About 58 per cent of pregnant women have been patronizing free Ante-Natal Care (ANC) services in the Hohoe Municipal area in the past five years.

In 2009, the Municipality recorded 63 per cent ANC registration, 60.4 percent in 2010, 60 percent in 2011, 52 percent in 2012 and 55 per cent in 2013.

Dr. Margaret Kweku, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, announced this at a forum on Data Journalism for Improved Maternal Healthcare, organised by Penplusbyte in Hohoe.

She said the Municipal area also recorded an average of 34.1 per cent in skilled delivery during the same period: 27.3 per cent in 2009; 39 percent in 2010; 27 per cent in 2011; 32 per cent in 2012; and 45 per cent in 2013.

The Municipality did not register any teenage pregnancy at ANC in 2009 but had 9.3 per cent in 2010, 4.6 per cent in 2011, 7.9 percent in 2012 and nine per cent in 2013, resulting in an average of 7.7 per cent for the period under review.

It also did not record any Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) delivery in 2009 but registered 3.4 per cent in 2010; 1.4 in 2011; 4.8 in 2012; and three per cent in 2013, making an average of 3.2.

The Municipality also recorded an average of eight per cent of maternal mortality for the same period compared with 15 per cent before the introduction of free maternal care.

It registered seven maternal deaths in 2009, 10 in 2010, six in 2011, nine in 2012 and eight in 2013.

Checks by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) showed pregnant women in the area preferred delivery by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) because they perceived that maternal units were not receptive to them.

Dr. Kweku, however, confirmed that there are 43 TBAs in the Municipality providing maternal healthcare services and they needed capacity training in acceptable modern methods in line with scientific practices.

The GNA also found that only five out of 15 health facilities have practicing midwives in the Municipal area.