By: Sarah Baafi
Health professionals are raising concern over the growing influence of religious and spiritual beliefs on pregnant women’s decisions to seek timely medical care, warning that such delays are contributing to avoidable complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Speaking on GTV, Felicia Martey Dodoo, Principal Midwifery Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, said some pregnant women are prioritising spiritual assurances over medical advice, even when diagnosed with serious conditions such as Cesarean Section (C-Section) pregnancy-related hypertension.
She explained that in some cases, women delay hospital admission or refuse recommended procedures due to beliefs that complications will not occur to them, or after receiving spiritual direction that discourages medical intervention.
According to her, this behaviour is sometimes reinforced by external influences, including religious teachings that downplay medical risks during pregnancy.
She noted that even when healthcare workers provide clear counselling on the dangers involved, some patients remain reluctant to accept treatment.
“We even see some women come to the hospital with stickers on their bellies, and even when we explain the complications, they still put their beliefs first and delay care,” she said.
Felicia Martey Dodoo added that such delays often result in women arriving at health facilities only when conditions have become critical, increasing the risk of severe complications for both mother and baby.
She further expressed concern about inconsistencies in religious messaging, where some leaders discourage medical interventions but later seek hospital care for their own families when complications arise.
“Some religious leaders preach that complications will ‘never be your portion,’ yet they still bring their own wives or family members to the hospital for procedures like caesarean sections,” she noted.
Health workers, she said, frequently have to engage in repeated counselling sessions, involve relatives, and in some cases escalate persuasion efforts to ensure patients accept life-saving treatment.
Despite ongoing education during antenatal visits, some women continue to delay care, often presenting late with advanced complications that could have been managed earlier.
Felicia Martey Dodoo emphasized that while religious beliefs are respected, they should not replace medical care, especially in high-risk pregnancies where conditions can deteriorate rapidly.
“We respect faith, but when complications arise in pregnancy, timely medical intervention is what saves lives,” she stressed.
Felicia Martey Dodoo, is therefore calling for stronger collaboration between fellow healthcare providers and religious leaders to ensure pregnant women receive accurate information and seek care promptly when warning signs appear.
