Healthcare provider and maternal health advocate Efua Gyesiwah Ansah-Eleazu has called for maternal health education to begin before pregnancy, saying women need adequate information on their health and wellbeing even before they conceive.
According to her, maternal health discussions often begin only after a woman becomes pregnant, leaving little attention for the important stage of preconception health.
Speaking on Bullet Tv’s Morning Target, hosted by Ebenezer De-Gaulle and Akua Oteng, she stressed the need for women to be educated on preparing their bodies for pregnancy and understanding the different stages of maternal care.
“When it comes to prenatal care, women are not being informed about the importance of the first trimester.” she said.
Efua Eleazu said maternal health education should cover the period before conception, pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, rather than focusing solely on prenatal care.
She also called for better communication between healthcare providers and patients, arguing that women should be clearly informed about what is happening throughout their care.
“I noticed that the doctors and the healthcare providers do not communicate clearly on what is happening,” she said.
The healthcare provider further emphasised the importance of listening to expectant mothers, particularly in midwifery, where understanding a patient’s concerns and preferences is essential to quality care.
“Midwifery is about listening. Listening to your mums, listening to the patient, and asking questions: what would you like? How can I help you?” she said.
Men should also be educated
Efua Eleazu also urged healthcare providers to extend maternal health education to men, stressing that pregnancy and childbirth should not be treated as issues concerning women alone.
“Not only do we talk to the females, but the males,” she added.
She said involving men in maternal health education could help partners better understand pregnancy and provide meaningful support to women throughout the process.
Afua Eleazu also encouraged women to take an active role in decisions concerning their health, urging them to prioritise their wellbeing when seeking healthcare.
“You’re the business. Your baby is you, right? So you have to think about your body as the priority,” she said.
Her call highlights the need for a broader approach to maternal healthcare, where education begins before conception and continues throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, while ensuring women and their partners are adequately informed and involved in the process.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Mavis Fantevi & Christabel Kissi
