Women’s perspectives of mistreatment during childbirth at health facilities in Ghana: findings from a qualitative study

Figures & data

Table 1. Age distribution of women in IDIs and FGDs

	IDIs (n = 39)		FGDs (n = 10)
Age groups	Koforidua	Nsawam	Koforidua	Nsawam
Women aged 15–19 years	6	6	1	1
Women aged 20–34 years	7	8	2	2
Women aged 35–49 years	5	7	2	2
Total	18	21	5	5

Table 2. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants: women of reproductive age

	FGDs n = 69	IDIs n = 41	Total n = 110			FGDs n = 69	IDIs n = 41	Total n = 110
Age (years)					Highest level of education attained
20-24	4	1	5		Primary	3	7	10
25-29	8	9	17		JHS/MSLC	42	17	59
30-34	27	6	33		SHS/SSS	15	10	25
35-39	13	8	21		Tertiary	6	4	10
40+	3	2	5		Vocational	0	2	2
Marital Status					None	3	1	4
Married	55	20	75		Employment
Single	12	8	20		Trader	27	21	48
Cohabiting	2	12	14		Hairdresser	8	4	12
Widowed	0	1	1		Teacher	8	0	8
Location					Caterer	2	4	6
Urban	54	28	82		Dressmaker	5	1	6
Peri-Urban	15	13	28		Other	6	3	9
Religion					Unemployed/None	13	8	21
Christian	68	41	109		Total number of children living
Muslim	1	0	1		1	20	17	37
Ethnicity					2 to 3	37	17	54
Akan	48	23	71		4 to 5	9	5	14
Ewe	14	13	27		6+	3	2	5
Ga/Ga-Adangbe	2	2	4		Total number of deliveries
Gruisi/Fafra/Dagomba	5	3	8		1	23	18	41
					2 to 3	37	16	53
					4 to 5	8	5	13
					6+	1	2	3
					Total	69	41	110

**MSLC (Middle School Leaving Certificate) **JHS (Junior High School) **SHS (Senior High School).

Table

Participant #	Age group (circle)	Number of deliveries in a facility (write in)	Number of deliveries at home (write in)	Education (circle)	Marital status (circle)
Participant	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed

Table

Verbal mistreatment:	Physical mistreatment:	Poor communication between the patient and provider:
Did the provider raise his/her voice?	Did that include pinching?	Were there any problems with the language of communication?
What types of comments were made?	Did that include slapping?	If so, was a translator available?
Were these comments made to threaten with poor outcomes?	Did that include beating?	Was the poor communication related to lack of consent for a test or procedure?
Were these comments judgmental/derogatory in nature?	Did that include kicking?
Were these comments based on her age or her number of children?	Did that include hitting?
Did the provider blame her for getting pregnant?

Table

Participant #	Age group (circle)	Number of deliveries in a facility (write in)	Number of deliveries at home (write in)	Education (circle)	Marital status (circle)
Participant 1	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed
Participant 2	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed
Participant 3	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed
Participant 4	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed
Participant 5	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed
Participant 6	<30 30-45 >45			< Primary Primary Secondary > Secondary	Single Married/cohabitating Divorced Widowed