Midwives’ Perception of Quality Antenatal Care: A Study in Health Facilities in The New Juaben Municipal Area in The Eastern Region of Ghana

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Maternal death is one of the greatest burdens in the world, especially in developing countries where 99 per cent of maternal deaths occur.In 2015, Ghana had a maternal mortality ratio of 319 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Some maternal deaths and pregnancy complications can be prevented by the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services (WHO, 2018). Quality antenatal care improves birth outcomes and promotes the utilization of skilled attendance and health actions. Health service providers yearn to provide quality prenatal care, yet some constraints hinder its delivery. Aim: This study sought to explore midwives‘ perspective on quality antenatal care (ANC) and identified perceived barriers and promoters to providing quality antenatal care (ANC) in the New Juaben Municipality. Methods: An exploratory study using a qualitative approach was used for this study. A purposive sampling method was used in selecting the participants. Data was collected from eleven midwives who practice antenatal care (ANC) service in the New Juaben Municipal area, using an in-depth interview guide that was administered face-to-face. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings: The midwives perceived quality antenatal care to be the holistic and safe care rendered to pregnant women to meet their needs and demands. The perceived barriers to the implementation of quality antenatal care were limited infrastructure, language barrier, low number of antenatal care providers, and uneasy access to antenatal care facility. However, the facilitators of quality antenatal care included easy access to the antenatal care facility, the availability of infrastructure, good midwife-client relationship and good care practices.