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Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Social Isolation and Socioeconomic Determinants Among Ghanaian Older Adults (2019–2024)
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Patrick Atanga Azoya
 , Sarah Soyeon Oh
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Received January 19, 2026 Accepted February 6, 2026 Published online February 10, 2026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.69841/igee.2026.001
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 Abstract
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Abstract
Background
Older adults in Ghana who experience socioeconomic disadvantage characterized by limited in-come, low educational attainment, inadequate housing, insecure or absent employment face obstacles to main-taining social connections, increasing their vulnerability to isolation and adverse health outcomes. Prolonged loneliness has been likened to the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes per day (Shafiq et al., 2020). This review and meta-analysis examined cross-sectional studies showing differing relationships between social isola-tion/loneliness and low socioeconomic status (SES) among Ghanaian older adults. The objective was to synthesize quantitative evidence on associations between socioeconomic factors and social isolation or loneliness among older adult populations in Ghana.
Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and African Journals Online (AJOL) for peer-reviewed English-language studies published from 1 January 2019 to December 2024. Eligible studies were quantitative, included Ghanaian older adults, reported associations between social isolation or loneliness and at least one socioeconomic factor, and provided extractable effect measures (OR/PR or raw counts). Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts. Data extracted covered study characteristics, exposures, outcomes, and adjusted effect estimates. We pooled odds ratios using random-effects meta-analysis (DerSi-monian–Laird) in R (meta/metafor); heterogeneity was quantified with I². Risk-of-bias visualizations were produced with robvis.
Results Ten cross-sectional Ghanaian studies met inclusion criteria. All indicated that lower SES was associated with elevated odds of social isolation or loneliness (individual ORs 1.60–2.30). The pooled OR was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.69–2.14), indicating approximately a 90% higher likelihood of social isolation or loneliness among soci-oeconomically disadvantaged older adults. The findings suggest that aside cultural enablers, rural-urban migration effects are more severe in low-SES groups, potentially explaining the heightened ORs com-pared to global estimates.
Conclusion Socioeconomic disadvantage is a substantial correlate of social isolation and loneliness among Ghanaian older adults. Interventions and policies addressing poverty, food insecurity, and broader socio-cultural determinants are needed to support social connectedness and healthy aging.
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Summary
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