Assessment of the Socio-Cultural Determinants of Maternal Mortality in the East Gonja District of Ghana

• Main Authors: James Otchere Sarkodie, Abdul-Razak Abubakari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Africa Development and Resources Research Institute (ADRRI) 2014-07-01
• Series: Journal of Arts and Social Sciences
• Online Access: https://journals.adrri.org/index.php/adrrijass/article/view/82

The study sought to assess the link between socio-cultural factors and the causes of maternal death. In attaining the objective of the study, simple random and purposeful sampling techniques were used to sample 199 women in fertility age from the population size of 27606 from the East Gonja District of Ghana. A questionnaire with both opened-ended and closed-ended questions were used in gathering data from the respondents. The study found that socio-cultural factors may directly cause maternal death through harmful traditional practices like the administration of toxic substances to pregnant women in pregnancy and also indirectly by preventing pregnant women from accessing adequate antenatal services and skilled attendance at delivery.. It is recommended that if maternal mortality is to be reduced, harmful traditional practices and socio-cultural and other perceived barriers that prevent women from accessing antenatal and skilled delivery services need to be removed. These barriers among others include: harmful customs and traditions and believe system; financial constraints; superstition religious believes; and fear of surgery. The stakeholders of maternal health need to appreciate the essence of incorporating social cultural concerns in addressing the debilitating high maternal mortality rates in Ghana.