Maternal Mortality Rates in Ghana

Around the world, one mother dies every minute from pregnancy related complications. 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop each year. (W.H.O)

In many parts of Africa and Asia, 1 in 10 will die.(W.H.O)

Over 99 percent of thosedeaths occur in developing countries such as

Ghana.

Causes of maternal deaths in Ghana.

In most developing countries, access to health care services in rural areas is more limited than in urban areas. This issue is of particular significance for Ghana since 63

percent of its population lives in rural areas.

Line chart showing the differences between rural and urban access to health care services

Pregnant women may have to walk long distances in order to be attended to in remote villages in particular.

To reduce the high mortality rate, efforts are being made for skilled attendants to visit patients in remote villages.

Abortion complications: Maternal mortality is the second most common cause of death among women in Ghana, and more than one in 10 maternal deaths (11%) are the result of unsafe

induced abortions. In addition, a substantial proportion of women who survive an unsafe abortion experience complications from the procedure. This suffering is all the more tragic because it is unnecessary: Many women likely turn to unsafe providers or do not obtain

adequate post abortion care when it is needed because they are unaware that abortion is legal on fairly broad grounds in Ghana.

Complications after abortion

High Cost of CareUp until the recent introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme,

most women could not afford to be seen by a specialist.

Donation made to the Tema General Hospital by a team from Empower Ghana on Mother’s day,2011.

A tour through some of the maternity wards.

The UN Millennium goals include two aims to be reached in relation to maternal healthcare by 2015:

Reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratioReduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five

There is a need by all to join forces to achieve the Millennium Development Goal regarding maternal mortality rate for Ghana. Everybody has a role to

play. Periodic upgrading of the skills of health professionals is vital. Appropriate legislations and policies must form the environment for safe

pregnancy and delivery.