Giving birth in a health facility is expected to be the safest option for mothers, yet new research from WaterAid reveals a troubling reality in Ghana. The majority of these deliveries take place without access to basic sanitation, exposing mothers and newborns to avoidable health risks at a critical moment.
A System Where Basic Sanitation Is Missing
Recent research from WaterAid shows that 98% of births in Ghanaian health centres take place without basic sanitation, raising serious concerns about the quality of maternal care.
The broader picture is equally troubling:
33% of births occur without access to basic water services
43% lack handwashing facilities
59% of facilities have no proper environmental cleaning systems
69% lack safe waste management
These figures point to a structural imbalance. While Ghana has made significant progress in increasing facility-based deliveries, the infrastructure required to support safe childbirth has not kept pace.
The Hidden Danger: Infection After Childbirth
The absence of clean water and hygiene in delivery rooms creates fertile ground for infections, particularly maternal sepsis, a life-threatening condition that can occur during or after childbirth.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, 36 women die every day from maternal sepsis, according to the WaterAid research, with poor hygiene conditions identified as a major contributing factor. In many cases, infections arise from preventable causes such as unclean hands, unsanitized equipment, and unsafe delivery environments.
This places both mothers and newborns at risk, even in facilities designed to protect them.
Pressure on Ghana’s Health System
The sanitation gap reflects wider pressures within Ghana’s health system.
Increased demand for maternal health services, driven by policies encouraging hospital deliveries, has not been matched by investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. As a result, many facilities are overstretched, operating without the essential systems needed to ensure safe care.
This creates a critical disconnect: access to healthcare has improved, but the quality and safety of that care remain uneven.
A Low-Cost Solution with High Impact
Despite the scale of the problem, the solution is both clear and affordable.
The WaterAid research indicates that providing clean water, proper sanitation, and handwashing facilities in healthcare settings could cut maternal and newborn deaths by at least 50%, at a cost of less than $1 per person.
This underscores a key reality. Saving lives does not always require complex interventions, but rather consistent investment in basic services.
Turning Commitments into Action
Ghana has made commitments to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities, but progress has been slow.
The current situation highlights the urgent need to move from policy to implementation, ensuring that every health facility is equipped with the minimum standards required for safe childbirth.
The Reality Behind the Numbers
The statistic that 98% of births occur without basic sanitation, as highlighted by WaterAid, is more than a data point. It reflects the everyday experience of Ghanaian mothers and healthcare workers.
It speaks to a system where essential services are not guaranteed, and where the difference between a safe delivery and a life-threatening complication can be as basic as access to clean water.
Addressing this gap is not just a health priority. It is a fundamental step toward safeguarding lives and restoring confidence in the healthcare system.
