KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF MIDWIVES ON MATERNAL DEATHS AT TEMA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

In Ghana one in 45 women has a risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes in her lifetime. The recent WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA/World Bank (2014) estimate of maternal mortality ratio for Ghana in 2010 was 350 deaths per 100,000 live births, with an uncertainty range between 210 and 630, taking into account the impact of sampling errors on the estimates constructed by the international organizations. The purpose was to study the knowledge and attitude of midwives on maternal deaths at Tema General Hospital. The research objectives for this study were to investigate the general knowledge of midwives on maternal deaths, explore the attitude of midwives towards maternal deaths and to ascertain preventive practices of midwives towards maternal deaths at Tema Genral Hospital. Descriptive quantitative research design was adopted for the study. Convenience sampling technique was used to select 100 midwives. Structured questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. Data was analyzed with both Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21) applications.Findings indicated that the midwives have positive attitude towards maternal death. A great majority (92%) of the midwives responded in the affirmative that, death occurring from pregnancy related causes is called maternal death. Maternal death is preventable and some of the measures indicated by the midwives include, counselling and education, community outreach programmes and availability of ambulances. The study recommended that, midwives should be fully educated about their work to avoid negligence and death of pregnant women and their unborn child, Outreach programmes should be frequently organized by midwives in all communities’ especially remote areas for all pregnant women to benefit. Again, midwives should be encouraged to build positive attitude towards their work and prevent maternal deaths