Access and equity in Ghana's free maternal delivery policy voices of women

Clara Benneh, University of Ghana

In 2005, Ghana initiated free maternal delivery policies to ease financial constraints and increase women’s access to skilled birth attendants. Researches on the free maternal delivery policy have not used women as a main focus and as such ignored the voices of women. In this article, using qualitative case study approach and drawing on in-depth interviews conducted with rural women,I explore women’s access to skilled birth attendant as well as their perception,experiences and concerns about the policy.The results showed that women’s access to skilled birth attendant was below average. Indirect cost associated with hospital delivery was a major constrain. Concerns bordered on the sustainability of the policy and on their right to dignity often denied them by health personnel. The results call for inclusion of women’s voices in the policy. Lessons drawn from this study can inform other countries starting or planning to implement free maternal delivery policies