FACTORS THAT MILITATED AGAINST THE ATTAINMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 4 AND 5 IN RURAL GHANA: A CASE OF THE MAMPRUGU MOAGDURI DISTRICT IN THE NORTHERN REGION

Abstract

In spite of the implementation of the free maternal health policy to ensure the achievement of the MDGs 4 and 5, maternal and child mortality rates are still on the ascendency in the Northern Region with worse incidences in the deprived districts such as the Mamprugu Moaduri district. This study therefore sought to examine the factors that militated against achieving these goals in the Mamprugu Moaduri District. The study used a multi-stage sampling technique to select 180 mothers and 18 health personnel and 6 key informants. The study was a cross-sectional survey and therefore, used the semistructured questionnaire as a primary data collection instrument. Given the nature of the objectives of the study, both inferential and descriptive statistical tools were used in the data analyses. It was found out from the study that utilization of child and maternal healthcare services is adversely affected by socio-economic factors such as income, educational level, and distance from a health facility, among others. It was also found out that mothers or women in the Mamprugu Moaduri district are fully aware of the dynamics of maternal and child mortality and how utilization of skilled antenatal and postnatal health services can help mitigate the menace. However, access to quality healthcare in the district was found to be below average since there was inadequate availability of health facilities, professionals, and logistics. Finally, the study revealed that the Millennium Development Goals four and five were far from being achieved in the Mamprugu Moaduri district of the Northern region of Ghana. And that the factors which account for the non-achievement of the MDGs are the socio-economic factors that adversely affect utilization of maternal and child health services as well as poor access to quality healthcare in the district. Also, the free maternal health policy was found to be quite useful and averagely effective but should be improved upon. A critical look at reduction in delay to reach care and good access to quality of care by the Government and major stake holders will go a long way in achieving the new sustainability development Goal 3 (SDG 3) (Sub-goal 3.1 – 3.2) by 2030.