Does the type of abortion provider influence contraceptive uptake after abortion? An analysis of longitudinal data from 64 health facilities in Ghana
Background: Understanding what factors influence the receipt of postabortion contraception can help improve comprehensive abortion care services. The abortion visit is an ideal time to reach women at the highest risk of unintended pregnancy with the most effective contraceptive methods. The objectives of this study were to estimate the relationship between the type of abortion […]
Demographic characteristics of women that use traditional birth attendants in Bongo District, Ghana
INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, the government of Ghana has implemented several interventions aimed at increasing access to skilled birth-care services from trained professionals. Despite these efforts, there is a wide gap between antenatal care attendance and skilled delivery attendance, particularly in rural areas. Evidence shows that many women in rural and deprived communities in […]
Viability of diagnostic decision support for antenatal care in rural settings: Findings from the Bliss4Midwives Intervention in Northern Ghana
Background Antenatal screening is useful for early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies. In low-resource settings, provision of the full complement of tests is limited and diagnostic referrals incure additional costs for pregnant women. We assessed the viability of Bliss4Midwives (B4M) – a point-of-care diagnostic decision support device for decentralized screening of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes […]
Home birth without skilled attendants despite millennium villages project intervention in Ghana: Insight from a survey of women’s perceptions of skilled obstetric care
Background: Skilled birth attendance from a trained health professional during labour and delivery can prevent up to 75 % of maternal deaths. However, in low- and middle-income rural communities, lack of basic medical infrastructure and limited number of skilled birth attendants are significant barriers to timely obstetric care. Through analysis of self-reported data, this study […]
Estimating the spatial accessibility to blood group and rhesus type point-of-care testing for maternal healthcare in Ghana
Background: In Ghana, a blood group and rhesus type test is one of the essential recommended screening tests for women during antenatal care since blood transfusion is a key intervention for haemorrhage. We estimated the spatial accessibility to health facilities for blood group and type point-of-care (POC) testing in the Upper East Region (UER), Ghana. […]
Assessing the functionality of an emergency obstetric referral system and continuum of care among public healthcare facilities in a low resource setting: an application of process mapping approach
Background: Weak referral systems remain a major concern influencing timely access to the appropriate level of care during obstetric emergencies, particularly for Low-and Middle-Income Countries, including Ghana. It is a serious factor threatening the achievement of the maternal health Sustainable Development Goal. The objective of this study is to establish process details of emergency obstetric […]
Healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities from two population-based cohort studies in Ghana
Objective This study assessed healthcare seeking patterns of families of infants with circumcision-related morbidities and families of infants with acute illnesses in rural Ghana. Design Two population-based cohort studies. Setting Brong Ahafo Region of central rural Ghana. Participants A total of 22 955 infants enrolled in a large population-based trial (Neovita trial) from 16 August […]
Implementing facility-based kangaroo mother care services: Lessons from a multi-country study in Africa
Background: Some countries have undertaken programs that included scaling up kangaroo mother care. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the implementation status of facility-based kangaroo mother care services in four African countries: Malawi, Mali, Rwanda and Uganda. Methods. A cross-sectional, mixed-method research design was used. Stakeholders provided background information at national meetings […]
Geographical Accessibility to District Hospitals/Medical Laboratories for Comprehensive Antenatal Point-of-Care Diagnostic Services in the Upper East Region, Ghana
Background: Access to referral healthcare facilities from primary healthcare (PHC) clinics for diagnostic services is critical for improving maternal health outcomes. We described the geographical distribution and accessibility to district hospitals/medical laboratories for comprehensive antenatal point-of-care (POC) diagnostic services in the Upper East region (UER), Ghana. Methods: We assembled detailed spatial data on 100 participated […]
Impact on postpartum hemorrhage of prophylactic administration of oxytocin 10 IU via Uniject™ by peripheral health care providers at home births: Design of a community-based cluster-randomized trial
Background: Hemorrhage is the leading direct cause of maternal death globally. While oxytocin is the drug of choice for postpartum hemorrhage prevention, its use has generally been limited to health facilities. This trial assesses the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of expanding the use of prophylactic intramuscular oxytocin to peripheral health care providers at home births […]
