FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS AND OUTCOMES AT THE TAMALE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

In 1990, Ghana committed to achieve the millennium development goals especially goal four and five, which aim at reducing child and maternal mortalities by two thirds by the year 2015. As a result several policies and programs were put in places which have contributed positively to reduce these mortalities. Unfortunately, the reduction achieved so far is 'off target' for Ghana to meet the set target by the 2015 deadline since health facilities such as the Tamale Teaching Hospital are still recording high maternal and neonatal deaths. The main objective for this study is to explore the factors that contribute to obstetric complications and outcomes at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. To achieve this objective, a cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out by selecting a convenient sample size of 384 women who were admitted and treated for obstetric ~ complications that occurred during labour and puerperuim. The study identified the following factors to contribute to obstetric complications and outcomes; ages 14-19 years, being a Muslim, rural dwellers, no formal education, living below the daily minimum wage, women pregnant for the first time, antenatal attendants, lukewarm attitude of pregnant women towards health education at the antenatal clinic, having no knowledge of obstetric complications, when husbands sanction seeking health care, when referring health facilities are unable to offer transportation, poor water supply to the health facility, poor competency of staff and failure of essential obstetric medications supply chain. The study concludes that improving child and maternal mortalities will require bold steps in; educating men on obstetric complications through Muslim religious leaders, using information, education and communication method of giving health education to pregnant women in order to generate their interest and improve their knowledge on obstetric complications as well as improving obstetric medication supply chain.