Ghana's Upper East Region sees rise in maternal deaths despite antenatal care gains

Maternal health in Ghana's Upper East Region showed mixed trends in 2025. While more women attended antenatal care, maternal deaths rose sharply. The latest figures highlight both progress and persistent challenges in healthcare services. The region recorded 60 maternal deaths in 2025, up from 40 the previous year. This pushed the institutional maternal mortality ratio to 132 per 100,000 live births. Despite this increase, antenatal care (ANC) coverage improved, rising from 74.28 percent in 2024 to 83.65 percent in 2025.

First-trimester ANC registrations saw a slight uptick, moving from 60.2 percent to 60.3 percent. However, the stillbirth rate remained unchanged at 9.9 percent. Neonatal mortality also worsened, climbing from 5 to 6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

On a positive note, the overall institutional all-cause mortality rate dipped slightly, from 19.3 percent to 18.9 percent. Yet, anaemia cases in pregnancy grew, with numbers rising from 17,020 in 2024 to 17,377 in 2025. Meanwhile, outpatient department (OPD) visits per person fell marginally, from 1.20 to 1.18.

The most common reasons for OPD visits in 2025 were malaria, upper respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid fever, and anaemia. The 2025 data reveals a complex picture of maternal and child health in the Upper East Region. More women are accessing antenatal care, but maternal and neonatal deaths have risen. Anaemia in pregnancy continues to climb, while overall outpatient visits have slightly declined. These trends will likely shape future healthcare planning in the region.