Challenges experienced by midwives working in rural communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Raymond Saa-Eru Maalman¹  Irene Torshie Attachie²  Constancia Atachie²  Confidence Alorse Atakro³  Philemon Adoliwine Amooba⁴  Solomon Mohammed Salia⁵  Anthony Kuug⁵  Peter Adatara⁵  Mabel Apaanye Avane⁵  Agani Afaya⁶ 

[1] Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana;Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana;Department of Nursing, Christian Service University College, Kumasi, Ghana;Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana;Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana;Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana;College of Nursing, Yonsei University, 50-1, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 03722, Seoul, South Korea;

关键词: Midwives;    Midwifery care;    Experiences;    Challenges;    Ghana;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-021-03762-0

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn 2017, a total of 295,000 women lost their lives due to pregnancy and childbirth across the globe, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for approximately 86 % of all maternal deaths. The maternal mortality ratio in Ghana is exceptionally high, with approximately 308 deaths/100,000 live births in 2017. Most of these maternal deaths occur in rural areas than in urban areas. Thus, we aimed to explore and gain insights into midwives’ experiences of working and providing women-centred care in rural northern Ghana.MethodsA qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used to explore the challenges midwives face in delivering women-centred midwifery care in low-resource, rural areas. A total of 30 midwives practicing in the Upper East Region of Ghana were purposefully selected. Data were collected using individual semistructured interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis.ResultsFive main themes emerged from the data analysis. These themes included were: inadequate infrastructure (lack of bed and physical space), shortage of midwifery staff, logistical challenges, lack of motivation, and limited in-service training opportunities.ConclusionsMidwives experience myriad challenges in providing sufficient women-centred care in rural Ghana. To overcome these challenges, measures such as providing adequate beds and physical space, making more equipment available, and increasing midwifery staff strength to reduce individual workload, coupled with motivation from facility managers, are needed.

【 授权许可】

CC BY