The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is concerned about the high rate of caesarean sections (CS) among women in the country. The GHS said that the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) report showed that one in every five women delivered through CS, which exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 15% for the population level.
The GHS explained that CS should be reserved for cases where vaginal delivery was not safe or possible, and that the overuse of CS could put a burden on the health system and deprive other women of the life-saving intervention. The GHS also noted that the CS rate was higher in urban areas (27%) than in rural areas (15%).
The GHS suggested that the factors contributing to the rising CS rate should be investigated and addressed, such as maternal choice, health provider practices, or systemic issues. The GHS also called for improved maternal education on delivery options and enhanced training for health providers on the appropriateness of CS.
