The MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care (RMC) Study shared findings of its research conducted in the Upper West and North-East Regions of Ghana, during a dissemination event at the MENSVIC hotel in Accra.
The event, which took place on December 8, 2023 was attended by several dignitaries, including Dr. Damien Punguyire, the Upper West Regional Health Director, and the North East Regional Health Director, Dr. Abdulai Abukari, along with other managers from the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Midwifery and Nursing Association, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Ministry of Health.
The study focused on assessing women’s experiences during antenatal and childbirth in selected health facilities. Its objectives included understanding the care provided to mothers and newborns, particularly small and sick newborns while receiving maternity and newborn services. The study identified barriers to equitable and quality care and the potential drivers of mistreatment and used the findings to formulate interventions to enhance women’s experiences of care.
The study’s findings, which were presented by Dr. Raymond Aborigo, Lead Investigator of the project and the Head of the Social Science and Public Health Department at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, highlighted critical deficiencies within Ghana’s healthcare system related to respectful maternal and newborn care. These included instances of verbal and physical abuse by midwives when women were perceived as non-compliant or uncooperative. Neglect of duties, such as ignoring women’s concerns and engaging with personal devices instead of assisting when needed, were among the observed mistreatments.
To tackle the deficiencies within the system, a co-design workshop involving stakeholders drawn from the community, the health system and civil society, was organized to discuss interventions to deal with mistreatment at all levels of the health system. This approach encompassed achieving a mutual comprehension of perspectives from the community and service providers, emphasizing mistreatment concerns, and formulating a collective vision statement for RMC in Ghana.
During the discussions, participants identified diverse forms of mistreatment, including verbal and physical abuse, poor communication, extended waiting times, unprofessional behavior of providers, discrimination linked to socioeconomic and demographic factors, poor health facility environment, and other systemic hurdles prevalent within the healthcare sector.
The conversation emphasized the significance of incorporating viewpoints from both the community and healthcare practitioners when formulating policies related to RMC. Health managers were encouraged to prioritize and tackle the mental health of healthcare providers across at different levels of the health system. Participants also stressed the need for additional training for healthcare practitioners in delivering optimal care within health facilities.
The vision statement, which aims to create a healthcare system where all women, newborns, and their families have access to high-quality, respectful, and dignified care by motivated staff in well-resourced facilities in Ghana by 2030, was embraced by all. Participants collectively acknowledged the urgent need to address RMC challenges within the health system but were concerned that the needed infrastructure to create the enabling environment for RMC could stall the process. Representatives of the various agencies committed to playing their roles to ensure that the vision is achieved within the shortest possible time.
Other notable persons on the study included, Ms. Pearl Nanka-Bruce, Country Director, MCGL, Ms. Elizabeth Acheampong who serves as the Clinical Advisor at MCGL, Mr. Jacob Ayetey, Senior MER officer and Mr. Cupid Abumbireh, the program Manager, MCGL.