The 2023 Greater Accra Region’s best–practising midwife Racheal Hesse Matey has cautioned the public against the stigmatization of mothers who deliver babies through caesarian sections.
She says caesarian delivery is as safe as vaginal delivery, and there is no need for the public to treat women who give birth through caesarian sections as outcasts.
“Some people have perceptions about CS that are not helpful. Some say CS means they are not women… But there is no need to stigmatize women who go through CS,” she said.
Mrs Matey who is a senior staff midwife at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital was speaking at a health education session organised in collaboration with the International Palace Church at Madina in Accra.
The session was on the theme; “Safe modes of childbirth among women.”
Topics discussed included vaginal and caesarian delivery, as well as fibroid.
Mrs Matey expressed concern societal stigmatization of caesarian delivery sometimes forces women to reject the method, even at the peril of their lives.
“Some women refuse CS because nobody has done it in their family. Some say it is the man who should come and give consent… Then the woman’s life is at risk,” she said with concern.
“We hope that education on this will continue to bring the information out there that both modes are safe. This information can help reduce maternal mortality,” she added.
The forum attracted hundreds of market women and female residents of Accra. Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Isaac Koranteng who also spoke at the educational forum, dispelled rumours there is a cap on how many caesarean sections a woman can have.
“It is a falsehood that a woman cannot have more than three caesarean sections. The highest number recorded was 13 by a patient from Ireland.
“The truth is that surgeries are now safe by the grace of God, but there are still risks associated with them, and we take precautions,” he said.
Last year, Mrs Matey was honoured as the best-practising midwife in the Greater Accra Region by the Ghana Health Service.
She was awarded for her efforts in supporting women before, during, and after birth, as well as her educational efforts.
“After the award last year, I rolled out an initiative to start giving health talks in order to help mothers and other people get informed about health issues,” she explained. This is the second edition of the forum.
She urged women who are affected by fibroid to seek medical treatment from accredited health facilities.
“Fibroids are treatable and can be removed. When you come to the hospital, you will undergo a thorough examination. The problem arises when we resort to taking medications that have not been prescribed,” she cautioned.