Socio-economic inequalities in basic maternal health interventions exist in Ghana, yet
little is known about health-seeking of poor households. Further understanding of issues
surrounding availability, affordability and quality of maternal health services among the
poor is crucial to eliminating inequalities in maternal health coverage in Ghana especially
in rural communities. The study was carried out to assess the effects of socio-cultural
factors on maternal health care delivery in the East Mamprusi District of Northern Ghana.
The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of socio-cultural factors on
health seeking behavior of women during pregnancyand delivery. Analytical crosssectional
study design was used with multistage sampling technique to sample the
respondents from the study area. The data obtained was basically through administered
questionnaire and organized focus group discussion involving 308 women from the study
area. Results from the study revealed that there was no significant relationship between
parity and health seeking behavior of respondents as the findings indicated that all
women would seek health care based on their own assessment of the health conditions
they were battling with and whether treatment options were available. Further results
from the study also revealed nausea, cessation of menstruation temporarily, weight gain
and vomiting as signs of pregnancy. Availability of TBAs, poor road networks and lack
of finance were major hindrance to women seeking health care in the study area. Based
on the finding from the study, a number of recommendations were made to assist policy
makers to improve health seeking behaviours of rural women including the need for
spouse to be re-orientated concerning socio-cultural factors and its effects on maternal
and child health.