Maternal health care utilization following the implementation of the free maternal health care policy in Ghana: analysis of Ghana demographic and health surveys 2008-2014.

Background: In July 2008, Ghana introduced a 'free' maternal health care policy (FMHCP) through the national health insurance scheme (NHIS) to provide comprehensive antenatal, delivery and post-natal care services to pregnant women. In this study, we evaluated the 'free' policy impact on antenatal care uptake and facility-level delivery utilization since the policy inception.

Methods: The study used two rounds of repeated cross-sectional data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS, 2008-2014) and constructed exposure variable of the FMHCP using mothers' national health insurance status as a proxy variable and another group of mothers who did not subscribe to the policy.

Exploring the barriers and facilitators of dietary self-care for type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study in Ghana.

There is an increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) globally and countries in Sub Sahara Africa, such as Ghana are contending with the epidemic. The main objective ofthis study was to explore the barriers and facilitators of T2D self-care as perceived by patients and health providers (HPs) in Ghana. A maximum variation sample of 33 adult patients with a range of demographic features, diabetic conditions and self-care regimens and 3 providers were purposely selected from the specialist diabetes clinic of a private hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Developing governance models and funding mechanisms of state-civil society partnerships for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention based on lessons from Ghana.

The contribution of civil society organisations (CSOs) to national HIV/AIDS responses in sub-Saharan African countries, with Global Health Initiatives' (GHIs) funding channelled through National AIDS Commissions (NACs), is well researched. Less well understood are the governance models and funding mechanisms being used to successfully engage CSOs in the HIV/AIDS response. Using data from government, donor, CSO and documentary sources, this article characterises the organisational principles and practices and unique funding models adopted by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) to effectively and efficiently engage CSOs in the HIV/AIDS response.

Public-non-governmental organisation partnerships for health: an exploratory study with case studies from recent Ghanaian experience.

Background: The last few decades have seen a dramatic increase in public-non-governmental organisation (NGO) partnerships in the health sector of many low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) as a means of improving the public's health. However, little research has focused to date on the nature, facilitators and barriers of these partnerships.

Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 participants from five different NGOs and their collaboration with state partners in the Ghanaian health sector at the national and local levels in four regions of the country (Northern, Upper East, Greater Accra, and Eastern) to explore the drivers and nature of these partnerships and their advantages and disadvantages in the effort to improve the public's health.

State-civil society partnerships for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in Ghana: exploring factors associated with successes and challenges.

Background: The past decade has seen an increased number of state-civil society partnerships in the global Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) response of many countries. However, there has been limited research carried out concerning the successes and challenges of these partnerships.

Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 participants from 21 different state-civil society partnerships throughout Ghana including all three major geographical zones (Northern, Middle, and Southern zones) to examine the nature of these partnerships and their positive and negative effects in responding to the national HIV/AIDS epidemic.