The disrespectful attitude of health workers in Ghana, especially nurses and midwives, is turning away pregnant women from seeking medical care, according to a new study.

It also urged the GHS service to improve the relationship between health workers and patients through orientation.

In addition, the study emphasised on the need for maternal health workers to be polite to antenatal patients.

The study noted that improving the relationship between maternal health workers and the pregnant women could decrease maternal mortality since they will be willing to visit the hospitals regularly.

The project leader, Mr Bashiru Jumah, said the study was carried out to examine clients’ satisfaction relating to the delivery of maternal health services at district facilities.

In his presentation, he acknowledged gains Ghana has made in healthcare delivery and maternal health in particular.

“ Access to healthcare facilities by pregnant women increased from 1990 to 2015, which saw the reduction of maternal mortality from 780 out of every 100,000 births to 320 of every 100,000 births,” Jumah said.

Furthermore, he called for more intervention in the sector like the introduction of the community-based health planning services and the free maternal health policy adopted between 2000 and 2008.

"It is obviously not accepted for any woman to die giving birth because they refused to go for antenatal and be delivered in a health facility due to the fear of being manhandled by some health worker,” Jumah said.

About 5,311 respondents sampled in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.

Close to 88 percent of the respondent satisfaction with general services at the district health facilities.