Health-seeking behaviour: perspectives of Ghanaian women in London and Kumasi

Objective The aim of this study was to describe and compare the perspectives of health, health-seeking behaviour and use of medicines by Ghanaian women resident in London, UK, and Kumasi, Ghana. This will enable the identification of ways in which Ghanaian women adjust to a different system and/or retain their own perspectives regarding healthcare and the use of medicines. Method Participants were 16 Twi-speaking Ghanaian women resident in and around London, UK, and 18 in and around Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana, West Africa. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in English and/or Twi, usually in respondents' own homes, audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Key findings The data uncovered similar perspectives in the two groups regarding health beliefs and behaviours. The London respondents believed they retained some of their own perspectives, describing their use of health services and medicines in the context of both their own health beliefs and their adaptation to the British system. They also drew distinctions between themselves and the indigenous British population in health-seeking behaviour, response to symptoms and use of medicines. They recognised strengths in the British system and believed they were receiving better care, when compared with services in Ghana, in particular regarding the attitude of staff, quality of services and payment for care, including medication. In contrast to perceived practices in Ghana, women in both London and Kumasi reported limited personal experiences and expressed reservations regarding the use of herbal medicines. Conclusion The social-cultural contexts in which Ghanaians view their health and use medicines remain apparent despite their adjustment to using the British healthcare system. In the provision of healthcare, awareness of varying perspectives of different client groups is important to promote the appropriate uptake of services and use of medicines.