Exploring the Various Sources of Mortality Estimation in Ghana: A Scoping Review of Data Sources, Challenges, and Opportunities

Article Article scientifique Revue de la littérature Exploring the Various Sources of Mortality Estimation in Ghana: A Scoping Review of Data Sources, Challenges, and Opportunities eng 2025-09-17 author Titi-Ofei Regina http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8753-6021 418167 author Kipruto Hillary http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3879-1712 author Atweam Dominic http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8630-8879 author Ofosu Anthony Adofo http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-3069 author Rossier Clementine http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2788-4718 110770 Service enseignement, recherche, administratif et technique (SdS) (SCSPS) 2331 10.3390/healthcare13182331 2227-9032 https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/13/18/2331 <p>Background: Accurate estimation of mortality is essential for effective public health planning, policymaking, and monitoring of health interventions. In Ghana, multiple data sources are used to estimate mortality, including civil registration systems, household surveys, census data, and health and demographic surveillance systems. This scoping review explores the existing sources of mortality data in Ghana, examining their challenges and opportunities. Methods: Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, we identified peer-reviewed and grey literature from Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Ghana Statistical Service, WHO, and the United Nations. We selected studies published between 2000 and 2024 that focused on mortality estimation in Ghana. Data was extracted and synthesized into key themes: data sources, challenges, and opportunities. Results: Six major data sources on mortality were identified: Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), census data, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS), Facility-Based Health Information Systems (HMIS), modeled estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) and from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). Key challenges include under-registration of deaths (CRVS and HMIS), recall bias (DHS, census), limited geographic coverage (HDSS), inconsistencies in cause-of-death classification (HMIS, HDSS), and lack of local geographic coverage (GBD, UN DESA, DHS). Nonetheless, benefits include longitudinal follow-up (HDSS), local coverage and ownership (CRVS, HMIS) and international comparability (GBD, UN DESA, DHS). Conclusions: Mortality estimation in Ghana is supported by diverse but fragmented data sources. Strengthening the CRVS and HMIS systems, integrating multiple data streams, standardizing methodologies, and enhancing institutional partnership are essential steps toward improving data quality and coverage. This review provides recommendations for improvement towards better quality estimations of mortality in Ghana.</p> Health Information Systems Health Systems Stregthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Mortality Data Dewey 304.6/305.3/306 Dewey 613 Swiss National Science Foundation FamiLEA : The Remaking of the Family in East Africa 213547 CH Programmes 195 Institut de démographie et de socioéconomie TH 66 Institut de santé globale 22A1 false 1282 Centre LIVES Healthcare 13 18 ff21a738-faaf-4c9b-be22-8d37b85841bf Article (Published version) Public healthcare-13-02331.pdf 599535 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 9c1e480db761e8093c74f65fa2fa5075634a34939f21e72dde9d2db2148bad12 openAccess Faculté des sciences de la société / Institut de démographie et de socioéconomie Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Institut de santé globale

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Exploring the Various Sources of Mortality Estimation in Ghana: A Scoping Review of Data Sources, Challenges, and Opportunities	Healthcare			2025	47	225

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