The Effect of Ghana’s Free Maternal Health Care Policy on Maternal Mortality: A case study of the Nsawam Government Hospital.

ABSTRACT The study examined the effect of Ghana’s free maternal health care policy on maternal mortality using yearly records of deliveries, maternal mortality, postnatal and antenatal attendance and the amount spent on the policy. The data was obtained from the Department of the Obstetrics & Gynecology of the Nsawam Government Hospital. T-test and correlation coefficient were used for the research. Trend analysis showed a reduction in maternal mortality however, there was an insignificant difference in the means of maternal mortality before and after the policy. The research showed a significant increase in antenatal and postnatal attendance at the hospital. Also, there was a negative relationship between maternal mortality and antenatal and postnatal attendance which shows that increase in antenatal and postnatal attendance reduces maternal mortality at the hospital. However, there was a decrease in the number of deliveries after the policy. The free maternal health care policy should be maintained however, it women should be educated about the benefits of early ANC, PNC and delivering at a hospital. Further research is needed to understand the reason for the decrease in deliveries at the hospital from 6,158 in 2012 to 4,371 in 2016. Also, the causes of maternal mortality at the hospital need to be researched into as this will enable the hospital to devise specific measures to reduce maternal mortality at the Nsawam Government Hospital.