16 research outputs found

    Exploring the psycho-social burden of infertility: Perspectives of infertile couples in Cape Coast, Ghana.

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    Infertility is a complex and often sensitive issue with far-reaching psycho-social ramifications for couples and their families. This study therefore seeks to delve into the psycho-social burden of infertility in Cape Coast, a major city in Ghana. Specifically, we explored the impact of infertility on the psychological and social health of infertile couples receiving fertility treatment. It also delves into the strategies they adopt to cope with their conditions. The study employs a qualitative approach to inquiry using phenomenology as a study design to explore the experiences of the study participants. In-depth interviews were conducted using interview guides, voice recorded and transcribed verbatim. Both inductive and deductive/framework coding techniques were used to code the data leading to the generation of themes and sub-themes. The results show that most of the study participants dealing with infertility faced psychological burdens from different sources including their families, society and themselves. These burdens take a toll on their mental health, pushing them into a state of desperation and depression. It was, however, revealed that infertile couples are able to cope with the help of their family, spouses and the church. Curiously, some of them opt for withdrawal from social events as a coping mechanism. Infertility exerts an enormous negative psycho-social impact on affected couples, especially women. The family and society serve as the main sources of stressors for infertile couples. Therefore, programmes that are aimed at fertility treatment should deliberately consider addressing the psychosocial burden of infertility through education targeting actors, especially interpersonal-level actors

    Unmet need in family planning at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital of Ghana

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    Background: Knowing the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, unmet need in family planning and the associated factors in cape coast, is important for ensuring that all women have access to the most effective methods of family planning in order to reduce the occurrence of unintended pregnancies. This study aims to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancies, unmet need in family planning and the associated factors among women attending antenatal clinics at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Republic of Ghana.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical components was carried out from 20th April 2015 to 20th June 2015 to simultaneously measure the prevalence of unmet need for family planning and related factors.  All clients reporting for ANC at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital during the study period were recruited into the study.Results: A total of 324 clients were recruited. The mean age was 29.98±5.86 years, 85.80% were married, 46.58% had tertiary education and 79.94% had a source of income. Up to 54.94% of the clients had not planned their index pregnancy. Among subjects who had not planned their index pregnancies, 74.71% had not used a family planning method. There is a significant association between age, educational level, the presence of a source of income, marital status and the occurrence of unplanned pregnancy.Conclusions: There were high prevalence of unplanned pregnancy and unmet need for family planning. There is a significant association between age, educational level, the presence of a source of income, marital status and the occurrence of unplanned pregnancy

    Themes and subthemes from the infertile couples.

    No full text
    Infertility is a complex and often sensitive issue with far-reaching psycho-social ramifications for couples and their families. This study therefore seeks to delve into the psycho-social burden of infertility in Cape Coast, a major city in Ghana. Specifically, we explored the impact of infertility on the psychological and social health of infertile couples receiving fertility treatment. It also delves into the strategies they adopt to cope with their conditions. The study employs a qualitative approach to inquiry using phenomenology as a study design to explore the experiences of the study participants. In-depth interviews were conducted using interview guides, voice recorded and transcribed verbatim. Both inductive and deductive/framework coding techniques were used to code the data leading to the generation of themes and sub-themes. The results show that most of the study participants dealing with infertility faced psychological burdens from different sources including their families, society and themselves. These burdens take a toll on their mental health, pushing them into a state of desperation and depression. It was, however, revealed that infertile couples are able to cope with the help of their family, spouses and the church. Curiously, some of them opt for withdrawal from social events as a coping mechanism. Infertility exerts an enormous negative psycho-social impact on affected couples, especially women. The family and society serve as the main sources of stressors for infertile couples. Therefore, programmes that are aimed at fertility treatment should deliberately consider addressing the psychosocial burden of infertility through education targeting actors, especially interpersonal-level actors.</div

    Characteristics of the participants.

    No full text
    Infertility is a complex and often sensitive issue with far-reaching psycho-social ramifications for couples and their families. This study therefore seeks to delve into the psycho-social burden of infertility in Cape Coast, a major city in Ghana. Specifically, we explored the impact of infertility on the psychological and social health of infertile couples receiving fertility treatment. It also delves into the strategies they adopt to cope with their conditions. The study employs a qualitative approach to inquiry using phenomenology as a study design to explore the experiences of the study participants. In-depth interviews were conducted using interview guides, voice recorded and transcribed verbatim. Both inductive and deductive/framework coding techniques were used to code the data leading to the generation of themes and sub-themes. The results show that most of the study participants dealing with infertility faced psychological burdens from different sources including their families, society and themselves. These burdens take a toll on their mental health, pushing them into a state of desperation and depression. It was, however, revealed that infertile couples are able to cope with the help of their family, spouses and the church. Curiously, some of them opt for withdrawal from social events as a coping mechanism. Infertility exerts an enormous negative psycho-social impact on affected couples, especially women. The family and society serve as the main sources of stressors for infertile couples. Therefore, programmes that are aimed at fertility treatment should deliberately consider addressing the psychosocial burden of infertility through education targeting actors, especially interpersonal-level actors.</div
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