Family Histories of Chronic Disease in Coastal Ghana

Project Summary 

The purpose of this study is to examine whether family health histories can provide useful insights into health transitions and the occurrence of chronic disease in earlier generations in coastal Ghana. This is a pilot study with a qualitative study design consisting of several focus group discussions followed by a series of interviews with a sample of older adults (aged 60+ years) from coastal Ghana and their adult children and grandchildren. The outputs of this research will primarily lead to academic publications, presentations and public engagement activities.

This pilot study is part of the Chronic Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa project at UCL’s Institute of Advanced Studies, which is funded by the Wellcome Trust (http://www.chronicdiseaseafrica.org/).

The study may help to provide historical community-based accounts of chronic disease in Ghana and test the potential usefulness of family health history interviews as a method for collecting historical information on chronic disease experiences in Ghana at the community level. This may shed light on ongoing health transitions and could inform community responses to chronic disease.