Week 4I

Interview with Paa Nyarko-Krampah on January 17, 2015

These notes have been summarized from the interview and are available simply for your reference

after listening to the interview.

Tobe: Please tell the class your name and a little about yourself.

Paa: I am from Ghana and I have been in the States 6 years and in Athens for about 5 years. We came

here as students. I received my Masters at OU and then worked in Columbus for two years and now I

am working on my PhD in Instructional Technology. I guess I now, after five years, I consider myself an

Athenian.

Tobe: Can you tell the class briefly about what cultural traditions or expectations, during pregnancy,

happen where you are from?

Paa: When a woman gets pregnant it is a joyous occasion, all fun and everyone celebrates. There are

restrictions in terms of what the pregnant woman eats and how much energy she uses on certain

chores.

Tobe: Does this happen right away, the restrictions?

Paa: The first 3 months are delicate and there are little to no chores, then she can resume more

activities but the restrictions are back in place the last 2 months of the pregnancy. Foods are

encouraged such as; mushroom, plantains, palm nut soup, greens during this time period. These foods

are believed to make the baby more healthy compared to other babies.

Tobe: Were you able to carry over able to carry over traditions?

Paa: We couldn’t afford the foods and they are not as available here as they are in my country. We are

students and we knew that she had to still take classes so we don’t observe all the traditions here

because we can’t.

Tobe: Were you concerned about not being able to carry over traditions

Paa: We knew that this wasn’t possible and she knew that. Our parents were worried about her diet

and activity but they understand. It is difficult to get palm nut soup and she was going to school.

Tobe: What cultural differences did you encounter during your visits to the doctor during your wife’s

pregnancy/ prenatal care and were you able to carry through your countries traditions? Can you think

of a specific example, during your interactions/perceptions with healthcare providers, that was very

different from one you would have in your country? Did you express your concerns?

Paa: The interactions were pleasant experience. I felt there were perceived notions that international

students are different from regular folks around here. They asked us about her diet but then didn’t

explain why they were asking.

Tobe: Did you ask them why they were concerned about those foods, for instance caffeine is not good

for pregnancy?

Paa: Most of the items they were worried about we don’t do; coffee, smoke, and they asked about

diabetes, health history. I think the healthcare professionals here are more diligent then at home. They

tried to cover everything. I am speaking from observing my cousins experiences, because I did not go

through this experience back home. I do feel there were different perceptions of international students

then regular folk.

Tobe: Was the communication good?

Paa: Communication was there but not a lot of explanation of reasons as to why.

Tobe: Do you feel that was cultural or a DR. with limited time?

Paa: A bit of both. I realize if you don’t ask they don’t tell you things. Growing up we are taught to

accept authority and listen to doctors and be respectful so we don’t ask a lot of whys.

Tobe: So there is a respect for healthcare professionals in your country as well?

Paa: yes. So we if we failed to ask questions and just followed the DRs Instructions.

Tobe : How did you go about finding a doctor for your wife’s pregnancy and a pediatrician for your little

girl?

Paa: When we suspected that she was pregnant went to college’s student health center and they

confirmed this. We then went to a local practice and saw multiple doctors.

Tobe: That is the way that practice operates.

Paa: Then we found a local pediatrician for the baby after she came.

Tobe: In your country talking to them did your family members, back home, have the same doctor

throughout their experiences? Did they have specific doctors for pregnancy or pediatrics?

Paa: Back home in most healthcare facilities you usually have 1 or 2 doctors. There are private and

governmental facilities with a tons of doctors. The well to do go to the private doctors and everyone

else goes to the governmental facilities. You status level determines healthcare. You will often see a

midwife or a senior nurse there at the governmental facilities.

Tobe: Did you feel like there was good communication amongst the providers, since we are relating this

to the healthcare team?

Paa: Yes, they looked at the history communicate from last visit, good record keeping.

Tobe: What cultural barriers do you feel effected the healthcare your wife and child received? For

example stereotyping, assumptions, or lack of communication.

Paa: felt healthcare professional were open-minded and would have answered questions when I

engaged in discourse. For example my baby had meconium and the test they performed were

outrageous and I became annoyed. “What are you doing to my baby”? I wanted them to stop sticking

stuff in her. They had a long list of explanations. When all the tests were done I asked for copies. They

printed off like 300 pages. Whenever I asked realized more I asked and read, and had an idea of what

they were doing felt more explanatory. Before taking the tests felt they were doing what was best for

the baby. When you actually don’t know they make assumptions and go ahead. When you hold them

accountable for what they are doing.

Tobe: Do you feel this happened because this is how healthcare decision or because you are from a

different culture?

Paa: That I would not know.

Tobe: Better service through overall communication would have been good. I am not sure that is

cultural but I just wanted to know your perception of the situation.

Paa: I assumed they did what was in the best interest of the baby and that is why all of the tests. It was

hard becaue when they would put needles in her my wife would cry. They needed to communicate

more with my wife, I was okay. They could have explained more overall.

Tobe: That is scary.

Paa: It was uncomfortable –is there something wrong with my baby? Is there something major wrong?

Tobe: Did you have different expectations of the healthcare here or did it follow expectations?

Paa: No, I expected what we had. My wife’s older sister, a year before, had already been through

pregnancy here. So we expected the same thing and that is what we got. Compare to service back

home it is better here.

Tobe: Is that because of resources?

Paa: Yes, mostly because of resources.

Tobe: In your country is healthcare through the government?

Paa: Yes. Even for the wealthy service providers there are classes. If you want comparable services to

here it is going to cost you.

Tobe: If you could change anything about the healthcare experience, during the pregnancy, what would

it be and why? During your encounters were there services/interactions that you would have done

differently? Communication, lack of understanding of beliefs/traditions come into play?

Paa: Beliefs didn’t come into play much. They asked religion and does certain faith prevent procedures

(blood transfusions). These didn’t apply to us.

Tobe: They did inquire about them though? What about cultural beliefs of your family, things they

wanted you to do?

Paa: They know back home that the decisions are left up to us and we will do what is best for the baby.

They trusted the healthcare professionals. I would say overall it was a 7 out of 10 experience, it was a

good one.

Tobe: Thank you for your time. You are from a different culture and I wanted the class to have an

increased awareness level. Is there anything else you want to add?

Paa: I feel perceptions of being international shouldn’t affect how you interact with them or inform

how you render services. Just being international don’t assume we don’t know the system and just go

ahead and make decisions because you think we can’t make our own choices. Communicate better with

international patients.