Women Autonomy in Maternal Health Care Decision Making Under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

March 31, 2022 | 13:30 h - 14:30 h

Speaker: Andaratu Achuliwor Khalid,  lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana.

Topic: Women Autonomy in Maternal Health Care Decision Making Under the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

Abstract: Enhancing empowerment status of women in developing countries constitutes one of the recognised approaches to improving maternal healthcare service utilisation. High maternal mortality rate in many parts of the developing world is often attributed to lack of universal health insurance, inadequate health facilities and the inability of women to make decisions on their health. The ability of women to take decision on their maternal health needs is crucial in improving their access to quality maternal healthcare. The study explored women’s autonomy in maternal healthcare decision making process in Ghana. It examines the extent to which women are involved in the decision-making process about their own health, specifically maternal health. Using a mixed method design, survey data was collected from 163 pregnant women from two hospitals (a private and a public) in Madina, a suburb of Accra in the Greater Accra Region.  Ten and two qualitative interviews were also conducted with the pregnant women and midwives respectively. The study identified a clear dominance of men over women in taking maternal health decisions, explained mainly by cultural and religious factors. It showed identified two other perspectives of maternal decision-making processes, explained mainly by economic factors: (1) a balanced or democratic decision-making process and (2) women dominated decision making process.

Andaratu Achuliwor Khalid is a lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana. Her research interest span in the area of youth and women empowerment, labour market and women health

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