Impact of the KOFIH Maternal and Child Health Programme in Ghana

Study Context

Globally, maternal mortality is the major cause of death among women of a reproductive age group. In Ghana, the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health survey shows that one out of every seven women aged 12-49 die due to preventable maternal causes and one out of 27 children die before reaching age one. While there are multiple programs to improve maternal and child health in Ghana, there still needs to be more evidence on the impact of such programs and how best to facilitate health quality improvement interventions.

Study Design

This study will build upon a previously conducted baseline survey to evaluate the Korea Foundation of International Healthcare (KOFIH) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) maternal and child health improvement program, which was implemented in the Volta region in Ghana between 2013 and 2018. The research team uses a repeated cross-sectional, mixed-methods design to assess the impact of the program on Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) healthcare utilization, essential medical equipment and expertise, outreach and home visits, and the referral system. The outcome of this study may serve as a guide on how best to facilitate quality improvement interventions for maternal, newborn and child health and determine whether a similar intervention should be rolled out in other regions in Ghana.

Results and Policy Lessons

Results forthcoming.