A survey of 1,406 nurses and midwives in Ghana has found that 94.7% believe their salaries are insufficient to meet their financial needs.
The study, conducted by the Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG), highlights the financial pressures facing healthcare professionals who provide essential services across the country.
The research, titled Financial Strain Among Nurses and Midwives in Northern and Southern Ghana: A Cross-sectional Survey, was published in the Asian Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting.
It found that 85.6% of respondents had taken loans, while 83.3% said they experienced financial difficulties either always or frequently.
The findings indicate that the financial challenges reported by nurses and midwives extend beyond routine household spending. Some 87.5% of respondents identified the cost of living as a major source of pressure.
Family responsibilities were described as a financial burden by 80% of those surveyed, while 74.4% pointed to rent and housing costs.
The results suggest that many healthcare workers are managing financial strain alongside significant professional responsibilities and commitments at home.
Reliance on borrowing
UPNMG said the level of borrowing recorded in the survey required particular attention.
Where salaries do not cover essential needs, loans can become a means of meeting household expenses and other financial obligations. The survey found that 47.6% of respondents had borrowed money from friends or family.
A further 64.9% said they had used budgeting or cost-cutting measures to cope with their financial circumstances.
The combination of loan use, borrowing from personal networks and reductions in spending reflects the range of measures respondents reported taking to manage their incomes.
Call for review of support
UPNMG said the findings should encourage employers, the government and other relevant stakeholders to assess whether current remuneration and welfare arrangements properly reflect the economic pressures faced by nurses and midwives.
The organisation’s survey raises wider questions about the financial wellbeing of professionals whose work is central to the delivery of health services in Ghana.
