Background Equitable access to skilled birth attendance during delivery is vital for reducing global maternal deaths to 70 deaths per 100, 000 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Although several initiatives have been implemented to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana, inequalities in access to skilled birth attendance during delivery still exist among women of different socioeconomic groups. This study assesses the socioeconomic inequalities in access and use of skilled birth attendants during delivery in Ghana. Methods Research was conducted through literature reviews and document reviews, and a secondary data analysis of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), a nationally representative survey. A total of 1305 women aged 15–49 years, who had a live birth the year before to the survey in the presence of a skilled birth attendant were analysed using concentration indices and curves. The indices were further decomposed to identify the major socioeconomic factors contributing most to the inequalities. Results The results found that access to skilled birth attendants was more among women from rich households showing a pro-rich utilization. The decomposition analysis revealed that household wealth index, educational level of both mother and husband/partner, area of residence and mother’s health insurance coverage were the major contributing factors to socioeconomic inequalities in accessing skilled birth attendants during child delivery among Ghanaian women. Conclusion This study confirms that a mother’s socioeconomic status is vital to reducing maternal deaths. Therefore, it is worthy to focus attention on policy interventions to reduce the observed inequalities as revealed in the study.

Background: Equitable access to, and use of skilled birth attendance during delivery is vital for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in reducing global maternal deaths to 70 deaths per 100, 000. Although several initiatives have been implemented to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana, inequities in the use of skilled birth attendance during delivery still exist among women of different socioeconomic groups. This study assessed the socioeconomic inequalities related to the use of skilled birth attendants during delivery in Ghana.Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Concentration index (CI) and concentration curves (CC) were employed to measure the magnitude of socioeconomic inequality in the use of skilled birth attendants during child delivery. The concentration index was decomposed to identify the underlying factors driving the inequalities.Results: Out of a total of the 1,305 women who gave birth in the year prior to the interview, 28% of the deliveries had no skilled birth attendants of which 60% lives in rural compared to 40% in urban. A concentration index of 0.147 showed a pro-rich utilization of skilled birth attendance during delivery. The decomposition analysis revealed that wealth, education and location of residence were the major contributors to socioeconomic inequalities in the use of skilled birth attendants during child delivery among Ghanaian women.Conclusion: This study suggests that factors such as wealth, area of residence and education are worthy of increased attention and policy interventions because they are amenable to the reduction of observed inequality.