Abstract
<p><strong>Background:</strong> This study examined the meaning of infertility from layman's perspective, and experiences of women suffering from infertility among reproductive age women seeking care at the gynaecology unit of the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> It was a cross-sectional study. Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were employed. Quantitative data collection was by the aid of a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire among 200 women seeking care for infertility at the hospital. Qualitative data collection was by Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs).</p><p><strong>Result:</strong> Approximately 40% and 60% of the respondents seeking care for infertility were suffering from primary and secondary infertility respectively. Perceived meaning and etiologies of childlessness were multidimensional, but 33% of the respondents not sure of the causal factor. Seventy-nine percent were under pressure to become pregnant. The high premium placed on fertility within marriage has placed a larger proportion of them under pressure from their husbands (25%), their mother-in-laws (40%), and the community (14%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study concluded that women regard infertility to be caused by multiplicity of factors. Most of these etiologies were unscientific and unverifiable. Fruitful expectations also put enormous burden on those women suffering from infertility including adverse psychosexual effects. The unceasing pressure due to infertility in this group of patients calls for urgent intervention as most of these women become susceptible to high risk sexual behavior, depression and other severe consequences.</p>
Highlights
Infertility can be defined as the inability of a couple to achieve conception over a twelve months’ period despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse [1]
From the women suffering from infertility, eight were chosen by balloting for the 8 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
Separate guideline for Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and KIIs were developed in English and translated into Yoruba language, and pretested
Summary
Infertility can be defined as the inability of a couple to achieve conception over a twelve months’ period despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse [1]. Recent global evidence shows infertility as a major public health problem. It is a problem of global proportion affecting between 8 and 12 percent of couples worldwide [2]. The divergence in the etiological explanation of infertility between the patient and the professional health care provider has implications for care provision and compliance of the patient to treatment. Infertility has psychosocial impacts on couples especially the women [7]. This is more obvious in high fertility settings where children are highly desired and parenthood is culturally mandatory [8]. Understanding patient’s perception on the etiology and experiences of infertility will go a long way in furthering patient centered care and scaling up compliance to treatment
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