[6] Birth abnormalities that spirit children exhibit are large or small heads, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, premature teeth and broken or deformed limbs.
[9] Supposedly, these harmful spirits are attracted to human food and will enter and impregnate the woman's womb.
[9] Actions that attract harmful spirits include "using unapproved entrances and exits to a house", washing another woman's calabashes at the riverside, and bathing at night.
[12] This strong religious belief of infant alterity explains the cultural psychodynamics of parents killing their children.
[8] The family seeks out a "concoction man" to treat the spirit child using a "dongo" (a sacred cup made from animal horn).
[8] The black medicine is composed of various burned plant parts that are mixed with shea butter.
[6] Following the death of the child, the "concoction man" wraps it in an old sleeping mat, disposes of the body in the forest/bush, and conducts a ceremony to ensure that the harmful spirits do not return.
[15] Its goal is to "provide accurate and reliable information on all births and deaths occurring within Ghana for socio-economic development of the country through their registration and certification".
[19] AfriKids is a child rights Non-governmental organization that has created education programs about the practice of spirit children.
[22] Concoction men, mothers and elderly women in the child's family are given payments from AfriKids for them to stop the practice.