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Predictors of maternal mortality in Ghana: evidence from the 2017 GMHS Verbal Autopsy data
Author(s) -
Sumankuuro Joshua,
Wulifan Joseph K.,
Angko William,
Crockett Judith,
Derbile Emmanuel K.,
Ganle John K.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.3054
Subject(s) - medicine , verbal autopsy , pregnancy , confidence interval , logistic regression , demography , maternal death , health care , environmental health , developing country , public health , obstetrics , cause of death , population , nursing , disease , sociology , biology , economics , genetics , economic growth
Background Maternal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in many low and middle‐income countries, including Ghana. From Ghana's 2017 Maternal Health Survey verbal autopsy data, we examined the predictors of maternal mortality in Ghana. Methods A total of 1240 deaths of women aged 15‐49 were involved in the survey across all regions in Ghana. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed; confidence level was set at 95%. Results The results show that the prevalence of maternal death was 13.2% (164/1240). After adjusting for potential covariates, women aged 20‐29 years (aOR = 4.270, 95%CI= 1.864 – 9.781, p=0.001), bled during labour/delivery (aOR= 0.241, 95%CI = 0.059 – 0.992, p=0.049), and those who used traditional/herbal medicines during pregnancy were more likely to die compared to non‐users (aOR= 3.461, 95%CI = 1.651 – 7.258, p=0.001). Conclusion Our findings highlight the need to intensify maternal education regarding the value to be gained by increasing skilled healthcare during complications in pregnancy to allow effective management of complications during labour/delivery. Also, education for pregnant women and their families on possible adverse effects of using unapproved traditional/herbal medicines during pregnancy as well as a need to seek timely care before the onset of labour to allow healthcare providers ample opportunity to address labour and birth complications, is urgently required.