The 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (2017 GMHS) was designed to produce representative estimates for maternal mortality indicators for the country as a whole, and for each of the three geographical zones, namely Coastal (Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta), Middle (Eastern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo) and Northern (Northern, Upper East and Upper West). For other indicators such as maternal care, fertility and child mortality, the survey was designed to produce representative results for the country as whole, for the urban and rural areas, and for each of the country’s 10 administrative regions.
The primary objectives of the 2017 GMHS were as follows:
• To collect data at the national level that will allow an assessment of the level of maternal mortality in Ghana for the country as a whole and for three zones: Coastal (Western, Central, Greater Accra, and Volta regions), Middle (Eastern, Ashanti, and Brong Ahafo regions), and Northern (Northern, Upper East, and Upper West regions)
• To identify specific causes of maternal and non-maternal deaths, in particular deaths due to abortionrelated causes, among adult women
• To collect data on women’s perceptions of and experiences with antenatal, maternity, and emergency obstetrical care, especially with regard to care received before, during, and following the termination or abortion of a pregnancy
• To measure indicators of the utilisation of maternal health services, especially post-abortion care services
• To allow follow-on studies and surveys that will be used to observe possible reductions in maternal mortality as well as abortion-related mortality
The information collected through the 2017 GMHS is intended to assist policymakers and programme managers in evaluating and designing programmes and strategies for improving the health of the country’s population.