Abstract: Despite significant national efforts to improve maternal health, Ghana continues to face challenges in reducing maternal mortality, with disparities concentrated in rural areas. While geographic and economic barriers are well-documented, socio-cultural factors remain less quantified yet critically influential. Methods: This desk review synthesizes current qualitative data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), the Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS), and program evaluations from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and its partners (2018-2023). The analysis focuses on thematic findings related to gender norms, cultural beliefs, and community practices in rural Greater Accra and Central Regions. Findings: Key socio-cultural barriers include: (1) male-dominated decision-making power, limiting women's autonomy to seek care; (2) deep-seated cultural beliefs privileging Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and perceiving pregnancy as a natural state; (3) pervasive mistrust in the formal health system fueled by fears of disrespectful abuse, Caesarean sections, and HIV testing stigma; and (4) the influential role of older female relatives in reinforcing traditional norms. These barriers persist despite relative geographic proximity to health facilities in some areas. Conclusion: Improving maternal health outcomes in rural Ghana requires a paradigm shift beyond infrastructure investment. Policy and programming must explicitly integrate community-level socio-cultural interventions, including male engagement, respectful maternity care training, and the respectful integration of traditional systems, to build trust and empower women.

Keywords: Maternal Health, Socio-Cultural Barriers, Rural Ghana, Health Equity, Qualitative Research, Traditional Birth Attendants, Gender Power Dynamics.

Downloads: | DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2025.121103