Purpose: This study investigates the difficulties the health care service providers encounter in the quest of rendering preconception counselling services in Ghana. Methodology: The study employed descriptive survey design with the use of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches using questionnaire as the main tool. The study employed simple random sampling to sampled 135 out of 675 health care service providers from 23 health facilities in the Bole District of the Savanna Region in Ghana. The quantitative data obtained for the study was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Solution (SPSS) whilst the qualitative data were subjected to descriptive and narrative discussion. Findings: The study revealed that, health care practitioners need continuous training programme. It also became clear that, there no any clear national guideline or policy on preconception counselling in Ghana. It came to light that, the healthcare service providers face a lot of difficulties to capture women of child bearing age to offer them the services. Inadequate knowledge and expertise to effectively offer the preconception counselling services was also identified as a challenge. Recommendations: The study therefore recommend that the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service should come out with a clear policy guideline on preconception counselling and also provide an intensive training for the health care professionals. The health care providers should also be provided with the needed resources to embark on sensitisation and advocacy campaigns to create the awareness for women of childbearing age to appreciate the need for preconception and genetic carrier risk counselling.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.