Constraints of Maternity Health Care Delivery in Government Hospitals: The Case of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital to determine the constraints of maternity healthcare delivery. Sixty-two patients as well as professional and non professional staff were interviewed. The results indicate that 90.3% of patients who access maternity care at the hospital come from within Accra while 9.7% come from the immediate suburbs. An average of 167 patients attend antenatal clinic daily and most prefer KBTH to other hospitals because of the presence of expert medical personnel, 24 hours emergency service and lower charges. The majority of 53.0% of patients first attend antenatal clinic in the second trimester. An average of 40 admissions and 33 deliveries are made daily. Out o f this. 33.2% are referred cases from other government and private health institutions. Referred and emergency cases often have to be treated on credit as patients come to the hospital with no money or luggage. The maternity department has 254 beds which are constantly occupied with extra patients lying on the floor. The length of stay at the hospital has been shortened to make bed space available to incoming patients. Some patients are not able to settle their bills after discharge. Some of these patients run away while others have their bills paid for them by Non Governmental Organizations or individuals through the Social Welfare. The major constraints identified are shortage of nurses and doctors, lack of equipments and non-drug consumables, lack of storage space for files and a lack of bed space. The hospital has these limitations because it mainly depends on government funds which are not sufficient and are released late. To assist itself, the hospital generates funds internally through drugs and service charges.