James Akazili, MA¹, Henry Doctor, PhD¹, Livesy Abokyi, MPH¹, Abraham Hodgson, PhD¹, and James Phillips, PhD². (1) Navrongo Health Research Centre, P.O. Box 114, Navrongo, UER, Ghana, 233 742 22310, jakazili@navrongo.mimcom.net, (2) Policy Research Division, Population Council, 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between antenatal care and place of delivery in northern Ghana where antenatal care clinic attendance is high but delivery at a health facility is very low.

Methods: Data come from the 2002 panel survey conducted by the Navrongo Health Research Centre. A total of 6,312 women aged 15–49 were interviewed and we focus on responses of 4,375 women who had a last birth prior to the survey. Logistic regression analysis is employed.

Results: Seventy-one percent of the women delivered at home, 25% at a hospital/clinic, 4% at a health centre, and less than 1% delivered at “other place”. Compared to women who were seen by a doctor, being seen by a clinic nurse or midwife increases chances of delivering at home. Being seen by a community nurse increases the odds of delivering at home (OR = 6.26) whereas those seen by a traditional birth attendant are more likely to deliver at home (OR = 23.55). Having no access to antenatal care increases the odds of delivering at home by 27 times. As the number of antenatal visits increases, the chances of delivering at home are highly reduced. Women whose first visit was during the second trimester are about 17% less likely to deliver at home while 46% less likely, for those whose first visit is in the third trimester.

Conclusion: These findings stress the need to intensify access to antenatal services since it has the potential of improving maternal and child health.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, participants should be able to identify the factors that influence the choice of place of child delivery especially in a rural setting.

Keywords: Access,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment