Are Non-Communicable Diseases the Leading Causes of Death in Low-Income Settings in Ghana?

David Adumbire, Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS)
Ayaga A. Bawah, University of Ghana
Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana
Aaron Kobina Christian, Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana

Over 75% of non-communicable (NCD) deaths and 86% of 17 million people who died prematurely before attaining 70 years, occur in low- and middle-income countries. However, policy and programme planning in averting premature deaths in many lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) is hindered by inadequate proportional representation of vital statistics and limited data on disease burden in these settings. We estimated the major causes of death among households living in the two rural districts in Ghana. We used longitudinal data from the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems to estimate the leading causes of death in rural poor contexts in Ghana. We explored factors associated with causes of death using the Pearson Independent Chi-square Test. Results showed that NCDs are the major cause of death in the study area followed by communicable diseases. Health programmes and interventions on NCDs should be supported and strengthened to reduce NCD mortality.