Working hard: women's self-care practices in Ghana

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Healthcare providers observe a rise in infant mortality among Ghanaian immigrant populations.
• Understanding the health maintenance practices of this demographic is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how Ghanaian women maintain their health before and during pregnancy.
• To identify cultural practices and daily life contexts influencing women's health.

Main Methods:

• Conducted focus groups with 17 women in Ghana.
• Gathered qualitative data on health maintenance strategies and traditional practices.

Main Results:

• Women frequently linked their health to daily living conditions and traditional health practices.
• Daily context and cultural norms significantly shape health maintenance behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers can improve patient assessment and culturally appropriate care by understanding women's lived experiences and cultural backgrounds.
• Integrating knowledge of daily life and traditional practices is key to addressing health disparities in Ghanaian immigrant women.