Dr. Martin Wiredu Agyekum

Dr. Martin Wiredu Agyekum

Research Fellow

Contact Info Email: mwagyekum@ug.edu.gh

About

Dr. Martin Wiredu Agyekum is a Population Health Scientist and a Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LECERP), University of Ghana. He holds a PhD and an MA in Population Studies, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Philosophy, all from the University of Ghana. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (PGDTLHE) from the University of Education, Winneba.

His research focuses on the intersections of Population Health and Education. Dr. Agyekum has contributed to a range of intervention, evaluation, and policy-oriented research. He utilises both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, adopting interdisciplinary approaches in his study. He remains committed to advancing population health and education research, advocating for evidence-based solutions that promote sustainable and impactful change in Ghana and beyond. Dr. Agyekum's research not only enriches academic discourse but also plays a vital role in strengthening health and education systems, shaping policies, and enhancing professional practices to create healthier and more inclusive environments.

He actively shares his research findings through presentations at both local and international conferences. His work is also published in top peer-reviewed journals, where he also serves as an academic editor for some of them. Currently, he is a member of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) and the Union for African Population Studies (UAPS), contributing to global discussions on population health issues.

Research Areas

  • Population Health

  • Sexual and Reproductive Health

  • Non-Communicable Diseases

  • Mental Health

  • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

  • School Violence and Indiscipline

  • Early Childhood Education and Development

  • Inclusivity and Special Education


 

Publication

Peer Reviewed Articles  

  1. Kyei-Arthur, F., Kyei-Gyamfi, S., Agyekum, M. W., Afrifa-Anane, G. F., & Dickson, K. S. (2025). Understanding adolescent pregnancy in Ghana: prevalence, reactions, resolution and predictors. Discover Social Science and Health, 5(1), 1-15. 

  2. Agyekum, M. W., Kyei-Arthur, F., & Bosompem, S. K. (2024). "Do we register our deaths?": Motivations and barriers to death registration in Ghana. PloS one, 19(10), e0312353. 

  3. Christian, A. K., Osei-Appaw, A. A., Sawyerr, R. T., & Agyekum, M. W (2024). Hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease nexus: investigating the role of urbanization and lifestyle in Cabo Verde. Global Health Action, 17(1), 2414524. 

  4. Eshun, G., Kyei-Arthur, F., Abdou, M. S., Agyekum, M. W., Sarfo, M., Agbenyeavu, J. K., ... & Ghazy, R. M. (2024). Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses among the Adult Population in Ghana: a cross-sectional study using the Health Belief Model. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2673. 

  5. Okyere, J., Kyei-Arthur, F., Agyekum, M. W., Agbadi, P., & Yeboah, I. (2024). Induced abortion among adolescent girls and young women: should geography matter in Ghana? Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1-8. 

  6. Yeboah, I., Okyere, J., Klu, D., Agbadi, P., & Agyekum, M. W. (2024). Individual and community-level factors associated with repeat induced abortion among women in Ghana: a multivariable complex sample logistic regression analysis of 2017 Ghana maternal health survey. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1420. 

  7. Agyekum, M. W., Nyieku, F. E., Yeboah, S. B., & Frempong-Ainguah, F. (2024). Factors associated with rural-urban safe disposal of children stools in Ghana. BMC Research Notes, 17(1), 54. 

  8. Agyekum, M. W., Afrifa-Anane, G. F., & Kyei-Arthur, F. (2024). Prevalence and correlates of disability in older adults, Ghana: evidence from the Ghana 2021 Population and Housing Census. BMC geriatrics, 24(1), 52. 

  9. Kyei-Gyamfi, S., Kyei-Arthur, F., Alhassan, N., Agyekum, M. W., Abrah, P. B., & Kugbey, N. (2024). Prevalence, correlates, and reasons for substance use among adolescents aged 10–17 in Ghana: a cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed-method study. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 19(1), 17. 

  10. Kyei-Arthur, F., Agyekum, M. W., & Kyei-Gyamfi, S. (2024). "You cannot stay with one person once you begin having sex at a young age": the prevalence, correlates and effects of early sexual debut among children in Ghana. Reproductive Health, 21(1), 38. 

  11. Yeboah, I., Agyekum, M. W., Okyere, J., Mensah, R. O., Essiaw, M. N., Appiah, H., ... & Christian, A. K. (2023). Use of any contraceptive method among women in rural communities in the eastern region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1925. 

  12. Agyekum, M. W., Yeboah, S. B., Dzradosi, C., Ofosu-Ampong, K., Quaye, M. O., Donkoh, C., ... & Nsoh, E. A. (2023) Rural-urban differentials in early childhood education and child development: Evidence from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Ghana. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(8): e0002171. https:// doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002171   

  13. Sedegah, D.D., Agyekum, M.W. & Kyeremeh, B. (2023) Local-level water conservation and management practices in rural communities: A case study in Dormaa Municipality, Bono Region, Ghana. Irrigation and Drainage, 1–14. Available from: https://doi.org/10. 1002/rd.284 

  14. Kyei-Arthur, F., Agyekum, M. W., Afrifa-Anane, G. F., Larbi, R. T., & Kisaakye, P. (2023). Perceptions about COVID-19 preventive measures among Ghanaian women. Plos one, 18(4), e0284362. 

  15. Agula, C., Henry, E. G., Asuming, P. O., Obeng-Dwamena, A., Toprah, T., Agyekum, M. W., ... & Bawah, A. A. (2022). Postpartum contraceptive initiation and use: Evidence from Accra, Ghana. Women's Health, 18, 17455057221141290. 

  16. Kushitor, M., Henry, E. G., Obeng-Dwamena, A. D., Agyekum, M. W., Agula, C., Toprah, T., ... & Bawah, A. A. (2022). Covert Contraceptive Use amongst the urban poor in Accra, Ghana: experiences of health providers. Reproductive Health, 19(1), 1-12. 

  17. Kyei-Arthur F, Kyei-Gyamfi S, Agyekum MW, Afrifa-Anane GF, Amoh BA (2022) Parents' and guardians' acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination for children in Ghana: An online survey. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0272801. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272801 

  18. Afrifa-Anane GF, Larbi RT, Addo B, Agyekum MW, Kyei-Arthur F, Appiah M, et al. (2022) Facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake among women in two regions of Ghana: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0272876. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272876 

  19. Afrifa-Anane GF., Kyei-Arthur F., Agyekum M.W., Afrifa-Anane E.K (2022) Factors associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections among children under five years in Ghana. PLoS ONE 17(7): e0271685. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271685 

  20. Agyekum, M. W., Henry, E. G., Kushitor, M. K., Obeng-Dwamena, A. D., Agula, C., Opoku Asuming, P., ... & Bawah, A. A. (2022). Partner support and women's contraceptive use: insight from urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. BMC Women's Health, 22(1), 1-10. 

  21. Agyekum, M. W., Codjoe, S. N., Dake, F. A., & Abu, M. (2022). Is Infant birth weight and mothers perceived birth size associated with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Ghana? PloS one, 17(5), e0267179. 

  22. Agyekum, M. W., Codjoe, S. N., Dake, F. A., & Abu, M. (2022). Enablers and inhibitors of exclusive breastfeeding: perspectives from mothers and health workers in Accra, Ghana. International breastfeeding journal, 17(1), 1-15.  

  23. Kyei-Arthur, F., Agyekum, M. W., & Afrifa-Anane, G. F. (2021). The association between paternal characteristics and exclusive breastfeeding in Ghana. PloSone, 16(6), e0252517. 

  24. Agyekum M. W, Frempong Afrifa-Anane G, Kyei-Arthur F, Addo B (2021) Acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers in Ghana. Advances in Public Health 2021:1–8: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.11.21253374. 

Book Chapters 

  1. Ofosu-Ampong, K., Agyekum, M. W., & Garcia, M. B. (2024). Long-Term Pandemic Management and the Need to Invest in Digital Transformation: A Resilience Theory Perspective. In Transformative Approaches to Patient Literacy and Healthcare Innovation (pp. 242-260). IGI Global.  

  2. Owusu, A. Y., Oteng-Ababio, M., Owusu, G., Wrigley-Asante, C., & Agyekum, M. W. (2019). Opening up or closing off. Reducing Urban Violence in the Global South: Towards Safe and Inclusive Cities. Routledge. 

 

Technical Reports 

  1. MacQuarrie, Kerry LD, Sara Riese, Jeffrey Edmeades, Peter Takyi Peprah, Priscilla Opoku, Nana Akosua Owusu-Ansah, Emmanuel Boateng, Afra Adomako Kwabiah, Martin Wiredu Agyekum, Frank Kyei- Arthur, and Jones Apawu. 2024. Agency, Consent, and Coercion: Young People's Experiences of First Sexin Ashanti and Northern Regions, Ghana. DHS Qualitative Research Studies No. 24. Rockville, Maryland, USA: IC 

  2. National Development Planning Commission (2023). Ghana Review Report: 10-Year Implementation of the ADDIS ABABA Declaration on Population and Development (AADPD10) and 30-Year Implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD30). NDPC, Accra, Ghana