ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS ON MATERNAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN THE EAST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT OF NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Socio-economic inequalities in basic maternal health interventions exist in Ghana, yet little is known about health-seeking of poor households. Further understanding of issues surrounding availability, affordability and quality of maternal health services among the poor is crucial to eliminating inequalities in maternal health coverage in Ghana especially in rural communities. The study was carried out to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on maternal health care delivery in the East Mamprusi District of Northern Ghana. The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on health seeking behavior of women during pregnancyand delivery. Analytical cross sectional study design was used with multistage sampling technique to sample the respondents from the study area. The data obtained was basically through administered questionnaire and organized focus group discussion involving 308 women from the study area. Results from the study revealed that there was no significant relationship between parity and health seeking behavior of respondents as the findings indicated that all women would seek health care based on their own assessment of the health conditions they were battling with and whether treatment options were available. Further results from the study also revealed nausea, cessation of menstruation temporarily, weight gain and vomiting as signs of pregnancy. Availability of TBAs, poor road networks and lack of finance were major hindrance to women seeking health care in the study area. Based on the finding from the study, a number of recommendations were made to assist policy makers to improve health seeking behaviours of rural women including the need for spouse to be re-orientated concerning socio-cultural factors and its effects on maternal and child health