Department of Social Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Reprod Health. 2020 May 20;17(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s12978-020-00920-z.
Infertility is detrimental to the health of married couples, especially women. Despite the consequences associated with the condition, little is done to reduce the repercussions. This study throws more light on the lived experiences of infertile women and on how they can be helped to improve their own condition.
We interviewed 30 infertile married women in the Northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana, 15 from each region. A qualitative method, phenomenological study design and thematic analysis was employed to explore their lived experiences.
Due the huge stigma, some women reported that their loved ones encouraged them to try to conceive. Others revealed that, they were considering relocating from their current communities to reduce the insults, intense pressure, stress, and stigma. Though some revealed maltreatment from their husbands and in-laws, others stated their husbands disclosed their fertility status to their own family members to avoid these families pressuring these women.
To reduce the stigma, pronatalist societies urgently need education and sensitization. Would-be couples should be counselled to have a plan to deal with such occurrences should they experience them.
不孕对已婚夫妇的健康,尤其是对妇女的健康有害。尽管与这种情况相关的后果,很少有措施来减轻其影响。本研究更深入地探讨了不孕妇女的生活经历,以及如何帮助她们改善自身状况。
我们在加纳北部和阿散蒂地区采访了 30 名不孕已婚妇女,每个地区各 15 名。采用定性方法、现象学研究设计和主题分析来探讨她们的生活经历。
由于巨大的耻辱感,一些妇女报告说,她们的亲人鼓励她们尝试怀孕。其他人则表示,她们正在考虑从当前社区搬迁,以减少侮辱、巨大压力、焦虑和耻辱感。尽管一些人透露受到丈夫和姻亲的虐待,但也有人表示丈夫向自己的家人透露了自己的生育状况,以避免这些家庭给这些妇女施压。
为了减少耻辱感,提倡生育的社会迫切需要教育和宣传。准夫妇应该接受咨询,制定应对这些情况的计划,以防万一。