Correlations between Gender and Knowledge on Definition Causes, and acts of stigmatization towards Infertility in Ghana: A Prospective Cross-sectional Study at Ho Municipality in Volta Region of Ghana.

Abstract

Background: The inability to achieve pregnancy within one year of unprotected intercourse attracts stigmatisation and emotional challenges for couples. This study sought to study the correlations between sociodemographic, sex factors, and knowledge of infertility in Ghana. Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional survey, designed to determine sociodemographic and gender factors associated with knowledge about infertility in Ho Municipality in Volta Region of Ghana in 2021. 1, 821 participants were recruited using simple randomization and nonprobability sampling techniques. Inferential and regression statistics were used to determine host-gender trends and predictors of poor to excellent knowledge on definition, causes, and acts of stigmatisation towards infertility among study participants. Results of 1,821 participants, a proportion of 32%, 49% and 50% expressed ‘good to excellent’ knowledge on ‘definition’, ‘causes’ and ‘acts of stigmatisation’ toward infertility, respectively. However, a higher proportion of 68.4%, 51% and 50.4% of participants expressed ‘poor’ knowledge of ‘definition’, ‘causes’ and ‘acts of stigmatization’ toward infertility. Conclusion: Significant intra-variations between expression of ‘poor’ and ‘good to excellent’ knowledge on infertility among participants were observed. Furthermore, the predictable expression of poor knowledge among female participants depicts that inequality exists between sexes in accessing public health education on ‘definition’, ‘causes’ and acts of stigmatisation towards infertility. These findings have national policy and programmatic implications on national health strategies on infertility toward the 2030 deadline for Sustainable Development Goals 3, 10, and 15.