Women urged to deliver at health centers

Women urged to deliver at health centers
December 10, 2009
Wa, Dec. 10, GNA - Out of about 13,142 pregnancies that were registered at health centres in the Upper West Region this year, only 8,394, representing 17.9 per cent, went through skilled delivery in hospitals.

Dr. Kofi Issah, the Deputy Regional Director of Public Health who spoke to the GNA in an interview, expressed dissatisfaction about the situation and said it retarded efforts being made to improve reproductive health in the region.

He said about 13.2 per cent of them were delivered by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and the remaining 68.9 per cent delivered elsewhere.

"These figures are unacceptable if the trend does not change as it can lead to an increase in the infant mortality rate", Dr. Issah said.

He said infant mortality that stood at 208 per every 1,000 live births in 2003 was reduced to 142 per 1,000 live births in 2008.

Dr Issah said this was a remarkable achievement but was quick to add that there could be an increase a greater percentage of women still deliver outside health centres.

He said men could help reverse the current situation if they were educated on the need to be involved in reproductive health issues so that they could encourage their wives or even accompany them to the hospital.

Dr Issah said out of a total number of 8,394 deliveries only 2,126, representing 25 per cent, were accompanied by their husbands.

He said the Ghana Health Service would soon come out with a motivation package for men who would accompany their wives to the hospital.

GNA