Challenges to the Reproductive Helath Needs of African Women : On Religion and Maternal Health Utilization in Ghana  

Oleh:

Gyimah, Stephen Obeng ; Takyi, Baffour K. ; Addai, Isaac

Jenis: Article from Journal - ilmiah internasional
Dalam koleksi: Social Science & Medicine (www.elsevier.com/locate/sosscimed) vol. 62 no. 12 (Jun. 2006), page 2930-2944.
Topik: maternal health; religion; maternal and child health services; maternal and child mortality; sub saharan africa; ghana

Ketersediaan

Perpustakaan Pusat (Semanggi) Nomor Panggil: SS53.4 Non-tandon: 1 (dapat dipinjam: 0) Tandon: tidak ada

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Isi artikel

How relevant is religion to our understanding of maternal health (MH) service utilization in sub saharan africa. We ask this question mainly because while the effect of religion on some aspects of reproductive behavior (e.g. fertility, contraception) has not gone unnoticed in the region, very few studies have examined the possible link with MH service utilization. Understanding this link in the context of sub saharan africa is particularly relevant given the overriding influence of religion on the social fabric of africans and the unacceptably high levels of maternal mortality in the region. As african countries struggle to achieve their stipulated reductions in maternal and child mortality levels by two thirds by 2015 as part of the millenium development goals, the need to examine the complex set of macro and micro factors that affect maternal and child health in the region cannot be underestimated. Using data from the 2003 ghana demographic. Survey, we found religion (measure by denominational affiliation) to be a significant factor in MH use. This is true even after we had controlled for socio economic variables. in general, moslem and traditional women were less likely to use such services compared with christians. the findings are discussed with reference to our theoretical framework and some policy issues are highlighted.

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