Implication of Natal Care and Maternity Leave on Child Morbidity: Evidence from Ghana

The aim of government with the help of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and other stakeholders has been to reduce the level of child morbidity which leads to child mortality in Ghana. This study on natal care and its implication on child morbidity would help the government in formulating appropriate policies to curb this problem. This study uses Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) which is an infection of the lungs and respiratory tract as a proxy for child morbidity. The specific aim of this study is to ascertain the effect of Natal Care (Antenatal care, Delivery care and Post-natal care) and Maternity leave on Child Morbidity. The study employed data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (2014) using the Probit estimation method to estimate the health, demographic and income factors that influence child morbidity in Ghana. It shows evidence that some stages of natal care, unpaid maternity leave, and other demographic factors have a significant impact on child morbidity in Ghana. Specifically, failure to receive post-natal care within first week of delivery causes a 3% increase in the possibility of ARI in children under five. The study also shows that a mother’s income determines her health care purchases; in that an unpaid maternity leave causes a 3.9% increase in the possibility of ARI in children under five compared to a paid maternity leave.