Perceptions of Antenatal Care among Ghanaian Mothers

Abstract

In Ghana, some pregnant women may not seek antenatal care due to the unavailability of such services in their communities, although preventive service can help reduce maternal mortality with high-quality care. This study aimed to understand the antenatal care opinions of Ghanaian mothers who sought antenatal care, the barriers they faced, and their suggestions for improvement in antenatal care in Ghana. This study’s data were collected in the Central and Ashanti regions in Ghana from June 2023 to January 2024. Four hundred and fifty mothers in Ghana who indicated that they had given birth within the last 10 years of the data collection period took part in the study. Our findings revealed that 93.6% of Ghanaian mothers perceived their antenatal care to be of good quality due to proper examinations, friendly provider–patient interactions, reassurance, fair treatment, and proper education, whereas 6.5% of Ghanaian mothers perceived their care to be of poor quality due to long wait times, impersonal interactions, inadequate facility resources, and barriers to communication. For Ghanaian mothers to receive better outcomes for themselves and their children, it is worth improving healthcare facilities, healthcare provider preparedness, local transportation, and addressing financial constraints to go from suboptimal to optimal health services.