The effect of Ghana’s free maternal health care policy on maternal mortality: A case study of the Nsawam Government Hospital
Date
2017-04
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Abstract
The study examined the effect of Ghana’s free maternal health care policy on maternal mortality
using yearly records of deliveries, maternal mortality, postnatal and antenatal attendance and the
amount spent on the policy. The data was obtained from the Department of the Obstetrics &
Gynecology of the Nsawam Government Hospital. T-test and correlation coefficient were used
for the research. Trend analysis showed a reduction in maternal mortality however, there was an
insignificant difference in the means of maternal mortality before and after the policy. The
research showed a significant increase in antenatal and postnatal attendance at the hospital. Also,
there was a negative relationship between maternal mortality and antenatal and postnatal
attendance which shows that increase in antenatal and postnatal attendance reduces maternal
mortality at the hospital. However, there was a decrease in the number of deliveries after the
policy. The free maternal health care policy should be maintained however, it women should be
educated about the benefits of early ANC, PNC and delivering at a hospital. Further research is
needed to understand the reason for the decrease in deliveries at the hospital from 6,158 in 2012
to 4,371 in 2016. Also, the causes of maternal mortality at the hospital need to be researched into
as this will enable the hospital to devise specific measures to reduce maternal mortality at the
Nsawam Government Hospital.
Description
Thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University College, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, April 2017
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Thesis
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Keywords
Nsawam Government Hospital, antenatal care, maternal mortality, maternal health, Ghana, postnatal care