Awareness and perception of assisted reproductive technology practice amongst women with infertility in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Involuntary infertility is a tragedy in most African setting. This is due to premium placed on fertility as a result of roles children fulfill in the family and the society. Aetiologic factors of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly infection related and they are mainly associated with poor treatment outcome to conventional non assisted conception technique. Objective: To evaluate the level of awareness and perception of assisted conception treatment among women attending fertility clinic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Results: One hundred and ninety six women attending fertility clinic were interviewed. Mean age was 34.8 years and mean duration of infertility of 4.1 years. Of the 196 infertile women interviewed, 150 (76.5%) have heard of Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment. Sources of information were mainly family relation (46%) and friends (28.7%). Knowledge on some of Assisted Reproductive Technology practices showed that 50.7% were aware that the treatment could fail, 36.8% knew it could be applied for male infertility treatment, 9.3% and 18.7% respectively are aware that donor oocyte and sperm could be used for treatment. Perception on babies conceived from assisted conception treatment revealed that 52% of patients interviewed could not comment if they are normal and natural babies. Majority of patients could not affirm if they will agree to the use of donor gamete or zygote for their treatment. Conclusion: Awareness of assisted conception treatment was high, however knowledge on specifics of treatment was low and perception on some of the practices was unfavorable. Sensitization of the public will help overcome some beliefs that may be at tangent to some practices of assisted conception.

Awareness, Knowledge and Perception of In-Vitro Fertilization among Final-Year Medical Students in South-West Nigeria

“…Most of the respondents who were sexually active 6 months prior to the survey had only one heterosexual partner, though all who had 2-3 heterosexual partners were males and those who had ≥4 were females. A survey of adults aged 20-59 indicated that women have an average of 4 sex partners during their lifetime and men have an average of 7 [10], a record supported by the other study [11]. Reporting multiple sexual partnership is thus more common among males than among females [12].…”

“…Almost equal proportions of the medical students thought that both husband and wife (11,8.7%) on one hand and neither (10,7.9%) on the other hand, were commonly blamed for infertility.…”

Effects of lifestyle factors on fertility: practical recommendations for modification

“…Another major challenge is the wrong perceptions and beliefs among the non-enlightened majority in developing countries particularly in West Africa about infertility and some of the available treatments (Adesiyun et al, 2011;Okwelogu et al, 2012;Omokanye et al, 2017;Okafor et al, 2017;Akande et al, 2019). Some believed that infertility is caused by evil spirits, predestined by God, punishment from God and supernatural challenge.…”

The Perceptions of Childless Women on Surrogacy as an Assisted Reproductive Technique (Art) in Lebowakgomo, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province

“…Infertile couples and the people around them were more aware of the ARTs (Afshani, Abdoli, Hashempour, Baghbeheshti & Zolfaghari, 2016). Another study in Nigeria revealed that 76.5% of infertile women heard about assistive reproductive techniques (Adesuyin, Ameh, Avidime & Muazu, 2011).…”