Psychological impact of infertility among women in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Infertility has profound negative consequences especially for women in developing countries. The study evaluated the psychological impact of infertility among women in Benin City, Nigeria.
The study was conducted between October 2004 and April 2006. A total of the 312 women (mean age = 31.27 years, SEM ± 0.32) comprising 156 infertile women and 156 pregnant women participated in the study. The Awaritefe Psychological Index (API) was used to assess level of psychological dysfunction. Data were analyzed descriptively and analytically.
Result shows that infertile women did not differ from fertile women as determined by API total score. Women with primary infertility were significantly different from women with secondary infertility on the API and were more susceptible to psychological dysfunction. Mood disturbance was the most frequent symptom expressed by the infertile women
There is a need for a re-orientation and widespread enlightenment on the need to perceive womanhood in its own right devoid of sentiments of motherhood. In the light of the psychological implication of infertility highlighted in this study, it is recommended that psychology clinics be run parallel to obstetric and gynecology clinics for a comprehensive management of infertility.

Gender and Behaviour. Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 896-903