Effect of Antenatal Care Visit on Choice of Health Facility for Childbirth in Ghana

Type Working Paper
Title Effect of Antenatal Care Visit on Choice of Health Facility for Childbirth in Ghana
Author(s)
URL http://journals.adrri.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Manuscript-Number-ADRRIJ-15-1750.pdf
Abstract
Maternal and child mortalities are among major health problems facing developing countries such as
Ghana. Most of these deaths can be avoided by utilization of maternity health care services. The study
examines the effect of antenatal care (ANC) visits and other socioeconomic factors on the utilization of
health facilities for childbirth services in Ghana. The study used data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic
and Health survey. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics as well as a Multinomial Logistic
Regression for identification of factors that influences delivery in health facility. The study results have
shown that, Antenatal care (ANC) visits and wealth significantly influence expectant mothers decision to
use government health facilities for childbirth. Also, the study revealed considerable variations in region
and between rural and urban utilization of this services in Ghana. It is recommended that to improve the
utilization of health facility for childbirth services and hence maternal health care utilization, there is the
need to improve public awareness on the importance and benefits of ANC visits. Policy should also
target mothers’ who have had the experience of child birth on the need to use health care facility services
for each pregnancy.

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