Socio-Economic Background of Households and the implication for Housing Choices in Urban Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the linkages between the socio-economic background of households and their housing choices in the urban enclaves of Ghana. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 900 participants from the study areas. Questionnaire was used to glean data from the participants. Pearson correlation and multinomial logistic regression were used to estimate the level of association between socio-economic characteristics of households and their housing choices. The study found that the choice of housing type was significantly associated with sex (χ²=56.004, p<0.001), education level (χ²=238.895, p<0.001), marital status (χ²=28.871, p<0.001), occupation (χ²=202.110, p<0.001), monthly income (χ²=275.682, p<0.001), location of household (χ²=46.112, p<0.001) but not household size (χ²=18.642, p=0.42), age (χ²=10.229, p=0.113) and religion (χ²=10.361, p=0.110) of the household head. The multinomial logistic regression estimates that household heads with no formal education compared to household heads with master degree are .055 (p<.001) times less likely to live in a detached/semi-detached house compared to compound house. The study reiterates the importance of having an informed policy on neighbourhood design and development, particularly when designing houses for people of particular socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.