Factors Influencing Skilled Delivery in the Savelugu-Nanton Municipality of the Northern Region

Abstract

In Ghana. utilisation of maternal health services has seen marked improvement in the last decade. According to the GDHS (2014) births occurring in health facilities also increased from 57% in 2008 to 73% in 2014. Also, births attended to by skilled personnel increased from 59% to 74% in 2008 to 2014, respectively. Despite these marked increases skilled delivery still remains a major challenge to the health sector in Ghana. This study was intended to explore the factors that influence the utilisation of skilled deliveries in the Savelugu-Nanton Municipality of the Northern region. A qualitative survey was used for the study. The target participants made up of nursing mothers, husbands, mother in-laws, TBAs and health staff providing delivery services were purposively selected to take part in FGDs and lDIs. A total of 55 participants took part in the study. Interview guides were used to facilitate the lDIs and FGDs and audio recorders were used to collect the data in addition to the note taking. The data gathered were put in NVIVO version 11 for thematic analysis. Themes were generated in line with the objectives. The findings showed that among some of the barriers of skilled delivery were poor staff attitude, absenteeism of skilled staff from health facilities and poverty among pregnant women and their families whereas confidence in the services of the skilled attendants to promptly detect and manage complications as well as make appropriate referrals and assurance of privacy at health facilities motivated the use of skilled delivery. In conclusion, it was established that pregnant women in the study area knew the importance of skilled delivery and were ready to deliver with skilled attendants on condition that attitudes of staff were improved and skilled attendants were always available to respond to duty call at their posts.