Delivery patterns among women at the Tamale West Hospital from 2012 to 2015, Northern Region, Ghana

Abstract

The study traces the likely route of the movement of fertility through the demographic transition from the available data obtained from the Tamale West Hospital. The information is critical for construction of population projections as well as for monitoring and evaluating action programs. This research was conducted to assess delivery patterns among women in the Tamale West Hospital for the four years under study. Retrospective cohort study design was used for this study. The data for the research work was from the Public Health Unit of Tamale West Hospital. Findings from the research revealed that for the period of the four years (2012-2015), a total of 11,083 babies were delivered with the majority (54.3%) being male babies. Further results showed that the highest (31.6%) deliveries of babies by women were in 2012. The study also found that of the 30 (0.27%) of babies with newborn complications, majority 28 (93%) suffered opthalmia neonatorum and 2 (7%) suffered from asphyxia (7%). A total of 14 (0.13%) maternal deaths were recorded of which 2015 recorded the highest (64.3%) number of maternal deaths. The causes of the deaths included sepsis, obstructed labour, eclampsia, unsafe abortion and hemorrhage. The study highlights the high numbers of births been recorded in the region. These huge numbers have a corresponding impact on the country’s population, with its associated problems. Health facility delivery is persistently high in the Tamale Metropolis and the birth seasonality peaked in May, September and October. The study therefore recommends continuous health education in the metropolis to minimize issues related to labour complications and maternal and infant mortality.

Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences (2017) 6(2), 38- 43