Poverty and maternal health in Ghana: A spatial analysis of exclusion from care
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Statistical Sciences Research institute
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Amoako Johnson F
(2012)
Estimating unmet need for contraception by district within Ghana: an application of small-area estimation techniques.
in Population studies
Fiifi Amoako-Johnson (Author)
(2010)
Exploring geographical variations in unmet need for contraception in Ghana by means of small area estimates
Fiifi Amoako-Johnson (Author)
(2011)
Geographical variations in unmet and satisfied need for contraception in Ghana: an application of small area estimation techniques
in Population studies
Gething PW
(2012)
Geographical access to care at birth in Ghana: a barrier to safe motherhood.
in BMC public health
Johnson FA
(2011)
Targeting women at risk of unintended pregnancy in Ghana: Should geography matter?
in Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives
Kate Jowett (Author)
(2011)
Utilisation of maternal health facilities : evaluating the impact of the 2003 fee exemption policy in Ghana
Kate Jowett (Author)
(2011)
Utilisation of maternal health facilities : evaluation of the impact of the 2003 fee exemption policy in Ghana
Kate Jowett (Author)
(2010)
Utilisation of maternal health facilities : evaluating the impact of the 2003 fee exemption policy in Ghana
Kehoe, Sean; Neilson, James P.; Norman, Jane E.
(2010)
Maternal and Infant Deaths: Chasing Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5
Molla YB
(2017)
Geographic information system for improving maternal and newborn health: recommendations for policy and programs.
in BMC pregnancy and childbirth
Nyovani Madise (Author)
(2010)
Failing to reach MDG5 makes women, families, communities and nations poor
Pete Gething (Author)
(2010)
Too far to walk : callibrating distances to maternity health facilities for women delivering in Ghana using GIS
Philomena Nyarko (Author)
(2010)
The impact of the community-based health planning and services programme (CHPS) on skilled assistance at birth in Ghana
Philomena Nyarko (Author)
(2009)
The geography of maternal health in Ghana
Philomena Nyarko (Author)
(2010)
Community and neighbourhood poverty : geography matters in maternal health in Ghana
Ruktanonchai CW
(2016)
Correction: Equality in Maternal and Newborn Health: Modelling Geographic Disparities in Utilisation of Care in Five East African Countries.
in PloS one
UNFPA
(2021)
UN Report - Box included
Zoe Matthews (Author)
(2009)
Poverty and maternal health in Ghana : a spatial study of exclusion from care
| Description | Our methodological work on physical barriers to accessing maternal healthcare found that existing information on the accessibility of health facilities to the Ghanaian population is not a good proxy for the proximity of women to maternity services. Access is better calculated by using survey data particularly focused on journey times to a maternity hospital; this can be used to calibrate a model of distance to facility based on GIS techniques applied to detailed physical barrier and health facility maps of Ghana. Our spatial regression analysis to identify the relationship between poverty and exclusion from care found that distance to facility is a key exclusionary factor in rural Ghana; women who live less than 15 minutes from a facility are three times more likely to travel there when in labour than those living more than an hour away. These results apply regardless of wealth status, education and other key factors. Our analysis of accessibility of quality maternal healthcare in Ghana found that two thirds of women live within a two-hour mechanised journey of a formal birthing facility. However many of these facilities provide only a partial level of care and without further quality improvements, their relative accessibility is a key barrier to the reduction of maternal deaths. |
| Exploitation Route | Our analysis of accessibility of quality maternal healthcare in Ghana found that two thirds of women live within a two-hour mechanised journey of a formal birthing facility. However many of these facilities provide only a partial level of care and without further quality improvements, their relative accessibility is a key barrier to the reduction of maternal deaths. The findings and the outcomes of this project have led to further advances in our understanding of accessibility resulting in new research and compilations of geospatial datasets that can be used to monitor progress towards the maternal and newborn health related SDGs. In 2019, we published a special issue in BMJ Global Health focusing on GIS and maternal and newborn health (https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/Suppl_5) and we compiled and made available free of charge a global gridded datasets on birth and pregnancies (https://www.worldpop.org/geodata/listing?id=18). |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Description | Findings from this research have been widely cited and have led to advances in the way that maps influence health policy |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Atlas of Birth Ghana - Launch day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Zoe Matthews organised a parallel session at the Population Association of America (PAA) 2009 annual meeting. This was organised during the literature review phase of the project to find similar research efforts. Impacts |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2012 |