Determinants of use of maternal-child health services in rural Ghana

This study uses data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) of 1993 to examine factors determining the use of maternal-child health (MCH) services in rural Ghana. The MCH services under study are: (1) use of a do ctor for prenatal care; (2) soliciting four or more antenatal check-ups; (3 ) place of delivery; (4) participation in family planning. Bivariate and mu ltivariate techniques are employed in the analyses. The analyses reveal tha t the use of MCH services tends to be shaped mostly by level of education, religious background and region of residence, and partially by ethnicity an d occupation. The implications of these results are discussed.