Exploring the Lived Experiences of Healthcare Providers in Delivering Maternal Health Services in Underserved Districts of the Central Region, Ghana

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive qualitative examination of the lived experiences of healthcare providers delivering maternal health services in three underserved districts of Ghana’s Central Region: Gomoa West, Agona East, and Ekumfi. Drawing on in-depth interviews with midwives, nurses, and other maternal healthcare professionals, the study illuminates how systemic constraints, including infrastructural deficits, acute workforce shortages, resource limitations, and inadequate referral systems, profoundly shape provider experiences and, by extension, the quality and accessibility of maternal health services. The findings reveal a paradoxical environment wherein healthcare providers demonstrate remarkable resilience, professional commitment, and community engagement while simultaneously navigating conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to deliver optimal, respectful, and evidence-based care.  This article contributes to the growing body of knowledge on maternal health workforce experiences in resource-constrained settings by foregrounding the structural determinants of provider experiences and their implications for maternal health outcomes. We offer actionable, evidence-informed recommendations for health system strengthening in underserved districts, emphasizing the need for integrated interventions that address both systemic constraints and provider well-being as essential components of maternal mortality reduction strategies.