Correlates of self-rated health among BIMA telemedicine customers in Ghana: A cross-sectional survey
Self-Rated Health among BIMA Telemedicine Customers in Ghana
Abstract
Background: Self-rated health (SRH) is a subjective predictor of morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, little is known about its correlates among telemedicine users in low-resource settings, a population that may face unique health and access challenges.
Objective: The study examined demographic and lifestyle factors associated with SRH among customers of BIMA’s telemedicine service in Ghana.
Methods: We analysed cross-sectional secondary data from a telephone survey of BIMA customers (January 2022 – June 2023). Variables included SRH, age, gender, medication use, tobacco use, physical activity (PA), and diet. A composite Healthy Life Score (HLS) combined PA and diet frequency. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between SRH and its correlates.
Results: Females who formed majority of the 9,547 participants (61.4%) had a mean age of 35.1 (SD 11.6) years, Among them, higher HLS showed a dose–response association with good SRH (Average: aOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06 -1.64; Good: aOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.29 – 2.01; Excellent: aOR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.69 – 2.78). Age had a small per-year effect (aOR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98 – 0.99), which is meaningful cumulatively, resulting in approximately 10% lower odds over a decade. Men had higher odds than women (aOR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05 – 1.24). Medication use (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.52 – 0.65) and smoking (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50 – 0.98) were associated with lower odds
of good SRH.
Conclusion: Among BIMA telemedicine users in Ghana, SRH is closely linked to lifestyle and demographic factors. Integrating physical activity promotion, dietary counselling, and smoking cessation support into telemedicine consultations may enhance perceived health. However, findings should be interpreted with caution, given the reliance on self-reported data, non-validated HLS items, and the crosssectional design of this study.
