The effect of power outages on in-facility mortality in healthcare facilities

Evidence from Ghana

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15541826
AutoresBettye A Apenteng (0000-0003-4848-4430, Georgia Southern University, autor correspondente), Samuel T Opoku (0000-0003-1888-5305, Georgia Southern University), Daniel Ansong (0000-0003-1328-9117, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Emmanuel Akowuah (0000-0002-8151-8615, Georgia Southern University), Evans Afriyie-Gyawu (Georgia Southern University)
Ano2016
Volume13
Fascículo5
Páginas545-555
Data de publicação2016-08-17
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoGlobal Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1744-1692 • E-ISSN: 1744-1706
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17441692.2016.1217031
PMID27533753
OpenAlexW2508990993
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas7
Referências citadas6

The World Bank estimates that at least 25 countries in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa experience chronic power outages. However, the implications of power shortages are often discussed within the context of industrial and economic disruptions, with little attention given to the health impact. Using a nationally representative data of healthcare facilities from the 2012 Ghana Access, Bottlenecks, Cost and Equity (ABCE) Health Facility Survey, this study aims to assess the impact of power outages on in-healthcare facility mortality in Ghana, a country that has experienced worsening energy crises in the last few decades. Findings revealed a positive association between the frequency of power outages and in-facility mortality, with the risk for mortality estimated to increase by 43% for each day the power was out for over 2 h. Further, when compared to an urban healthcare facility experiencing the same frequency of power outages, the risk of mortality was found to be lower in the rural facility. These findings call for a concerted effort among all stakeholders to ensure the availability of consistent power supply in healthcare facilities, in order to provide the necessary environment for the successful provision of healthcare for the citizens of Ghana

Business · Context (archaeology · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Equity (law · Geography · Health care · Health facility · Health services · Political science · Population · Energy and Environment Impacts · Global Health Care Issues · Medicine · Occupational Health and Safety Research