The socio‐economic determinants of maternal health care utilization in Ghana

Abstract

PurposeThe study aims to examine the socio‐economic determinants of maternal health services utilization in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachProbit and ordered probit models are employed in this study.FindingsThe results generally indicate that most women in Ghana undertake the required visits for antenatal services and also take both doses of the tetanus toxoid vaccine as required by World Health Organization. However, the results show low levels of usage in terms of the other maternal health care services (i.e. prenatal care, delivery at a health facility, and postnatal care). There is clearly an urgent need to develop innovative strategies that will help upscale intervention especially for improvement in the use of these services by women in Ghana. The regression results reveal that utilization of maternal health services and intensity of use of antenatal services are influenced by age of mother, type of birth, education of mother, ethnicity, economic status, geographic location, residence, and religious affiliation. Obviously, this suggests that more than medical factors are responsible for the differences in the use of maternal health services by women in Ghana as well as the decision on the number of visits to undertake with respect to antenatal visits.Originality/valueThe findings of this study have important implications for health policy formulation targeted at improving maternal health care service utilization.

Utilization of maternal healthcare among adolescent mothers in urban India: evidence from DLHS-3

“…These results are consistent with many studies conducted in India and other countries (Abor et al, 2011; Arokiasamy & Pradhan, 2013; Edmonds, Paul & Sibley, 2012; Haque, 2014; Kitui, Lewis & Davey, 2013; Rahman, Haque & Zahan, 2011; Saroha, Altarac & Sibley, 2014; Sharma et al, 2014; Singh, Rai & Singh, 2012; Singh et al, 2012; Singh et al, 2014; Tsegay et al, 2013; Wang, Wang & Lee, 2012; Yamashita et al, 2014). The education of the mother is argued to be an effective means of achieving greater autonomy in the family, getting employment, thereby achieving economic independence.…”

Determinants of Antenatal Healthcare Utilisation by Pregnant Women in Third Trimester in Peri-Urban Ghana

“…The involvement of women in employable ventures positively influences their use of quality medical care and services (Chakraborty et al, 2003) [18]. This empowers pregnant mothers to increase control over the things which affect their lives as far their healthcare needs are concerned.…”

“…Household size is measured as the number of persons in a particular household that are dependent on the pregnant mother for their daily sustenance [7, 38]. It is widely acknowledged that women with large family sizes tend to underutilise maternal healthcare services due to excessive demand of their money, time, and other resources [18]. The situation becomes worse in developing countries like Ghana when women, aside child bearing roles, spend a lot of time to fetch water and firewood, prepare daily meals, and keep the house in order.…”

“…Its main purpose is early detection and management of pregnancy-related complication [17]. Empirical studies have shown that antenatal care, a section of maternal healthcare, cushions women with the support to detect early problems associated with pregnancy and to reduce imminent labour complications [18, 19] (Doku et al, 2012). It is of this view that the Ghana Ministry of Health introduced the free maternal healthcare delivery nationwide in April 2005 of which antenatal care was a major component.…”

“…There is the growing concern to reduce barriers to health accessibility internationally, nationally, and locally with special emphasis on vulnerable groups (Witter et al, 2009). There have been some studies on the determinants of ANC use in Ghana including those of Overbosch et al (2005) and Abor et al [18] who after using data prior to the introduction of the policy found significant influence of socioeconomic factors affecting the rate of ANC use. Arthur [15] who also uses data after the policy was introduced finds significant influence of socioeconomic factors with particularly wealth affecting ANC use.…”