Table 1 List of Abbreviations, Key Terms and Definitions

Acceptability

One of the five elements of access, defined as the ability to seek healthcare services

Access

A way of approaching, reaching or entering a place, as the right or opportunity to reach, use or visit. Within health care, access is defined as the opportunity or ease with which consumers or communities are able to use appropriate services in proportion to their needs. In this manuscript, defined as having five key elements: approachability, acceptability, availability and accommodation, affordability and appropriateness.

Affordability

One of the five elements of access, defined as the ability to obtain or use the sought-after services

African Federation of Emergency Medicine (AFEM)

The African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM), founded in November 2009, represents a broad coalition of national societies, organisations, and individuals from over 40 countries dedicated to securing high-quality emergency care for all people across Africa.

Approachability

One of the five elements of access, defined as the opportunity to identify healthcare needs

Appropriateness

To actually be offered services that are appropriately suited to the person’s care. One of the five elements of access

Availability and Accommodation

One of the five elements of access, defined as having the desired services available, and being able to reach them

Emergency Care (EC)

The performance of acts or procedures under time sensitive and acute emergency conditions. Often times serves as the first point of contact with the healthcare system for many across the world. May occur in or out of the hospital setting, and may involve physicians, pre-hospital providers and other licensed professionals. Bystanders may also provide emergency care (for cardiopulmonary resuscitation for example), if well trained

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

A coordinated system of providing emergency care response often in the pre-hospital setting. Includes ambulances, toll-free numbers for dialing emergency services, paramedics and other EMS providers

Emergency Medicine (EM)

The medical specialty concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention

Maternal Health

Includes the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It encompasses the health care dimensions of family planning, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care in order to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience, in most cases, and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, in other cases

Maternal healthcare delivery

Care delivered to a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Includes antenatal care classes, birth classes, post-partum care etc.

National Ambulance Service (NAS)

Established in the year 2004 as an Agency of the Ghana Ministry of Health, to provide nationwide comprehensive pre-hospital emergency services for Ghanaians. NAS is a product of collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ghana National Fire Service of the Ministry of Interior.

Obstetric Emergency

Life threatening medical complications that occur any time during pregnancy, labor or birth

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs, set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and intended to be achieved by the year 2030, are part of UN Resolution 70/1, the 2030 Agenda.

The Three Delays Model

A framework for understanding care-seeking behaviors and outcomes in maternal healthcare. Has three phases: Delay in seeking care (Phase I), Delay in reaching care (Phase II) and delay in receiving care (Phase III)

World Health Organization (WHO)

specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.