The preliminary results of the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (2017 GMHS) released by The Ghana Statistical Service reveal gains in Maternal Health.

According to The Report nearly 8 in 10 (79%) deliveries occur in a health facility, an increase from 54% in the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey.

“The 2017 GMHS was implemented by the Ghana Statistical Service and the Ghana Health Service from June 15 through October 12, 2017. The results show that health facility deliveries vary by region, from 59% in Northern region to 92% in Greater Accra.

Nearly all (98%) women receive antenatal care from a skilled provider. The proportion of women making four or more antenatal care visits has increased from 77% in 2007 to 89% in 2017. The survey results also show that fertility continues to decrease. Currently, women have an average of 3.9 children, a decrease from 4.6 children per woman in 2007.”

Presenting the findings at news conference in Accra, The Acting Government Statistician, Baah Wadieh said, one in four married women uses a modern method of family planning, adding that, injectables (8%) and implants (7%) are the most popular methods.

The 2017 GMHS collected data from a nationally representative sample of more than 25,000 women age 15-49. The final report for the 2017 GMHS is expected to be released in the middle of 2018, Mr. Wadieh assured.

Financial support for the survey was provided by the Government of Ghana, the United States Agency for international Development (USAID), the European Union (EU) delegation to Ghana, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

ICF provided technical assistance through The DHS Program, a USAiD-funded project that offers support and technical assistance in the implementation of population and health surveys in countries worldwide, GSS acknowledged.