Graduation Term

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

John R. Baldwin

Committee Member

Lindsey J. Thomas

Committee Member

Jessica M. Rick

Abstract

As global mobility continues to rise, international students often encounter new cultural norms and health practices that differ from those in their home countries. While some studies have focused on contraception within the context of gender and types, less focus has been placed on diasporic populations, especially how students navigate tensions surrounding contraception within new cultural environments. This study explores how Ghanaian students in the United States interpret, negotiate, and respond to contraceptive messaging while navigating the cultural transition between their heritage and host societies. Drawing on Berry’s (1980)  Acculturation Theory, the study examines the tensions students experience, the strategies they use to negotiate these tensions, features of messages that trigger acceptance or resistance, and acculturation shifts that evolve over time. Using a qualitative approach, data was collected through anonymous open-ended questionnaires distributed among Ghanaian students currently studying in the United States. Findings revealed that participants navigate a complex interplay between Ghanaian cultural norms that are often characterized by religious influence, stigma surrounding sexual health discussions; moralized views of contraception; and the more open, personal-centered health communication environment in the United States. Rather than simply adopting or rejecting one cultural framework, participants often engage in negotiation processes and selective adaptation, drawing from both contexts to form a hybrid identity within the contexts of contraception and reproductive health. By examining how international students make sense of contraception across cultural contexts, this study contributes to broader discussions on intercultural health communication, acculturation, and culturally sensitive approaches to public health messaging.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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