"Ga-Beans, Red-Red, or GOBE": Health Benefits Knowledge Disparity on Beans and Self-Rated Health among the Urban Poor in Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

This project assessed the urban poor’s level of knowledge on the health benefits of beans and its relative effects on self-rated health. The urban poor in sub-Saharan African countries experience double burden of disease – that is, infectious diseases and increasing rates of non-communicable diseases. This disease burden is influenced by poor nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental factor among others. Studies have shown that poor nutrition continues to contribute to the increasing incidence of micronutrient deficiencies, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. Slum spaces in Accra have seen proliferation of fast food joints with sale of foods that contribute to the increasing rates of non-communicable diseases. The consumption of such foods are associated with societal prestige and affluence irrespective of the health risks. Consumption of staples like beans-based food such as gari and beans (ga-beans), also called red-red, are often regarded as “poor person’s food”; although the health benefits of beans are enormous and beans is relatively affordable. Drawing on a combined health, food, and nutrition literacy frameworks, a survey was conducted among 151 residents of James Town – a low-income settlement in Accra. Bivariate analyses using Chi Square and ANOVA were undertaken to examine the relationship between beans health knowledge, demographic variables, beans consumption frequency, and self-rated health status. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to assess the relative effects of beans health knowledge on self-rated health status controlling for co-variates. The study found that age, sex, and beans health knowledge were significant predictors of self-rated health.