Research Article
Year 2023,
, 82 - 89, 01.01.2023
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to determine the psychosocial problems experienced by infertile women and their stigmatization statuses.
Methods: This study qualitative was conducted in the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Center of a university hospital in Turkey between November 2016-May 2017. Sample of the study was consisted 42 infertile women who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected through a semi-structured “Interview Form” consisting of eight open-ended questions to determine the psychosocial problems experienced by the women in relation to infertility. Collected data were analyzed with method of content analysis.
Results: From the in-depth interviews conducted with the infertile women, four main themes emerged to include ten sub-themes revealing the psychosocial problems they experienced and their stigmatization statuses as sorrow, feeling of guilt, childlessness stigmatization, loss of feeling of motherhood, stress (psychologically), perceived social pressure, social isolation (socially), lack of sexual drive, feeling of sexual failure (sexual life) and financial loss (economically).
Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that the women who were receiving infertility treatment experienced many psychosocial problems and stigmatization due to their childlessness, and they limited their social lives to especially avoid questions directed to them about having a child and avoid talking to pregnant women/families and women/families with children. Based on these results, it is recommended for nurses who work at assisted reproductive treatment centers and especially have the opportunity to communicate with infertile women for longer to determine the psychosocial problems experienced by women throughout treatment process and provide psychosocial support and counselling they need.
Supporting Institution
This work was supported by the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Commission as A-Type Individual Research project under Grant [SBF-043].
Project Number
SBF-043
Thanks
The study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Commission of the university in the province where the research was conducted, as a Type A Individual Research Project numbered SBF-043. The authors also grateful to the volunteer participants.
References
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- 11. Ergin RN, Polat A, Kars B, et al. Social stigma and familial attitudes related to infertility. Turk J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;15:46-9. DOI:10.4274/tjod.04307
- 12. Hobek-Akarsu R and Kizilkaya-Beji N. Spiritual and religious issues of stigmatization women with infertility: A qualitative study. J Relig Health. 2019. DOI:10.1007/s10943-019-00884-w
- 13. Naab F, Lawali Y and Donkor ES. ‘My mother in-law forced my husband to divorce me’: Experiences of women with infertility in Zamfara State of Nigeria. PLoS One. 2019;14(12):e0225149. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0225149
- 14. Patel A, Sharma PSVN, Kumar P, et al. Sociocultural determinants of infertility stress in patients undergoing fertility treatments. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2018;11(2):172-9. DOI:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_134_17
- 15. Whitehouse B and Hollos M. Definitions and the experience of fertility problems: Infertile and sub-fertile women, childless mothers, and honorary mothers in two southern Nigerian communities. Med Anthropol Q. 2014;28(1):122-39. DOI:10.1111/maq.12075
- 16. Gokler ME, Unsal A and Arslantas D. The prevalence of infertility and loneliness among women aged 18-49 years who are living in semi-rural areas in western Turkey. Int J Fertil Steril. 2014;8(2):155-62. PMID: 25083180
- 17. Donkor ES, Naab F and Kussiwaah DY. ‘I am anxious and desperate’: Psychological experiences of women with infertility in The Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Fertil Res Pract. 2017;3:6. DOI:10.1186/s40738-017-0033-1
- 18. Hasanpoor-Azghdy SB, Simbar M and Vedadhir A. The emotional-psychological consequences of infertility among infertile women seeking treatment: Results of a qualitative study. Iran J Reprod Med. 2014;12(2):131-8. PMID: 24799871
- 19. Kalateh-Sadati A, Rahnavard F and Namavar-Jahromi B. Qualitative study of Iranian infertile females. Women’s Health Bulletin. 2017;4(1):e33490. DOI:10.17795/whb-33490
- 20. Mahadeen A, Hamdan-Mansour AM, Halabi JO, et al. Psychosocial wellbeing of infertile couples in Jordan. East Mediterr Health J. 2018;24(2):169-76. DOI:10.26719/2018.24.2.169
- 21. Olarinoye AO and Ajiboye PO. Psychosocial characteristics of infertile women in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2019;36(2):252-7. DOI:10.4103/TJOG.TJOG_54_18
- 22. Alhassan A, Ziblim AR and Muntaka S. A survey on depression among infertile women in Ghana. BMC Womens Health. 2014;14:42. https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6874-14-42
- 23. Jansen NA and Saint-Onge JM. An internet forum analysis of stigma power perceptions among women seeking fertility treatment in the United States. Social Science & Medicine. 2015;147(2015):184-9. DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.11.002
- 24. Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari F, Ghahiri A, Habibi M, et al. Exploration of infertile couples’ support requirements: A qualitative study. Int J Fertil Steril. 2015;9(1):81-92. DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2015.4212
- 25. Gwet-Bell E, Gwet BB, Akoung N, et al. The 5 main challenges faced in infertility care in Cameroon. Glob Reprod Health. 2018;3(3). DOI:10.1097/GRH.0000000000000016
- 26. Yeshua-Katz D. Childless in an IVF-nation: Online stigma-coping strategies in support groups for childless Israeli women. Information, Communication & Society. 2017;21(10):1436-52. DOI:10.1080/1369118X.2017.1324504
- 27. Kaya Z and Oskay U. Stigma, hopelessness and coping experiences of Turkish women with infertility. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2020;38(5):485-96. DOI:10.1080/02646838.2019.1650904
- 28. Taebi M, Kariman N, Montazeri A, et al. Infertility stigma: A qualitative study on feelings and experiences of infertile women. Int J Fertil Steril. 2021;15(3):189-96. DOI:10.22074/IJFS.2021.139093.1039
Year 2023,
, 82 - 89, 01.01.2023
Abstract
Project Number
SBF-043
References
- 1. Karaca A and Unsal G. Psychosocial problems and coping strategies among Turkish women with infertility. Asian Nurs Res. 2015;5(3):243-50. DOI:10.1016/j.anr.2015.04.007
- 2. Akintayo AA, Aduloju OP, Dada MU, et al. Comparison of self-esteem and depression among fertile and infertile women in a low resource setting. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2021. DOI:10.1080/01443615.2021.1945002
- 3. Anokye R, Acheampong E, Mprah WK, et al. Psychosocial effects of infertility among couples attending St. Michael’s Hospital, Jachie-Pramso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. BMC Res Notes. 2017;10(1):690. DOI:10.1186/s13104-017-3008-8
- 4. Batool SS and de Visser RO. Experiences of infertility in British and Pakistani women: A cross-cultural qualitative analysis. Health Care Women Int. 2016;37(2):180-96. DOI:10.1080/07399332.2014.980890
- 5. Hasanpoor-Azghdy SB, Simbar M and Vedadhir A. The social consequences of infertility among Iranian women: A qualitative study. Int J Fertil Steril. 2015;8(4):409-20. DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2015.4181
- 6. Mete S, Fata S and Alus-Tokat M. Feelings, opinions and experiences of Turkish women with infertility: A qualitative study. Health Informatics J. 2020;26(1):528-38. DOI:10.1177/146045821983962
- 7. Oltuluoglu H, Gunay U and Aylaz R. Mood status of infertile couples: A qualitative study. Journal of Health Sciences. 2014;23(2):92-98.
- 8. Yangin H, Kukulu K, Gulşen S, et al. A survey on the correlation between sexual satisfaction and depressive symptoms during infertility. Health Care Women Int. 2016;37(10):1082-95. DOI:10.1080/07399332.2015.1107067
- 9. Aduloju OP, Olaogun OD and Aduloju T. Quality of life in women of reproductive age: A comparative study of infertile and fertile women in a Nigerian tertiary centre. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2018;38(2):247-51. DOI10.1080/01443615.2017.1347916
- 10. Hess RF, Ross R and GilillandJr JL. Infertility, psychological distress, and coping strategies among women in Mali, West Africa: A mixed-methods study. Afr J Reprod Health. 2018;2(1):60-72. DOI:10.29063/ajrh2018/v22i1.6
- 11. Ergin RN, Polat A, Kars B, et al. Social stigma and familial attitudes related to infertility. Turk J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;15:46-9. DOI:10.4274/tjod.04307
- 12. Hobek-Akarsu R and Kizilkaya-Beji N. Spiritual and religious issues of stigmatization women with infertility: A qualitative study. J Relig Health. 2019. DOI:10.1007/s10943-019-00884-w
- 13. Naab F, Lawali Y and Donkor ES. ‘My mother in-law forced my husband to divorce me’: Experiences of women with infertility in Zamfara State of Nigeria. PLoS One. 2019;14(12):e0225149. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0225149
- 14. Patel A, Sharma PSVN, Kumar P, et al. Sociocultural determinants of infertility stress in patients undergoing fertility treatments. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2018;11(2):172-9. DOI:10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_134_17
- 15. Whitehouse B and Hollos M. Definitions and the experience of fertility problems: Infertile and sub-fertile women, childless mothers, and honorary mothers in two southern Nigerian communities. Med Anthropol Q. 2014;28(1):122-39. DOI:10.1111/maq.12075
- 16. Gokler ME, Unsal A and Arslantas D. The prevalence of infertility and loneliness among women aged 18-49 years who are living in semi-rural areas in western Turkey. Int J Fertil Steril. 2014;8(2):155-62. PMID: 25083180
- 17. Donkor ES, Naab F and Kussiwaah DY. ‘I am anxious and desperate’: Psychological experiences of women with infertility in The Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Fertil Res Pract. 2017;3:6. DOI:10.1186/s40738-017-0033-1
- 18. Hasanpoor-Azghdy SB, Simbar M and Vedadhir A. The emotional-psychological consequences of infertility among infertile women seeking treatment: Results of a qualitative study. Iran J Reprod Med. 2014;12(2):131-8. PMID: 24799871
- 19. Kalateh-Sadati A, Rahnavard F and Namavar-Jahromi B. Qualitative study of Iranian infertile females. Women’s Health Bulletin. 2017;4(1):e33490. DOI:10.17795/whb-33490
- 20. Mahadeen A, Hamdan-Mansour AM, Halabi JO, et al. Psychosocial wellbeing of infertile couples in Jordan. East Mediterr Health J. 2018;24(2):169-76. DOI:10.26719/2018.24.2.169
- 21. Olarinoye AO and Ajiboye PO. Psychosocial characteristics of infertile women in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2019;36(2):252-7. DOI:10.4103/TJOG.TJOG_54_18
- 22. Alhassan A, Ziblim AR and Muntaka S. A survey on depression among infertile women in Ghana. BMC Womens Health. 2014;14:42. https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6874-14-42
- 23. Jansen NA and Saint-Onge JM. An internet forum analysis of stigma power perceptions among women seeking fertility treatment in the United States. Social Science & Medicine. 2015;147(2015):184-9. DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.11.002
- 24. Jafarzadeh-Kenarsari F, Ghahiri A, Habibi M, et al. Exploration of infertile couples’ support requirements: A qualitative study. Int J Fertil Steril. 2015;9(1):81-92. DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2015.4212
- 25. Gwet-Bell E, Gwet BB, Akoung N, et al. The 5 main challenges faced in infertility care in Cameroon. Glob Reprod Health. 2018;3(3). DOI:10.1097/GRH.0000000000000016
- 26. Yeshua-Katz D. Childless in an IVF-nation: Online stigma-coping strategies in support groups for childless Israeli women. Information, Communication & Society. 2017;21(10):1436-52. DOI:10.1080/1369118X.2017.1324504
- 27. Kaya Z and Oskay U. Stigma, hopelessness and coping experiences of Turkish women with infertility. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2020;38(5):485-96. DOI:10.1080/02646838.2019.1650904
- 28. Taebi M, Kariman N, Montazeri A, et al. Infertility stigma: A qualitative study on feelings and experiences of infertile women. Int J Fertil Steril. 2021;15(3):189-96. DOI:10.22074/IJFS.2021.139093.1039
There are 28 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Health Care Administration |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Project Number | SBF-043 |
| Publication Date | January 1, 2023 |
| Submission Date | March 14, 2022 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2023 |