Peer-reviewed article
A scoping review of the health and health-related sustainable development goals (HHSDGs) in Ghana: progress and challenges.
Doku DT, Nartey YA, Cudjoe O, Sakyi GA, Duah E et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This scoping review examines Ghana's progress toward health and health-related sustainable development goals between 2015 and 2022. The review found that Ghana has made progress in controlling infectious diseases, improving access to clean water, and reducing child overweight, but significant gaps remain in maternal and child health, mental health, sanitation, and universal health coverage. The review identifies structural and socioeconomic barriers as underlying causes of these gaps and calls for strengthened policies and targeted interventions.
Key points
- Ghana has significantly reduced the prevalence of overweight in children under five
- Progress made in infectious disease control and access to clean water
- Significant gaps remain in maternal and child health, mental health, sanitation, and universal health coverage
- Mental health emerged as a key health-related SDG priority, though it is not a stand-alone SDG
- Persistent structural and socioeconomic barriers are driving gaps in health outcomes
Limitations
This is a scoping review of existing literature rather than primary research, so it depends on the quality and availability of published studies and reports. The review cannot determine causal relationships or provide precise measurements of intervention effectiveness in addressing specific health outcomes.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 prioritises the promotion of equitable health outcomes and universal health coverage. In Ghana, there is limited information on the current implementation progress and challenges of the health and health-related SDGs (HHSDGs). The aim of this review was to conduct a situational analysis of the HHSDGs in Ghana whilst providing in-depth and updated literature on their implementation progress and challenges. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review guided by the Arksey and O’Malley framework. The Population, Concept and Context (PCC) framework was used to select literature. Peer-reviewed and grey literature with data collected between September 2015 and October 2022 were used. Exclusion criteria included non-HHSDG topics and studies outside the timeframe. Data were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, EBSCOhost and grey literature sources. The process yielded 37 peer-reviewed articles and 14 grey literature records, comprising 11 organisational reports from websites, 2 theses, and 1 blog post. Systematic screening, guided by the PRISMA-ScR, and quality appraisal, using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, were performed. Thematic synthesis was employed for the analysis of the data. RESULTS: Health and wellbeing (SDG 3), climate change and climate action (SDG 13), gender equality (SDG 5), zero hunger (SDG 2), and clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) were the identified HHSDGs. Mental health emerged as a key HHSDG, although not a stand-alone SDG. Our review indicates that Ghana has made progress in meeting some critical HHSDG targets, with further work needed to meet all targets. Ghana has made important progress toward the HHSDGs, including improvements in infectious disease control, access to clean water, gender equality initiatives, and the adoption of health innovations. Also, Ghana has significantly reduced the prevalence of overweight in children underfive. However, significant gaps remain in maternal and child health, mental health, sanitation, universal health coverage, and food security. These gapsare driven by persistent structural and socioeconomic barriers. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for strengthened policies and targeted interventions to accelerate Ghana’s progress toward achieving the HHSDGs by 2030.