Setting Up and Running a Successful IVF Program in Africa: Prospects and Challenges

Adageba, Rudolph Kantum; Maya, Ernest; Annan, John Jude Kweku; Damalie, Francis J M K

doi:10.1007/s13224-015-0719-4

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Potential strategies for overcoming the barriers addressed in our study range from the global level down to the community level and align with proposed improvements for infertility care in resource-poor settings outlined by Asemota and Klatsky (2015). At the global level, there is an urgent need to improve access, infrastructure, supply chain, and training programs in specialized infertility care (Adageba et al, 2015). Development of low-cost solutions for infertility care, such as the low-cost simplified method of IVF developed by The Walking Egg organization (Gerrits, 2016; Ombelet, 2013) and introduced in Ghana (Gerrits, 2016), is an important step.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Physician Experiences and Perceived Barriers to Providing Quality Infertility Care in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

et al. 2021

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High-quality, patient-centered care is essential to achieving equity and dignity for individuals with infertility, yet few studies have explored quality of infertility care in sub-Saharan Africa. We interviewed 13 non-specialist physicians and 2 medical school faculty to explore experiences in and perceptions of providing infertility care in Greater Accra, Ghana. We used a patient-centered infertility care model to inform our analysis and results. Individualized care and taking time to counsel and emotionally support patients were perceived as the most important things a physician can do to provide quality infertility care. Financial costs and lack of infertility services within a single facility were the most common barriers reported to providing quality infertility care. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to explore quality of infertility care provided by physicians in public sector facilities in Ghana, shedding light on existing barriers and identifying strategies for improvement.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Physician Experiences and Perceived Barriers to Providing Quality Infertility Care in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

et al. 2021

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“…As seen in a recent study in Kenya (2015), having inadequately trained embryologists meant that clinics had no choice but to hire expatriates, which meant that fertility care centers charged higher rates per cycle. In all, a lack of expertise in the field of ART is a major obstacle to setting up and running IVF clinics in Africa [ 25 , 26 ]. To implement and sustain an assisted conception unit soon, the Gambian government needs to seek opportunities to fund specialized training of interested Gambian doctors through collaborations with international universities and institutes in order to acquire skills such as IVF specialist and embryologists.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introducing assisted reproductive technologies in The Gambia, a survey on the perspectives of Gambian healthcare professionals and medical students

Bittaye¹,

Mooney

Afferri

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Infertility remains a global reproductive health burden with the highest prevalence in low and middle-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, the ability to procreate holds great societal importance. Couples, and particularly women, with infertility can face devastating challenges, leading to social stigma, isolation and/or divorce. However, attention to addressing infertility is lacking in sub-Saharan Africa. In The Gambia, where this study is based, little is known about the potential for introduction of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the public health sector. Methods A quantitative survey was conducted using detailed questionnaires on infertility services available, staff knowledge, perceived barriers, and personal motivation to support assisted reproductive technologies. Data was collected electronically between April and June 2021 from healthcare providers (n = 70) in eleven health facilities throughout the country, as well as from medical students (n = 55) enrolled at The University of The Gambia. Results Basic infertility services were found to be lacking in the rural areas. Furthermore, 39% of staff (n = 27) providing fertility care had not receive any formal training on the topic. However, 91% of staff (n = 64) showed interest in acquiring additional knowledge and had a positive attitude towards supporting the introduction of ART. Perceived challenges of doing so included: (i) the competing importance of other health priorities; and (ii) religious and cultural barriers. Conclusion This survey highlights that expansion of infertility services is needed, especially in rural areas. Staff perceived the introduction of ART as important, but this should be coupled with specialized training, as most medical staff had not received any formal infertility training. Future care providers (current medical students) showed both interest in ART and reported having received some basic training in infertility management. Given the reported lack of infrastructure and services, additional targeted investment in infertility care, including ART, will be needed to improve reproductive health for all, countrywide.

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“…Known hindrances to access to ART are lack of knowledge about the existence of ART; ethical, cultural and religious misgivings about ART; and the high cost of ART (12). Power outages, lack of skilled personnel, lack of equipment or service plans for available equipment and unpredictable drug supply chains from overseas countries are other obstacles to ART service provision in Africa (13) For most medical conditions of public health significance, robust health service delivery is usually based on a functional public and academic backbone. In addition to service provision, the public and academic sectors have a critical role in the advancement of research, training of health care professionals, and ogether with health authorities the provision of stewardship and regulation (14,15).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The status of ART in the public health sector in Africa: a multi-country survey

Karaga¹,

Archary²,

Bell³

et al. 2023

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

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Setting Up and Running a Successful IVF Program in Africa: Prospects and Challenges

Cited by 13 publications

References 11 publications

Physician Experiences and Perceived Barriers to Providing Quality Infertility Care in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Physician Experiences and Perceived Barriers to Providing Quality Infertility Care in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Introducing assisted reproductive technologies in The Gambia, a survey on the perspectives of Gambian healthcare professionals and medical students

The status of ART in the public health sector in Africa: a multi-country survey

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