Maternal and newborn health in Ghana, 2006

Emmanuel O. Tawiah, University of Ghana

This paper uses data from the 2006 Ghana Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey to assess maternal and newborn health levels and associated factors. Analyses are based on 1,365 or 23.2 per cent of 5,890 females aged 15-49 who gave birth in the preceding two years before the interview. The maternal and newborn health indicators are antenatal care provider, assistance at delivery of last child, place of delivery, birth weight, breastfeeding, child immunization, use of treated mosquito net, tetanus toxoid injection and current use of any contraception. Bivariate analyses are used to describe inequalities in maternal and newborn health among regions and rural and urban areas. Logistic regression analyses are also employed to examine factors associated with inadequate antenatal care, institutional delivery and current use of any contraception. Two aspects of newborn health namely, low birth weight and completion of immunization are also examined. Policy implications are highlighted.