The comparative analysis of solid waste management between rural and urban Ghana is largely lacking. This study investigated the solid waste situation and the organisation of solid waste management in both urban and rural settings from the perspective of households. The study employed cross-sectional survey covering both rural and urban districts in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The study systematically sampled houses from which 400 households and respondents were randomly selected. Pearson's Chi square test was used to compare demographic and socioeconomic variables in rural and urban areas. Multivariate Test, Tests of Between-Subjects Effects, and Pair-Wise Comparisons were performed through one-way MANOVA to determine whether or not solid waste situations in rural and urban areas are significantly different. The results revealed that location significantly affects solid waste management in Ghana. Urban communities had lower mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in homes. However, urban communities had higher mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in principal streets and dumping sites. The study recommends that the local government authorities implement very comprehensive policies (sanitary inspection, infrastructure development, and community participation) that will take into consideration the specific solid waste management needs of both urban and rural areas.
Background
Although loneliness and physical function impairment (PFI) are common geriatric syndromes and public health issues, little is known about how their associations vary via self-perception of health. We examine how loneliness is associated with PFI, and whether the association is modified by perceived health status.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1201 adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Aging, Health, Psychological Well-being and Health Seeking Behavior Study (AgeHeaPsyWel–HeaSeeB) in Ghana. We assessed loneliness using the three-item short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and PFI was measured with a seven-item scale on mobility-related deficiencies. Adjusted logistic regressions and moderation analysis evaluated the hypothesized associations.
Results
The prevalence of moderate, severe loneliness, and PFI were 37.5%, 17.7%, and 36.1%, respectively. Regressions showed that loneliness was associated with a 23% increased risk of PFI after adjusting for several potential confounders (OR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.03–2.81). PFI sub-types revealed similar risks. The loneliness-PFI association was significantly moderated by perceived health status such that a positive health perception attenuated the effect of loneliness on PFI (OR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.23–0.90).
Conclusions
Individuals who were lonely had significantly higher odds for PFI but the effect was tempered by perceived health status. Social policy and public health practices for healthy aging should address loneliness and negative health perception among older people.
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