A survey on depression among infertile women in Ghana

Abstract

BackgroundThe desire of many young women to become parents may be influenced by the premium placed on children by society. In Africa, children are highly valued for social, cultural and economic reasons. Infertile and childless women in Africa are therefore confronted with a series of societal discrimination and stigmatization which may lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Even though some research has been done on the prevalence of infertility in Ghana, very little is known about the psychological impact of childlessness among infertile women. The present study aimed to examine prevalence and severity of depression in relation to age, type of infertility and duration of infertility in Ghanaian infertile women.MethodsA total of 100 infertile women who met the selection criteria and had agreed to participate in the study were interviewed using the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire from December 2012 to April 2013 at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale/Ghana. Data concerning socio-demographic characteristics such as age, monthly income, duration of infertility, marital status, educational level, number of previous conception, number of previous children, religion, as well as occupation of the respondents were recorded.ResultsThe prevalence of depression among the women was 62.0% with the level of depression showing a significant positive correlation with age of the women and the duration of infertility. The level of depression was significantly higher among subjects with low or no formal education and among the unemployed. Women with primary infertility also presented with high depression scores as measured by BDI.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the prevalence of depression among the infertile women is high, especially among infertile women age 26 and above, those who are less educated, those with primary infertility, as well as those who have been diagnosed as infertile for more than 3 years. Interventions to decrease and prevent the development of severe depression among these patients should be considered.

Emotional problems of Infertile Egyptian women

“…Infertile and childless women in Africa are therefore confronted with a series of societal discrimination and stigmatization which may lead to emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. [22] The study reveals that 73% of the study infertile women were childless; this is consistent with Dyer et al [23] who stated that, the stigma of childlessness is so great that infertile women are socially isolated and neglected. Also, Alhassan et al [22] stated that infertile women are often excluded from social occasion and ceremonies or may even be deprived and perceived as inauspicious.…”

“…[22] The study reveals that 73% of the study infertile women were childless; this is consistent with Dyer et al [23] who stated that, the stigma of childlessness is so great that infertile women are socially isolated and neglected. Also, Alhassan et al [22] stated that infertile women are often excluded from social occasion and ceremonies or may even be deprived and perceived as inauspicious. Available evidence suggests that the social and psychological complications of infertility are particularly profound for African women as compared to men as reported by Arthur et al [24] This is well observed in this study where 52% of the infertile group required medical advice within the first two years of their marriage; this reflects the importance of having children among Egyptian females.…”

“…This was similar to other studies done in the same field that depression is more common in person experienced feeling of loss and observing the aging process in one self. This result is supported by Alhassan et al [22] who stated that the prevalence of depression among the infertile women is high, especially among infertile women aged 25 and above, those who are primary educated, those with not conceive before, as well as those who have been diagnosed as infertile for more than 3 years.…”

“…The majority of the women who had secondary infertility had depression followed by anxiety then psycho-somatic. This result is in contradiction with Alhassan et al [22] who declared that the type of infertility presented by the women and previous conception both had significant effect on the level of depression, with women presenting with primary infertility tending to be more depressed. We added that in primary infertility the woman has not been able to have a live birth putting into question her womanhood.…”

“…This is positive as in such age the response to treatment is more favorable. As Alhassan, et al [22] who reported that, A woman's best reproductive years are in her 20s. Fertility gradually decrease in the 30s, especially after age 35.…”