Ghana - Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 1998, Round 3

The major focus of the 1998 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) was to provide updated estimates of important population and health indicators including fertility and mortality rates for the country as a whole and for urban and rural areas, separately. In addition, the sample was designed to provide estimates of key variables for the ten regions in the country (Western, Central, Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper West, and Upper East). The 1998 GDHS interviewed all women age 15-49 in a selected household and all men age 15-59 in every third selected household. The survey, which covered the entire country, sampled most of the population of Ghana, excluding only those persons in nonresidential
institutions, such as hotels, hospitals, prisons, and similar establishments.

An initial sample size of 4,500 completed female interviews and 1,500 completed male interviews was chosen, taking into consideration budgetary constraints and the needs of data users. This sample size was based on the need to provide estimates of several health indicators including contraceptive rates for the 10 regions. The sample also had to take into consideration a 10 percent overall non-response rate. Furthermore, it was necessary to over-sample the sparsely populated Northern, Upper West and Upper East Regions, in order to obtain adequate numbers of households to provide reliable estimates of key demographic and health variables. Based on these considerations, a final targeted sample size of 6,375 households was deemed to yield adequate numbers of completed interviews with eligible women and men. Of these, 6,055 households
were occupied at the time of the interview. Interviews were successfully completed for 6,003 households, 4,843 eligible women and 1,546 eligible men.


There was no deviation from the sample design.


Overall, the household response rates are high by region and urban-rural residence. The Greater Accra Region, which is predominantly urban, experienced the lowest household response rates for both women (98 percent) and men (97 percent).
Response rates are relatively lower at the individual level, with rates being slightly lower for
individual men than women. The lowest rates for the individual interviews were observed in the Upper West Region. This is mostly attributed to the extended absence of eligible women and men. The survey was conducted between November and February, a time of the year when farm activity is at a low and seasonal migration in search of temporary employment is common in this region. Individual response rates in the Greater Accra Region and in urban areas are also relatively lower. This could be attributed to the longer hours urbanites spend away from home.

For more on the response rate, see Table A.1.2 of Appendix A of the Final Report attached in the external resources.


Sample weights were used to compensate for the unequal probability of selection between geographically defined strata.