Impact of the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Program on Maternal Health in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese District in Ghana

Patricia Antwi, Ghana Health Service
Frank Nyonator, Ghana Health Service
Tanya C. Jones, Population Council
Emmanuel Kuffour, Population Council
Emerson Arhia, Ghana Health Service

In 1999, the Ghana Ministry of Health launched the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Initiative to transform primary health care from clinical to community-based services. Utilizing the Navrongo experiment as the model, CHPS seeks to mobilize community health planning and services. This paper assesses the impact of CHPS in Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in the Central Region of Ghana where the program has operated in half of the district since August 2000. Although qualitative research has showed that front-line health workers are convinced of the benefits of CHPS, there is a need to validate this evidence with impact research. A 60-cluster survey of 1314 women aged 15-49 was conducted in August 2003 to compare health indicators in clusters exposed and unexposed to CHPS. Regression analyses reveal that health knowledge and service utilization is associated with exposure to CHPS, suggesting that the program contributes to improving maternal and child health in Ghana.