Unraveling the History of Women’s Reproductive Health in Ghana

Investigating the complex tapestry of women’s reproductive health in Ghana, this book delves into the intricate relationship between development discourses, population control, and women’s health rights. From the 1920s to the 1980s, Ghanaian women’s reproductive health choices were largely defined by colonial and postcolonial development policies, rather than a genuine concern for their well-being or rights.

A Historical Analysis of Ghana’s Pluralist Health System

Spanning the colonial and immediate postcolonial periods, this book explores how development discourses shaped reproductive health policy and practices in Ghana. The author examines the introduction of maternal and child welfare, the dominance of the Red Cross in Ghana’s maternal and child health landscape, nationalist pronatalism, and global population activism.

Uncovering the Impact of Global Health Policy on Local Lives

To understand the far-reaching implications of global health policy on ordinary lives in Ghana, the author draws upon a wealth of archival evidence, including private papers, national archives, and records of international and transnational organizations. The book also incorporates extensive oral history interviews with rural Ghanaian women, traditional birth attendants, midwives, doctors, and family planning fieldworkers, providing a rich and balanced perspective on the subject.

A Timely Contribution to Historical Fields

This book is poised to make a significant impact on various historical fields, including Ghanaian history, global health history, global histories of population and family planning, and histories of development. Researchers and students in the history of public health, development, Africa, Ghana, and gender will find this book an invaluable resource.

Product Details:

• Publisher: Routledge; 1st edition (December 9, 2022)
• Language: English
• Hardcover: 266 pages
• ISBN-10: 1032227842
• ISBN-13: 978-1032227849