Addressing reproductive health knowledge, infertility and coping strategies among rural women in India

Abstract

An awareness of fertility and the factors affecting it is crucial to dealing with infertility, though little research has been conducted in the context of rural India. This study assessed Indian women’s perceived causes of, and strategies for coping with, infertility and the associations with levels of reproductive health knowledge in rural areas. Primary data were collected through mapping and listing in high infertility prevalence districts of West Bengal in 2014–15. A total of 159 women aged 20–49 years who had ever experienced infertility were interviewed. A Reproductive Health Knowledge Index (RHKI) was computed to indicate respondent’s level of reproductive health knowledge, and to show its association with perceived causes of infertility and coping with infertility. The highest mean RHKI score was observed among women in the lowest age group (RHKI=5.75, p<0.001), those with a higher level of education (RHKI=9.39, p<0.001) and those who had exposure to any media (RHKI=5.88, p<0.001). Women with a poor wealth index (RHKI=2.11, p<0.01) and those from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities (RHKI=4.20, p<0.05) had lower RHKI scores than richer women and those from General Caste communities. Women with a higher RHKI score were more likely to give biology (98.0%, p<0.001), old age (94.1%, p<0.01) and repeated abortions/accident/injury (92.2%, p<0.001) as reasons for infertility, whereas women with a low RHKI were more likely to give religious (73.2%, p<0.001) and old-age-related causes (75.0%, p<0.01) of infertility. Women with a high RHKI score were more likely to opt for modern allopathic treatments (RHKI=7.04, p<0.001), whereas those with a low RHKI score were more likely to seek treatment from religious and superstitious practitioners, use home remedies or receive no treatment at all (RHKI=1.66, p<0.001). Appropriate reproductive health knowledge is crucial if rural Indian women are to correctly assess their infertility problems and choose effective coping strategies.

An exploration of treatment seeking behavior of women experienced infertility and need for services in rural India

“…A higher proportion of the respondents want their treatment free of cost ( 32 ). Further, wide disparities exist in the availability, quality, and delivery of infertility services between the developed and developing nations, as well as between the two regions of the same country ( 33 ).…”

“…30,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40], and >40 years); age at marriage (<18 and =>18 years); >20 years); age gap between husband and wife (1-3, 4-6, 7-9, >9 years); level of education (illiterate, 1-4 years/primary, 5-8 years/middle or upper primary and 9-10 years/secondary and higher secondary, >12 years/graduate and above); husband's level of education (as for the respondents); respondent's media exposure (not exposed and exposed, i.e., whether she had received any information on fertility and treatment-related issues from any kind of media); respondent's work status (never worked and ever worked); religion (Hindu and Muslim); caste (Scheduled caste/SC, Scheduled tribe/ST and Other Backward Caste/ OBC and General/open); monthly income (<=5,000, 6,000-10,000, 11,000-15,000, >15,000 rupees); type of treatment women received (allopathic, AYUSH, traditional/home remedies/religious remedies; type of village women belong to (village with PHC, village with SC, village with no government health facility).…”

Fertility Awareness and Perceptions among Procreant Age Group in Western India

“…[ 5 17 30 31 32 33 34 ] Only three studies conducted in rural India revealed results lesser than 20%. [ 6 12 35 ]…”

Insights into Modifiable Risk Factors of Infertility: A Mendelian Randomization Study

“…Studies by The World Health Organization indicate that the current prevalence of infertility is about 9% [ 1 ]. Some scholars believe that the prevalence of infertility is an “iceberg phenomenon” and that most couples suffering from infertility are still undiagnosed [ 2 ]. Infertility not only causes greater psychological and social pressure on the couple, but also has an impact on the stability of society [ 3 ].…”