Assisted reproductive technologies in Ghana: transnational undertakings, local practices and ‘more affordable’ IVF

Abstract

The article sketches the origins and development of IVF in Ghana as a highly transnational undertaking. Movements are from and to Africa, involving human beings (providers and users), and also refer to other entities such as technologies, skills and knowledge. None of these movements are paid for using public money, neither are they subsidized by international health organizations. Currently, ‘more affordable’ IVF is being introduced into Ghana, on initiative of the first Association of Childless Couples of Ghana (ACCOG), in collaboration with the Belgium based non-profit organization the Walking Egg (tWE), representing another form of transnational networking. The article underlines the scarcity of well-trained embryologists in Ghana, which turns the embryologists’ expertise and skills into a scarce and precious commodity and guarantees this expertise becomes a major challenge for the directors of the private clinics. Next to local Ghanaian couples, the clinics also attend to transnational reproductive travellers, including women and men from neighbouring countries and Ghanaians in the diaspora returning to their country of origin. Their manifold motivations to cross borders and visit the IVF clinics in Ghana provide insight into the structural conditions impeding or facilitating the use of assisted reproductive technologies at different local sites. Transnational movements also include the flow of new procreation practices (such as surrogacy and the use of donor material), which (re-)shape existing cultural and societal notions regarding kinship and the importance of blood/genetic ties. Finally, the article lists a number of thematic and theoretical issues which require further exploration and studies.

Cross-border reproduction: the reproductive market in Angola and Brazil

“…Among the reasons that would facilitate the search for treatment in Brazil, we can highlight: the ease of speaking the same language, the link and cultural identity with the country, confidence in the ability of Specialized literature has pointed out that there are challenges related to the availability of ART in many countries of the African continent. This is due to structural instability, political and legal systems, scarcity of financial resources and the unavailability of health professionals qualified in ART (Gerrits, 2016;Hörbst, 2016;Hörbst and Gerrits, 2016;Hörbst and Wolf, 2014). Gerrits (2016) focuses on the importance of transnational connections and collaborations of ART providers for establishing clinics in Ghana.…”

“…This is due to structural instability, political and legal systems, scarcity of financial resources and the unavailability of health professionals qualified in ART (Gerrits, 2016;Hörbst, 2016;Hörbst and Gerrits, 2016;Hörbst and Wolf, 2014). Gerrits (2016) focuses on the importance of transnational connections and collaborations of ART providers for establishing clinics in Ghana. Hörbst (2016) explores the establishment of IVF provision in Mali and Uganda, also highlighting the importance of transnational networks, especially with Europe, for success in establishing clinics in these African countries.…”

“…Recent studies in Ghana, Mali and Uganda have examined the main difficulties to establish IVF clinics in these countries (Gerrits, 2016;Hörbst and Gerrits, 2016). These include problems related to existing health infrastructure (equipment production, medicines, etc.…”

Factors Associated With Willingness To Donate Oocytes Among Female Students In A Tertiary Institution

“…The scienti c breakthrough and availability of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in low-income countries offers hope and relief to infertile couples. In Ghana, since the rst IVF baby was born in 1995, a growing number of IVF clinics, mostly private, have emerged offering IVF and other forms of assisted reproduction [10]. In a typical IVF procedure, an infertile female undergoes ovarian hyperstimulation to produce oocytes.…”

“…Sub-fertility increases as the woman ages and becomes signi cant after the age of 35 years, as ovulatory cycles and quality of oocytes decreases leading to diminished ovarian reserve [11]. The growing desire by women to achieve higher career goals and the global trend towards modernization often results in the choice of a single woman or a couple to delay pregnancy until they are in their late 30s or early 40s, often unaware of a risk of decreasing fertility [10].…”