Implications of language barriers for access to healthcare: The case of francophone migrants in Ghana

Ghana has become home to many migrants from Francophone countries due educational, professional, economic, and socio-political factors, among others. These factors also interact well with the country’s strategic location within sub-region. As a result, seek access various public services including healthcare. However, language tends be barrier their pursuit of quality Based on Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) Giles, paper examines implications migrants’ healthcare in highlights how migrant patients health personnel perceive deal barriers during consultations. The study uses qualitative methods, key informant interviews participant observation gather data three border towns one referral hospital capital Ghana. Findings reveal that francophone countries, when communicating care process, demonstrate use convergence/accommodation divergence/non-accommodation or divergence. On whole, practices experiences convergence produce better outcomes for both while those show divergence have negative experience outcome.