Examining health determinants and outcomes of older adults across Ghana’s North–South divide

Healthcare services and outcomes are often not evenly distributed across geographic regions. This study used the harmonized data from the Research on Early Life and Trends and Effects (RELATE) to compare the health outcomes of older adults across the North–South divide of Ghana and identify the factors underlying these differences. Although the literature indicates that the South has more health resources and better health indicators, the current study revealed that, for older adults, health outcome in the North was comparatively better than that in the South. The optimal health index scores show that older adults in the North are living at 86% of their optimal health compared with 82% in the South. Work-related physical activity and age substantially influenced optimal health in both regions. Additionally, healthcare use and gender were influential, particularly in the South. The results of the current study suggest that healthcare service availability can impact health outcomes, but so can behavioral and sociodemographic factors.