Self-reported fertility impairments and help-seeking strategies among young women in Malawi

Abstract

This paper analyses wave 4 the Tsogolo la Thanzi survey of n = 1349 Malawian women aged 16-26 to explore the prevalence and predictors of self-reported fertility impairments (difficulties conceiving and/or difficulties carrying a pregnancy to term) and help-seeking strategies. Using descriptive statistics, logistic regression models, and graphic displays, the correlates of self-reporting an impairment and patterns of help-seeking strategies are examined. Nearly 13% (n = 117) of those who had ever tried to conceive reported experiencing a fertility impairment. Age was positively associated with reporting an impairment, while there was a negative association with education and with parity. Of women who reported an impairment, 85.5% sought help. Visiting a hospital or clinic was the most common response, followed closely by going to a traditional healer. Around one-quarter employed multiple help-seeking strategies, highlighting the need for various help-seeking behaviours to be viewed in tandem rather than in isolation.

Fertility status and associated factors among the reproductive age group in Ethiopia: Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2019

“…The no toilet facility higher odds of fertility status when compared to the pit latrine toilet facility. The nding was supported by a similar study conducted in Malawi and India [34,35]. This could explain by inadequate water and toilet facilities during fertility status and childbirth are likely to lead to poor household and offspring outcomes [36].…”

Parental occupations at birth and risk of adult testicular germ cell tumors in offspring: a French nationwide case–control study

“…To limit recall and social desirability bias, cases and controls, as well as the subjects’ mothers, were given a document to prepare for the telephone interview regarding their professional and residential history and were invited to bring their health records to the interview. Yet, we cannot exclude that social desirability bias may apply to responses to items such as fertility, medical history, smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance use, which constitutes a limitation in the present study ( 79–82 ). Pre- and perinatal factors of participants and the socio-economic status of mothers at birth were similar between the groups of subjects with interviewed and non-interviewed mothers ( 48 ).…”

Difficulties Experienced by Turkish Infertile Couples and Coping Strategies

“…The results of this study, which was conducted to determine the difficulties experienced by infertile Turkish women reported taking steps towards adoption [23,25]. Altıntop and Kesgin (2018) reported that the number of couples who want to adopt and become a foster family is low [16].…”

“…In this study, it was determined that 28.2% of the couples thought of using traditional treatment options, 3.1% thought of benefiting from donor germ cells and 20.7% thought of adoption (Table 3). Couples with infertility problems have a number of options, such as accepting childlessness, becoming a foster parent, adopting and using traditional and complementaryalternative methods [23]. In the literature, it has been revealed that the majority of couples do not consider an alternative method other than medical treatment, and 56% of them consider seeking medical help [16,17].…”