Do Perceptions About Local Environmental Quality Influence Self-Rated Health? Evidence from Ghana

Abstract

Although climate change and other global environmental problems are of top priority among world leaders (especially for those of developed countries), local environmental problems continue to bedevil people in developing countries like Ghana. In these countries, people continue to battle with poor air quality, poor water quality and poor sewage and sanitation. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between perceived local environmental quality and self-rated health among Ghanaians. Empirical results from ordered probit regressions based on data from the Wave 5 of the World Values Survey reveal a negative association between environmental quality and self-rated health. This study contributes to the literature on the relationship between environmental quality and health by adding further empirical evidence from a developing country perspective.

Examining the role of resilience and perceived health status on environmental quality of life: An oil community experience

“…This outcome has been found to receive some support from the literature, while some of the literature did not support this finding. This finding corroborated the study by Sulemana (), which suggests a negative association between perceived environmental quality and self‐rated health in a Ghanaian sample. However, the finding contradicts Lee, Sudom, and Zamorski (), whose research found that positive physical environmental factors, such as feeling safe in one's neighborhood, traffic, and natural living conditions, were all positively correlated with self‐rated health.…”

“…Environmental quality is a major determinant of people's well‐being because quality of life is strongly linked to the health of the physical environment (Sulemana, ).…”

“…According to Chapin (), environmental quality refers to the physical environment of the urban or rural location, which tends to induce in residents feelings of sound mental, emotional, and physical well‐being to such an extent that their needs and wants are satisfied. Therefore, it is expedient that environmental components should be one of the major domains in assessing quality of life (Sulemana, ). Furthermore, EQoL has a direct impact on human health (Coan & Holman, ; Khan, ).…”

Self-perception of health and physical activity levels among the youth and adults before and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Evidence also suggests that individuals’ perception of their environment can influence their self-perceived health status ( 32 ). Negative perceptions of the environment have been associated with poorer self-rated ( 32 ).…”

“…Evidence also suggests that individuals’ perception of their environment can influence their self-perceived health status ( 32 ). Negative perceptions of the environment have been associated with poorer self-rated ( 32 ). In sub-Saharan Africa, studies on self-perception of health have been conducted, providing insights into health status among different ( 33 , 34 ).…”