My Research

Research Abstract:
This research project aims to explore the ways in which religious beliefs affect the medical
decision-making of Ghanaians in Accra. Due to the medically pluralistic environment of Accra,
many citizens employ complex combinations of both biomedical and spiritual healing modalities.
Many Ghanaians have adopted informal guidelines according to their belief systems that dictate
which medical treatments they seek when illness arises. In order to investigate the ways
in which biomedical and spiritual thought intersect, this research will be conducted
through various interviews, observation of patient-doctor interactions, and a quantitative analysis
of the incidence of malaria and hypertension at Alpha Medical Center in Medina Estate, Accra. Other
churches, mosques, shrines, and clinics will provide additional field sites for this research. The
main objectives of this research project are to give insight into the various etiologies of disease
that are adopted by both the biomedical and spiritual healing systems in Accra, to identify
complementary aspects of both explanatory models of these systems, and to further propose
practical steps towards building trust and collaboration between these systems and in patient-healer
relationships in order to ultimately take steps toward improving health outcomes in
partnering institutions within Accra.


My Passion for Ghana & How It All Started:
Every evening for six weeks last summer, I would sit on the rooftop of my Ghanaian host
family’s home and recount the day’s events. I sat with my field notebook, revisited the
scribbled notes I took, recounted the impromptu interviews, and attempted to make meaning of
the day-to-day interactions that I recorded. One overarching theme that epitomized my time in
Ghana was the pure generosity and hospitality of the people. Very rarely did I feel out of place in
this hospitable country; at every turn was a Ghanaian who would graciously and enthusiastically
answer each and every one of my never-ending questions. Consequently, my Ghanaian friends
playfully referred to me as the “question girl.” My passion to learn and my desire to genuinely
know about Ghanaian culture produced many deep friendships with Ghanaians, many of whom I
continue to keep in contact with.

In all of my conversations with Ghanaians, one topic was never avoided—spirituality.
Ghanaians are proud of their heritage and their religion in a uniquely prominent way. When it
came time to choose an anthropological research topic for a class that I was taking,
understanding the ways that religious beliefs affected the manner in which Ghanaians sought
medical treatment was of particular interest to me. Previously taking pre-medicine classes while
focusing on medical anthropology and global health within my Cultural Anthropology major also
fueled this decision.

I was quickly introduced to the world of research, the complexities of a foreign culture,
and the unique interplay between spiritual identity and decision-making. I was faced with
realities that surprised me, and the preconceived notions I had about certain groups of people
were quickly shattered. I leveraged my desire to incessantly ask questions for a purpose—to
begin to understand how believing in spirits, in Jesus Christ, or in Allah directly affects the ways
in which people seek healing when ill. The initial findings only left me wanting to talk to more
pastors, more doctors, and more Ghanaians in order to begin to understand this vibrant culture’s
relationship with religion and medicine.

This project has made and could continue to make a prominent impact on my academic
goals and my prospective career as a physician. The research has taught me that asking specific,
meaningful questions can create a patient narrative that elicits not only what is physically wrong
with the patient, but probes beyond that to reveal the influences of spirituality, heritage, race,
socioeconomic status, and gender that constitute the patient’s world and that affect his or her
susceptibility to and perception of disease. Moreover, my experiences in piloting this research
continually humbled me, reminding me that Ghanaians’ insights can teach me much more than
any cleverly constructed question could ever teach them. These lessons will mold me into the
anthropologist and future physician that I desire to become.

This project is far from over. It is clear to me that through my previous experiences in
Ghana I merely caught a glimpse of the intricate and unique ways in which spirituality is
wrapped up in medical decision-making. This summer, I am excited to continue relationships
formed last summer and create new relationships that will make a lasting impact on this research
as well as on my perception of the world. I look forward to many more nights on my
host family’s rooftop, reminiscing about the day’s events and contemplating the complexities of
the place I call my second home.