Culturally Responsive Practice: Perceptions and Practices of Speech and Language Therapists in Ghana

Abstract

The profession of speech-language therapy has been growing globally, with training programs developing in several majority world countries, including Ghana. However, speech-language therapy emanated from western tradition, including beliefs about disability and child-rearing. There has been limited investigation into how speech-language therapists from a non-western cultural tradition navigate the western foundations of the profession and the cultures within their own countries. This qualitative study explored perceptions of speech- language therapists in Ghana about the role culture plays in service provision and how they attempt to respond to this cultural divide. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the understanding of locally trained speech and language therapists (SLTs) about culture; why they think being culturally responsive is important; and to explore how they adapt western speech and language therapy practices to provide services tailored to the needs of their clients and families. Methods: Twelve locally trained Ghanian speech-language therapist were recruited through convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interviews explored beliefs about the importance of culture in speech-language therapy, and the ways in which participants incorporated consideration of culture into delivery of services. Data were analyzed using Thematic Network Analysis. Result: Three interconnected global themes represented the ways participants reported understanding and navigating culture to provide culturally responsive services: the centrality of culture in constructing a shared understanding of, and response to communication disability; the perception of culture as integral to creating a shared understanding; and the constant cultural translation/adaption required to make interventions meaningful to families.Conclusion: Even though speech-language pathologists in Ghana are ‘local’, the origin of the profession and diversity of clients they support means that consideration of culture is central within therapeutic interactions. Considering culture supports speech-language therapists to provide services that are meaningful and relevant to people with communication disability and their families. Learning Outcome: To enhance understanding of the complexity of cultural adaptations required by speech-language therapists in majority world contexts.