‘Half a woman, half a man; that is how they make me feel’: a qualitative study of rural Jordanian women’s experience of infertility

Abstract

Infertility is a health problem encompassing physical, psychological and social consequences that may threaten women's quality of life. Few studies have been conducted in Jordan examining rural women's experiences of infertility. This study aimed to explore responses to infertility and its consequences in the Jordanian rural sociocultural context. Using a descriptive qualitative design, data were collected between April and September 2016 from a fertility clinic in a military hospital in Northern Jordan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 purposively selected Jordanian women. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealing women's responses to infertility included: submission and docility, self-isolation, internalisation and persistence in getting pregnant by seeking modern and traditional methods of treatment. The impact of infertility complicated women's everyday living through their experiences of violence, kinship and patriarchal interference, stigma, negative perceptions of the infertile woman, and other's surveillance of their sexuality. Women living in rural areas of Jordan have negative experiences of infertility that are ingrained in sociocultural beliefs about fertility and reproduction. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to raise public awareness about infertility's adverse consequences and to help families by enhancing positive responses to infertility.

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“…The stress and anxiety in women with infertility arises from issues such as missing out on the experience of motherhood, negative self-concept, and inability to continue the family line. Moreover, societal pressures are responsible for the extensive psychological consequences in women with infertility (16). In many cultures, infertility is perceived as something to be ashamed of (17).…”

Young women’s opinions on the use of a blood test to predict the possibility of premature ovarian failure: a qualitative study

“…Prevalence rates range from 3.5 to 16.7% in more developed countries and from 6.9 to 9.3% in less developed countries (Boivin, Bunting, Collins, & Nygren, 2007). Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse (Daibes, Safadi, Athamneh, Anees, & Constantino, 2017). Infertility is a known health problem that influences the quality of life through physical, psychological and social effects (Daibes et al, 2017).…”

“…Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse (Daibes, Safadi, Athamneh, Anees, & Constantino, 2017). Infertility is a known health problem that influences the quality of life through physical, psychological and social effects (Daibes et al, 2017).…”

Iranian infertile couples' strategies to manage social interactions after unsuccessful treatment with assisted reproductive technologies

“…Infertility is a worldwide problem of reproductive health that has physical, mental and social consequences (Daibes, Safadi, Athamneh, Anees, & Constantino, 2018), and affects all aspects of the lives of individuals and their family and social relationships (Yazdani et al, 2017). Data shows that at least 50 million couples deal with infertility worldwide (Hodin, 2017).…”