Knowledge and attitude of infertile couples attending rural tertiary care centre

Abstract

Infertility defines as the inability to conceive naturally after one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The chance to conceive depends on the length of sexual exposure, frequency of coitus and couples age. Only 5% of the couples will conceive after one and half year or two years. Both males and females are equally responsible for the causes. Factors contributing to infertility have included male factors (sperm abnormality), female factors (an ovulation), couple factors (luteal phase defect, poor sperm production) and factors of unknown origin. Infertility has always existed but is now recognized as a global reproductive health problem and as an important component of reproductive health. It is a world wide health concern and affects 8 -15% of couples. The knowledge regarding fertility and biology of reproduction was poor. Many women have little awareness about the fertility period and the risk factors.1. To assess the knowledge and attitude of infertile couples attending gynecological OPD. 2. To assess the possible risk factors and social consequences towards infertility. This is a cross sectional observational study conducted on infertility patients attending to R l Jalappa hospital and research centre from February 2018 to July 2018.we designed a fertility questionnaire for both the partners with questions covering knowledge and attitude towards infertility. Out of 154 couples, prevalence of primary and secondary infertility was 72.1% and 27.9% respectively. The mean duration of infertility was 2.97 years. On scoring their level of knowledge, (n= 80) had inadequate, (n= 68) had moderate knowledge and (n= 6) had adequate knowledge. There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge in relation to their educational qualification and type of infertility among participants.