Unravelling the Health Inequalities in Ghana: An Intersectional Perspective

Intersectionality theory has recently been applied in health research in addressing the complex interlocking social axes of differentiation. Several studies have focused on both single and across country health inequalities in the global North, less is known about health inequalities in the global South. This paper analyses health inequalities by examining how different social groups-categorised by the intersection of different social identities produce or reinforce health inequalities in Ghana. Using Ghana Living Standards Survey data and hierarchical linear regression method, we found that sex, employment status and spatial location drive health inequalities in Ghana. Findings also revealed differential inequalities in health by religious affiliation. The analyses also indicated that female headed households and household size were positively associated with hospital admissions. These findings suggest that health policy planning that centres on paying attention to interlocking social categories such as sex of the household heads, employment status, religious affiliation, and spatial context is a critical starting point for reducing health inequalities and improving the health of all Ghanaians.