Peer-reviewed article
"I can't believe it wasn't perfect": childbirth experiences of Ghanaian birth tourists in the United States of America.
Allotey AA, Kwansa BK ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study examines why some Ghanaian mothers travel to the United States to give birth, interviewing 12 mothers and 3 spouses about their experiences with American maternal healthcare compared to what they expected in Ghana. Participants reported positive experiences with U.S. maternal care despite the country's relatively high maternal mortality rate among developed nations. The research highlights both the perceived benefits and challenges faced by these birth tourists and their families.
Key points
- Participants had 37 children total: 25 born in the United States, 11 in Ghana, and 1 in the UK
- U.S. maternal healthcare was described as the highlight of participants' travel experiences
- The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries, yet remains perceived as having superior healthcare
- Obtaining U.S. citizenship for newborns provided benefits that were later passed to close relatives
- Study identifies both positive experiences with American maternal care and challenges faced by birth tourists
Limitations
This is a qualitative study with a small sample (12 mothers) from two urban Ghanaian communities, so findings cannot be generalized to all Ghanaian birth tourists or other populations. The study describes perceptions and experiences but does not measure actual health outcomes or maternal/neonatal mortality rates for this population.
Abstract
Background Although the United States of America is widely perceived as having superior healthcare, it remains one of the most dangerous wealthy countries for childbirth, with the highest maternal mortality rate (MMR) among developed countries. Despite this, some middle-income Ghanaian mothers continue to travel there to give birth. This study examines the limited empirical research on African expectant mothers seeking maternal care and associated benefits in the United States. Methods This study investigated how twelve Ghanaian mothers and three spouses, purposively sampled from two urban Ghanaian communities, were interviewed between May 2017 and March 2018. Together, they had 37 children: 25 born in the United States (including twins), 11 in Ghana, and one in the UK. The interviews focused on their travel to the U.S., specifically to give birth and access maternal healthcare. The participants described their experiences and compared the expected benefits of American maternal care with what they would have experienced in Ghana. Results The data show that receiving American maternal care was the highlight of their travels, despite eventually obtaining U.S. citizenship for their newborns, who then later pass on its associated benefits to close relatives. In addition to highlighting positive experiences with the U.S. maternal healthcare system, this paper also addresses the challenges faced by birth tourists and their responses to these challenges. Conclusion Drawing on these Ghanaian experiences, this paper calls for a holistic approach to better understand the complex nuances of birth tourism.