Factors Influencing Skilled Delivery in Asante Akim North

Complications during childbirth can lead to death or disability of a mother or a child. Maternal mortality is estimated to be over 440,000 per 1000 live births and the highest which is 99.00% is in the developing countries (WHO 2004). The risk of maternal death is about 175 times greater in some parts of the developing world than in the industrialized countries. (Hill et al., 2001). In Ghana, skilled delivery remain stagnant around 47.1%, which is 37.9% away from WHO's target for 2010, which estimates that by 2010, 90.0% all births should be attended by skilled attendants. The Asante-Akim North municipality in the Ashanti region of Ghana recorded an increase of 58.8% of skilled attendance in 2006 from that of 53.4% in 2005. The fact is that the municipal area is still below the target set by WHO.The main objective of the study was to assess the factors influencing skilled delivery in Asante Akim North Municipal. The study recommended the sensitization of the following members of the society: married respondents, farmers and the unemployed, on the need to use health facility during delivery and be attended to by a professional midwife to help prevent maternal and infant mortality.

Autorentext

Mrs. Catherine Emelia Enchill (nee Hasford) is married and has two children, Jayne and Brian. She lives and works in Kumasi as an administrator at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology. She has an M.Sc. in Health Education & Promotion from the same University, and a B.Ed (Arts) degree from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.