Objective: To investigate trends and changes in home deliveries in northern Ghana following the implementation
of interventions targeting common barriers to utilization of health services. Methods: Data collected through repeated
cross-sectional surveys conducted in the Kassena–Nankana east and west districts from 2003–2009 were
used in a secondary analysis. All childbirths that occurred in this period were included. Univariate time series
were used to describe trends in home deliveries. Significant trends were investigated using the χ2 test for trends,
and changes in inequalities across subgroups were assessed by fitting simple linear regressions. Results: A total of
25 539 deliveries were recorded, of which 58.1% occurred at home. The incidence of home deliveries declined
from 69.1% in 2003 to 36.5% in 2009 (Pb0.001). This declining pattern was consistently observed within all
subgroups defined by wealth index, and educational and residential status. Larger declines were observed in
poor and rural residents compared with rich and urban residents (Pb0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of home
deliveries halved during the study period and there was a significant reduction in previous inequalities.