Ghana’s Mortality Profile: With and without HIV/AIDS

Chuks J. Mba, University of Ghana

The present study seeks to raise awareness and expand knowledge about the deleterious effect of HIV/AIDS on Ghana’s life expectancy. Using multiple- and associated single-decrement life table techniques, the study estimates the total number of Ghanaians who would die from HIV/AIDS by the time they reach age 75 from a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 live births, assuming that current mortality conditions prevail. The findings indicate that 7.2 percent of babies will eventually die of HIV/AIDS, and 13.0 percent and 23.4 percent of those aged 60 years, and 75 years and above, respectively, will die of HIV/AIDS. Most deaths will come from persons within the reproductive and productive age groups. A remarkable gain in life expectancy of 10 years would result in the absence of HIV/AIDS. The elderly are likely to be the most active persons to manage the family affairs in the event of the death of their adult children.