Fragmentation of care during pregnancy in the Volta Region of Ghana: A social network analysis approach

To determine the extent of care fragmentation during pregnancy and delivery in the Volta Region of Ghana. The National Health Insurance Claims Data for the Volta Region for the period January –December 2013 was used. Pregnant women who delivered at a health facility and made at least 3 visits were included in the study. Social network analysis (SNA) approach was used to determine care fragmentation. Fragmentation of care during delivery was defined to be any delivery at a facility different from the woman’s most frequently visited antenatal care (ANC) facility. Network metrics (weighted in-degree and weighted out-degree) were used to determine extent of care fragmentation and also the key facilities contributing to the fragmentation. Overall, 14,474 pregnant women were included in the study with 15% (2,185) having cesarean section (CS). A total of 6,025 (42%) of all the pregnant women visited more than one facility during ANC and delivery, out of which 960 (16%) had CS. About 26% (3,769) of all deliveries and 32% (696) of all CS deliveries were fragmented. Fragmentation among those that had CS was significantly higher compared to those that had vaginal delivery (VD) (32% versus 25%, χ²=45.88, p<0.001). Among those who visited multiple facilities, 63% (73% CS and 61% VD, χ²=49.22, p<0.001) were fragmented. In addition, 15% of all deliveries (36% among those who visited multiple facilities) and 20% of all CS deliveries (45% among those who visited multiple facilities) were performed at facilities that the pregnant women never received ANC services from. There is high level of care fragmentation during the critical period of delivery among pregnant women who visited more than one facility. This fragmentation is particularly higher among those that had CS compared to vaginal delivery. This calls for policy to ensure coordination and continuity of care during pregnancy.