Access and Equity in Free Maternal Delivery Policy in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana: Voices of Women
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Donnish Journal of Nursing and Midwifery
Abstract
In 2005, Ghana instituted a free maternal delivery policy as a pro
-
poor strategy to enable all women have
access to
quality maternal health services
. The aim was to
meet t
he Millennium Development Goal 5 which seeks to reduce
maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent between 1990 and 2015. It also aimed at increasing the percentage of births
attended by skilled professionals from 40 per cent in 2005 to 60 per cent by 2015
. The
purpose of the study was to
analyze access and equity issues in free maternal delivery policy and to assess the level of awareness, concerns and
perceptions of women on the policy. This study focused on the voices and concerns of women who are the direct
beneficiaries of the policy.
The study used a qualitative case study approach drawing on focus group interviews with
women from three districts in the Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana. Results from the study were analyzed using the
Constant Comparative
approach of grounded theory.
The findings showed that many women are still excluded by reason
of poverty. Irrespective of the policy, access to
professional skilled birth attendant is still restrained by
various indirect
costs associated with hospital deli
very. This made the policy inequitable to women and denied them their right to
reproductive health. Women’s concerns bordered very much on their right to dignity often denied them by health
personnel
in hospitals
. Inclusion of women’s voices is relevant to
informing policy on free delivery policy that need to be
addressed.
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Citation
Benneh, C. O., & Esena, R. K. (2015). Access and Equity in Free Maternal Delivery Policy in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana: Voices of Women.