of malaria is used as a proxy measure of health status, the dependent variable. The focus on malaria stems from the pervasive influence of the disease as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana, and its linkage to socioeconomic and environmental conditions. Logistic regression procedure is executed to examine the effect of social class on the prevalence of malaria, while controlling for all other variables. The study reveals that social class has no direct influence on health status.

Key Words: Ghana • health status • social class

Current Sociology, Vol. 50, No. 4, 531-553 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/0011392102050004004
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