Ghana Records Marginal Increase in Maternal Mortality Rate

Ghana has recorded a slight increase in the institutional maternal mortality rate for 2024. Data presented by the Director for Family Health, Dr. Kennedy Brightson, at the Fifth National Maternal, Child Health, and Nutrition Conference in Accra shows a rise from 109.22 per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 110 per 100,000 live births in 2024. The report also highlights a decline in skilled delivery coverage, dropping from 60.6% in 2023 to 55% in 2024.

Speaking on behalf of the Acting Director-General, the Ag. Deputy Director-General of the Service, Dr. Caroline Reindorf-Amissah, described the decline in skilled delivery coverage as a worrying development that threatens national efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. She noted that the roll-out of the Free Primary Health Care policy is expected to close critical gaps, particularly for the poorest households, adolescents, persons with disabilities, and rural communities, ultimately supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Dr. Reindorf-Amissah further emphasized the need to strengthen the quality of care at all levels of service delivery. She emphasized improvements required in maternity care, newborn resuscitation, and emergency obstetric services, as well as the urgent need to reinforce the health workforce at the primary healthcare level. She also highlighted the importance of enhancing data systems for real-time decision-making, scaling up proven innovations, from digital health solutions to task-sharing and integrated outreach, and improving access to reproductive health services through expanded policies, support, and self-care interventions. She further reaffirmed her office’s commitment to supporting policies and programmes that ensure no mother, newborn, child, or adolescent is left behind.

In his remarks, Dr. Kennedy Brightson explained that the purpose of the conference was to share evidence, strengthen partnerships, and renew national commitment to ensuring that no woman, child, or adolescent, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, is left behind.

Highlighting some gains in maternal, child health, and nutrition, he noted positive trends in antenatal care coverage, particularly improvements in fourth and eighth ANC visits over the past five years, which indicate growing demand for essential maternal services. 

He also commended Ghana’s strong performance in immunization coverage and acknowledged progress in newborn care, adolescent health, nutrition, and community engagement. He called for continued cross-sector collaboration among government, academia, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

Book Launch

As part of the conference, the Service launched two major clinical documents: the Guidelines for Early Detection and Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage Using the E-MOTIVE Bundle and the Protocols for the Management of Apnoea of Prematurity.

The comprehensive E-MOTIVE guideline introduces an evidence-based bundle designed to improve the early detection and prompt management of postpartum haemorrhage, a condition that accounts for 38% of maternal deaths nationwide. The guideline provides a practical and standardized resource that strengthens clinical decision-making, enhances the accuracy of blood loss assessment, and enables healthcare providers at all levels to respond swiftly and effectively to cases of postpartum haemorrhage.

The Protocol for the Management of Apnoea of Prematurity offers a detailed, evidence-based framework for diagnosing, treating, and managing AOP across public, private, and quasi-government health facilities. It serves as a practical reference tool that standardizes care and incorporates proven interventions such as Caffeine Citrate, thereby supporting timely and effective management of preterm infants and advancing national efforts to reduce preventable neonatal deaths.

The three day event was attended by representatives from UNICEF, UNFPA, the Paediatric Society of Ghana, the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and academic institutions including the University of Ghana and the University of Health and Allied Sciences.