Why some women deliver in health institutions and others do not: a cross sectional study of married women in Ghana, 2008.

Existing inequalities in an environment where men wield so much authority can have negative implications for women's reproductive health outcomes. Using a quantitative approach, the study explores the relationship between some selected socioeconomic variables, women's status and choice of place of delivery. All three indicators of status employed by the study were significantly associated with whether a woman had an institutional delivery or not. This association however diminished after controlling for other confounding socio-economic variables. The findings indicate that a woman's status does not act independently to affect her choice of place of delivery but these effects are channelled through some socio-economic variables. Wealth and educational status of the women and their partners emerged predictors of choice of place of delivery. Expansion of economic opportunities for women, as well as female education must be encouraged. In addition, these should not be done in neglect of male education.

Sociodemographic correlates of obesity among Ghanaian women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the sociodemographic correlates of obesity among Ghanaian women. DESIGN: The 2003 and 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data sets were used to examine the sociodemographic characteristics and the BMI of women aged 15-49 years using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analyses. SETTING: Ghana is a West African country which is divided into ten administrative regions. The country is further divided into the northern and southern sectors. The northern sector includes the three northern regions (Northern, Upper East and Upper Westen regions) and the seven remaining regions form the southern sector. SUBJECTS: Women aged 15-49 years whose BMI values were available. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight increased from 25·5 % in 2003 to 30·5 % in 2008. Obesity varied directly with age from 20 to 44 years. Women with higher education had the highest rate of obesity. Obesity was more common among women from wealthy households compared to women from poor households. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and overweight were found to be more common among older women, urban women, married women, women with higher education and women from rich households. Adoption of healthy lifestyles and the implementation of policies that promote healthy living can help reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity.