Exploring the lived experiences of women with infertility using traditional healthcare services in Harare urban, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Infertility has a significant impact on the lives of women. Therefore, affected women often consider the treatment options available to  deal with their condition, including traditional healthcare services (THS). The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived  experiences of women with infertility problems who sought help from traditional health practitioners in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data from  interviews with five women with infertility was explicated using a simplified version of Hycner (1985) five step explication process. Two  major themes and eight sub themes emerged from the findings. The major themes were traditional diagnosis experiences and traditional  treatment experiences. Consultation and divination were the diagnosis methods experienced by the women with infertility.  The THS offered comprehensive management of infertility through couples therapy, as well as preand post-natal therapies, which include  lifestyle counselling. The findings also showed that women with infertility commonly receive concurrent treatment, including  both allopathic and traditional medicine. This presents an opportunity to explore the convergence of traditional and allopathic  approaches in the management of infertility in women.