Health needs of migrant female head porters in Ghana: evidence from the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas

• Published in: International journal for equity in health 2023-08, Vol.22 (1), p.151-151, Article 151
• Main Authors: Opuni, Rhanda Kyerewaa, Adei, Dina, Mensah, Anthony Acquah, Adamtey, Ronald, Agyemang-Duah, Williams
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ante-natal care; Cancer; Care and treatment; Cervical cancer; Diarrhea; Family planning; Female; Females; Ghana; Head; Health; Health aspects; Health needs; Humans; Malaria; Males; Maternal & child health; Medical care; Medical policy; Mental Health; Methods; Metropolitan areas; Migrant female head porters; Migration; Needs assessment; Post-natal care; Postpartum period; Prevention; Qualitative analysis; Risk factors; Sample size; Sampling techniques; Sexual Health; Social aspects; Transients and Migrants; Urban areas; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vector-borne diseases; Well being; Women immigrants
• ISSN: 1475-9276; 1475-9276
• DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01947-x

In low-and middle-income countries, migrants are confronted with health needs which affect the promotion of their well-being and healthy lives. However, not much is known about the health needs of migrant female head porters (Kayayei) in Ghana. This study assesses the health needs of migrant female head porters in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) and Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA). The study adopted a convergent mixed methods design where both qualitative and quantitative data were used. A representative sample size of 470 migrant female head porters was used for the study. The study revealed that ante-natal care, post-natal care, treatment of malaria, treatment of diarrhoea diseases, mental health, sexual health, and cervical cancer were health needs of migrant female head porters. The findings showed that participants from the GAMA significantly have greater cervical cancer needs (71.6% vrs 67.1%, p = 0.001) compared to those from the GKMA. Kayeyei from the GKMA significantly have greater mental health needs than those from the GAMA (84.6% vrs 79.2%, p = 0.031). Also, Kayeyei from the GKMA significantly have higher attendance of post-natal care compared to those from the GAMA (99.4% vrs 96.2%, p = 0.013). The findings underscore differential health needs across geographical localities. Based on the findings of the study, specific health needs such as ante-natal care and post-natal care should be included in any health programmes and policies that aim at addressing health needs of migrant female head porters in the two metropolitan areas of Ghana.