EXPLORING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WITH INFERTILITY IN URBAN GHANA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To explore experiences of women seeking treatment in Ashanti region of Ghana regarding infertility and its effect on daily living. Methodology: A qualitative study utilizing content analysis approach. Purposive sampling of 18 women with infertility who sought infertility treatment as referral cases in Kumasi, Ashanti Region were selected for a semi-structured in-depth interview after giving informed consent. Results: Four main themes emerged as participants’ perception of infertility and its consequences on their daily lives. These include: “abuse”, “marital instability”, “social isolation”, and “loss of self-esteem.” The most predominant theme was “loss of self-esteem”. Infertility was found to influence both psychological and social well-being of affected women. Conclusion: Infertility imposes significant impairment on the emotional, psychological and social well-being of women in Ghana. These include isolation, abuse, loss of self-esteem, and marital instability. What is already known? Infertility may impose psychological distress on affected couples. What did study add? This study reveals the extent to which infertility-related distress affects the daily living experience of women in Ghana, including physical abuse. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy? The severity of the psychological burden of infertility is worse on women and this could be mitigated if the associated high costs of infertility treatment are subsidized.