The Ghana Atlas of Birth

The Ghana Atlas of Birth, published in 2012, presents data on key health indicators in an attractive and easy-to-understand way. It was produced by the Alliance for Reproductive Health in collaboration with the Regional Institute of Population Studies at the University of Ghana and the Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty and Policy (GHP3) at the University of Southampton, UK and Evidence for Action.It presents data on key health indicators related to Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5. The main focus of the atlas is on geographic inequalities in indicators of maternal and newborn health. These are illustrated with the use of detailed maps showing district level variation in indicators such as neonatal mortality rates and the percentage of births with a skilled attendant.  Data on these indicators at the district level is usually difficult to obtain because their estimation requires sophisticated statistical techniques.  Information is also presented outlining the current government policy response to maternal and newborn issues. By noting the government commitments towards improving maternal and newborn health, and where possible tracking progress against those commitments, data can be easily interpreted within the policy context and used to hold the government accountable for achieving agreed to targets.   More information:

• The lifetime risk of maternal death for a women in Ghana is 1 in 66 compared with 1 in 4,700 in the UK
• Ghana struggles to meet the ‘Abuja target’ of 15% of public sector expenditure on health care. In recent years the percentage has gone down and in 2010 it was around 11%
• The Government of Ghana has promised to “ensure improved access to skilled delivery and care at birth and essential newborn care”. However the percentage of women who have a skilled attendant at birth is uneven throughout the country and is much lower in the North

To access the atlas, click here.Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights & The White Ribbon Alliance. (2012). The White Ribbon Atlas of Birth - turning promises into action with ARHR - saving the lives of mothers and newborns in Ghana. ARHR & WRA.