Free maternal delivery policy and maternal mortality: evidence from Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East region of Ghana

Abstract

The study was conducted on the premise that despite the introduction of free maternal delivery policy geared at reducing maternal mortality, the incidence of maternal mortality is still on the high side. The objectives of the study were to examine the causes and effects of maternal mortality, examine the challenges of the free maternal delivery policy, investigate the potentials of the free maternal delivery policy and also assess the effect of the free maternal delivery policy on maternal mortality. The study made use of both exploratory and causal research design. Purposive sampling and simple random sampling methods were adopted. These were used to sample pregnant women who attended hospital for anti natal and delivery, midwives, medical doctors and personnel of the NHIS. One hundred and fifty (150) respondents were sampled for the study. Questionnaires and structured interviews were used to solicit the information. The study employed histograms, bar chart, pie chart and tables in analyzing the data. The study revealed that haemorrhage, anemia, infections, eclampsia among others were the causes of maternal mortality while motherless babies, malnourished babies, are among the effects of maternal mortality in Bolgatanga Municipality. Free Maternal Delivery Policy in the Bolgatanga Municipality is bedeviled with a number of challenges which is hindering it from achieving its objective of reducing maternal mortality. It is therefore recommended that prompt postpartum care to pregnant women, regular antenatal attendance and adhering to doctors’ advice among others would address these challenges.