The use of antenatal care in two rural districts of Upper West Region, Ghana.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite decades of implementation of maternity healthcare programmes, including a focus on increasing the use of antenatal care (ANC) and concomitant birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR), the uptake of ANC continues to be below expectations in many developing countries. This has attendant implications for maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates. Known barriers to ANC use include cost, distance to health care services and forces of various socio-cultural beliefs and practices. As part of a larger study on BPCR in rural Ghana, this paper reflects on the use of ANC in the study areas from rights-based and maternal engagement theoretical perspectives, with a focus on the barriers to ANC use.

Methods

Mixed methods approach was adopted to colle

SUBMITTER: Sumankuuro J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5619770 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature