Birth Travellers Seeking Childbirth and Birthright Citizenship in Canada and the United States of America: A Qualitative Study with Nigerian Women

Canada and the United States (USA) are top destinations for women travelling abroad for childbirth. However, end-to-end experiences of non-resident women travelling to seek childbirth and birthright citizenship in these destination countries are not fully understood, more so amongst Nigerian women, amongst whom the practice is particularly common. This study sought to address this gap in the literature. Twenty-five Nigerian women who had children in Canada or the USA were recruited via social media. In-depth interviews were conducted remotely, audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. Five key themes emerged from this study including that the experience of visa application to travel abroad for childbirth was mixed; and the travel itself has recognised risks and can be stressful. Further, being pregnant did not mean women were treated well when they arrived at the entry port in the destination country. However, childbirth abroad was highly satisfactory for most, and obtaining birth certificates and passports for the babies was generally straightforward. Our findings underscore the necessity of clarifying the legality of seeking childbirth abroad and birthright citizenship. If deemed legal, the voices of women who opt to travel abroad for childbirth need to be elevated, their vulnerability recognised, and the quality of care they receive guaranteed.