Addressing Socio-cultural Barriers to Maternal Healthcare in Ghana: Perspectives of Women and Healthcare Providers

Addressing Socio-cultural Barriers to Maternal Healthcare in Ghana: Perspectives of Women and Healthcare Providers

One of the main challenges to achieving the maternal health-related Millennium Development Goals in sub-Saharan African countries is poor access to skilled maternal healthcare services. In Ghana, maternal mortality accounts for 14% of all female deaths, and only 55% of births are attended by skilled birth attendants. Many previous studies that examine norms of childbirth and care-seeking behaviours have therefore focused on identifying the norms of non-use of services rather than factors that can promote service use.