“I can’t believe it wasn’t perfect”: childbirth experiences of Ghanaian birth tourists in the United States of America

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.