Localizing the Millennium Development Goals in Ghana: An Assessment of Goal Five in the Dangme West District

Abstract

Maternal health is not a woman’s issue, but the integrity of communities, societies and nations, since the well-being of all humans depend upon healthy mothers. The MDGs adopted by world leaders in the year 2000 to make the world a better place for all, comprised eight goals. Goal five is improved maternal health which has two main targets. The study assessed maternal health targets in the Dangme West District. The study used a qualitative paradigm and a case study design. The qualitative methods include in-depth interviews with health professional in selected health facilities in the district and focus group discussions with pregnant women and women in pueperium. Primary and secondary sources of data were employed for the study. Twenty-nine participants were used to generate the primary data. Eleven health personnel were engaged in an in-depth interview whereas the rest were pregnant women and those in pueperium who formed two focus group discussions with nine members in each group. The data were collected by the help of an interview guide and analysed thematically. The results of the study indicate that the low maternal deaths over the years do not give a true reflection of maternal deaths in the district. The findings also indicate inadequate human resources and logistics for health care as the main maternal health challenges facing the district. Haemorrhage, pregnancy- induced hypertension, severe malaria and anaemia were the main medical conditions associated with pregnancy per the findings of the study. The majority of women in the district prefer to be delivered by a TBA or in the prayer camp after attending ANC in order to preserve their family tradition. Antenatal coverage in the district was high due to the increase number of CHPS compounds in the communities. Finally pregnant women who were referred to the district hospital for specialized care do not receive prompt, adequate or appropriate obstetric care which is sometimes due to the absence of the only obstetrician in the hospital.