Analysis of Factors Accountable for Low Patronage of Maternal Health Care and Skilled Supervised Delivery in the Adaklu District, Ghana

Abstract

The study focused on examining the awareness level of pregnant women about the free maternal and child health care services, evaluate the effectiveness of the free maternal and child health care policy and to identify factors accountable for low patronage in accessing maternal and child health care services in the Adaklu District, Ghana. A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted among 300 purposively selected maternal mothers. Both descriptive and exploratory factor analyses were the main analytical tools. Results show that majority respondents were aware of the free maternal and child health care policy. Concerning the effectiveness of the free maternal and child health care policy, 95 out of the 244 respondents who are aware of the exemption policy indicated they policy is highly effective; 107 of them which represent 43.9% said it is effective and finally, 42 of them which represent 17.2% indicated that the policy is not effective. Finally, six salient factors account for the factors accountable for the low patronage of maternal and child health care in the Adaklu District. The first factor is awareness factor, the second is perception factor, the third is access factor, the fourth is restriction factor, and the fifth is attitudinal factor and lastly success factor. The study emphasizes the need to intensify greater awareness on the effects of delivering at home and also government should endeavor to establish more health centres in every community thus making accessibility of maternal and child health care to maternal mothers in remote areas in the country.