Globally, over a quarter of a million women a year die during pregnancy or childbirth. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 70% of these deaths.
In Ghana, the rate of maternal deaths is 263 per 100,000 births. Although this maternal mortality rate is much lower than the average for African countries (532 per 100,000 births), progress is being threatened by the financial difficulties mothers face accessing maternal healthcare services in the country.
Ghana’s health system has offered free maternal healthcare since 2008 under the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme. But many families are still compelled to pay for these services.
