What is driving maternal deaths in Ghana? - Forensic pathologist explains

A consultant forensic pathologist, Professor Paul Ossei-Sampene, has disclosed that hypertension-related conditions account for about 40.7% of maternal deaths in Ghana, with acute asthma, traditional practices and complications associated with caesarean sections also contributing significantly to the deaths.

Speaking on the JoyNews on August 10, 2026, Prof Ossei-Sampene said the causes of maternal deaths are numerous and could involve conditions affecting vital organs, including the heart and kidneys.

“...Sometimes we attribute some of them to things like hypertensive-related conditions, which, of course, involve not only the heart but also some vital organs like the kidneys, heart and so forth. So basically, that is one.

“A recent study that was published sometime in 2025 said that hypertensive-related conditions that resulted in the death of mothers are around 40.7%. So, it means that the numbers are quite high,” he said.

Prof Ossei-Sampene also identified a lack of education among women as another concern, particularly where some women rely on customs and traditions that could be harmful to their health.

He said some traditional beliefs and practices could undermine efforts to prevent maternal deaths.

“Lack of education on the part of women who actually believe in customs and traditions which are actually inimical to some of these things that are actually causing maternal death is also a problem,” he said.

According to him, misconceptions surrounding childbirth and changes to the female body were also influencing some women's decisions about how they delivered their babies.

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He said some women believed that giving birth would cause them to lose some elasticity, a perception he said had led some to resort to various concoctions to reduce the size of parts of their bodies.

“Now you realise that everybody, every woman, is actually … for the fact that a woman should use all manner of concoctions to reduce the size of whatever it is that they want to reduce,” he said.

Prof Ossei-Sampene further raised concerns about women opting for caesarean sections because of fears about the effects of vaginal childbirth on their bodies.

“Sometimes, men also contribute to this. They may question why a woman should give birth naturally if it could result in the expansion of the vagina and other changes, which, of course, does not make any sense,” he said.

Prof Ossei-Sampene said these concerns had led some women to choose what they considered to be the easiest method of delivery.

“So, most of the women also actually have decided that they will let them go for the easiest way possible, like removing the baby without any impact on the private parts, like the vagina wall, ensuring that it's exactly what it's supposed to be,” he said.

The forensic pathologist cautioned that caesarean sections could also be associated with complications.

His comments come as Ghana recorded 965 maternal deaths in 2025.

JKB/VPO

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