The Strain of the Double Burden of Disease and Poverty: The Influence of Risky Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours

Henry A. Tagoe, University of Ghana
Fidelia A. A. Dake, Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana

Many countries have adopted health policies that are targeted at reducing risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases and promoting healthy populations through healthy lifestyle behaviour (HLB). This paper examines (HLB) among Ghanaian by comparing behaviours before and after the introduction of national health policy change and also explore the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with HLB. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analytical frameworks were employed on two nationally representative surveys (2003 World Health Survey and 2008 Demographic and Health Survey) to arrive at the results. Relatively fewer people compared to before adhere to the recommended amount of fruit and vegetable servings per day. HLB worsens with increasing age and advancement in education. While more females (7.0%) exhibited healthier lifestyles, more males (9.0%) exhibited poor lifestyles now than before. Positive HLB will largely mediate the epidemiological transition and curb the double burden of disease and the resultant poverty in the Global South.