Abstract:
Traditionally, northern Ghana (defined in this study as: Northern, Upper
East and Upper West Regions) is noted for the production of nutritious foodstuffs
such as groundnuts, beans, guinea and corn/millet that are commonly used in the
preparation of healthy children food. Nevertheless, child malnutrition has been
relatively high in northern Ghana with some regional variations, particularly
between the periods 1993 and 2014. This thesis analyzed the regional differentials
in child malnutrition and food and nutrition security in northern Ghana.
Methodologically, the survey questionnaires and interview schedules approach
formed the main primary data collection sources and instruments. Geographic
data and information from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (1993-
2008) were the secondary data employed. Additionally, based on cross tabulation,
discriminant, factor, linear regression and multiple linear regression analyses the
study data were analyzed. The findings of the study revealed that significant
regional differences in child malnutrition and food and nutrition security exist
between the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. Lack of income and
limited access to good food were found to be the main factors that account for
child malnutrition in northern Ghana. It is recommended that the activities of the
Northern Ghana Food Security Resilience Project (NGFSRP) that promotes
effective and intensive agricultural production including dry season gardening and
the preparation and sale of nutritious infant and child food in the Upper West and
Northern regions should be extended to cover the Upper East Region.
