title: Help-seeking behaviours in childbearing women in Ghana, West Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this ethnographic study was to examine the health-seeking behaviours of Ghanaian childbearing women.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Ashanti consider pregnancy to be a vulnerable time when risk increases that women may be affected by witchcraft and develop sunsumyare. Preparation for positive birth outcomes include biomedical, ethnomedical and faith-based interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 42 childbearing Ghanaian women participated in audiotaped interviews. Transcribed interviews were coded and categorized into themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overriding theme was health seeking to ensure positive pregnancy outcomes. Subthemes included accessing multiple sources of care simultaneously, feeling vulnerable to spiritual illness, seeking spiritual protection and disclosing multiple sources of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childbearing is an essential part of the gender identity of Ashanti women. Witchcraft mentality provides a way for a woman to manage her life challenges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultural beliefs and practices have profound effects on health-seeking behaviours. It is becoming increasingly important that healthcare providers perform cultural and spiritual assessments and inquire about complementary sources of health care.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farnes
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Beckstrand
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Callister
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D055815:Young Adult