Preparedness of health care professionals in preventing maternal mortality at a public health facility in Ghana: a qualitative study

Abstract Introduction Maternal and child health comprise one of the most important parameters of the health situation in a country at any given time. Maternal and new born child's health are inter-related to a great extent and while improving one, we might greatly affect the other; hence, joint efforts are required to cope with the rising demands of better healthcare for both. Out-of-pocket expenditure act as a major deterrent, especially to underprivileged communities, in accessibility to maternal health care services and knowledge of the determinants of maternity related expenses helps in outlining policies. Material and Methods This is a community based cross sectional study conducted in state of Uttar Pradesh between July 2019 to December 2019 among 848 women who delivered in past six months at a public health facility. A pretested, semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data thus collected was entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0, IBM Inc. Chicago, USA software. Results The analysis showed that the median OOPE was INR 1000 (US$ 13.89) which varied between INR 950 (US$ 13.19) for normal delivery and INR 4900 (US$ 68) for caesarean section. OOPE for availing diagnostic facilities especially ultrasound with a median value of INR 500 (US$ 6.94) contributed to the major share. Women from households with income more than INR 7500 (US$ 104.17) per month, education higher than high school, primi-gravida, occupation of mother and type of delivery were significant predictors for high OOPE. Awareness level about various free entitlements in public health facility was significantly associated with overall out of pocket expenditure. Conclusions Although services at the public health facility in India are supposedly provided free of cost, considerable out of pocket expenditure is still incurred on beneficiaries while availing maternity services. Key messages Out of pocket expenditure is a major deterrent in availing institutional deliveries in public health facilities. Zero-cost, equitable and accessible maternal health care services through timely access to health care facilities is of paramount importance for reducing MMR and IMR in every country.

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Box-Jenkins’ Methodology in Predicting Maternal Mortality Records from a Public Health Facility in Ghana

Open Journal of Applied Sciences ◽

10.4236/ojapps.2018.86016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 08 (06) ◽

pp. 189-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David Adedia ◽

Salifu Nanga ◽

Simon Kojo Appiah ◽

Anani Lotsi ◽

Daniel A. Abaye

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Maternal Mortality ◽

Health Facility ◽

Public Health Facility

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Implementing electronic health care record in a public health facility in Nigeria: awareness, acceptance and concerns among critical stakeholders

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare ◽

10.1504/ijeh.2021.10039629 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Daprim Ogaji ◽

Chinelo Ezinwanne Anyanwu

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Facility ◽

Public Health Facility ◽

Electronic Health

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Factors influencing women’s utilization of public health care services during childbirth in Malawi Public health facility utilization

African Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ahs.v17i2.14 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 400 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kennedy Machira ◽

Martin Palamuleni

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Facility ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Public Health Facility ◽

Public Health Care ◽

Care Services ◽

Factors Influencing

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Exploring COVID-19 Related Factors Influencing Antenatal Care Services Uptake: A Qualitative Study among Women in a Rural Community in Southwest Ethiopia

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/2150132721996892 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272199689

Author(s):

Shewangizaw Hailemariam ◽

Wubetu Agegnehu ◽

Misganaw Derese

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Maternal Health ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Antenatal Care ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Facility ◽

Care Service ◽

Maternal Health Service ◽

Related Factors ◽

Factors Influencing

Introduction: Evidences suggest a significant decline in maternal health service uptake following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Ethiopia. However, COVID-19 related factors impacting the service uptake are not sufficiently addressed. Hence, the current study was intended to explore COVID-19 related factors influencing antenatal care service uptake in rural Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based qualitative study was conducted from September 25/2020 to November 25/2020 among selected pregnant women residing in rural districts of Bench-Sheko Zone, and healthcare providers working in the local health care facilities. Six focus group discussions and 9 in-depth interviews were made between pregnant women, and health care providers, respectively. Data was collected by health education and behavioral science professionals who also have experience in qualitative data collection procedure. Data were transcribed, translated, and analyzed thematically using Open Code 4.0 software. Result: The study revealed several COVID-19 related factors influencing the uptake of antenatal care service during the pandemic. Health facility related barriers, perceived poor quality of care during the pandemic, government measures against COVID-19, anxiety related to the pandemic, and risk minimization were the identified factors possibly influencing the current antenatal care service uptake among women in rural Bench-Sheko Zone. Conclusion: COVID-19 preventive measures, and health facility related factors and individual factors were responsible for the current decline in antenatal care service uptake. Preserving essential health care service is critical to prevent avoidable losses of maternal and child lives during the pandemic period. Hence, programs and strategies designed to maintain maternal health services particularly, antenatal care service have better take the above determinants into consideration.

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