Common sense understanding of infertility among Ghanaian women with infertility

The purpose of this study was to describe women’s beliefs about infertility and the socio-demographic and infertility-related health correlates of those beliefs. The study was a descriptive cross sectional survey. Women (N = 203) who were receiving treatment for infertility at two public hospitals in Ghana completed the Fertility Belief Questionnaire (FBQ) and questions about their socio-demographic and infertility-related health status.Confirmatory factor analyses of the FBQ and correlations among beliefs and socio-demographics and infertility-related health variables were examined. Six dimensions of beliefs were described: timeline chronic/acute, consequences, illness coherence, personal control, treatment control, andcause. Over 80% of the women believed that infertility is an acute problem. The majority agreed that there are negative consequences of infertility. Over 70% agreed that they had poor understanding of their infertility but believed that there was something they could personally or medically do to control their infertility (87%). Women with higher levels of education were more likely to report they understood their infertility and had personal control over their infertility. Women who were married for fewer years were significantly more likely to report negative consequences of infertility, that they had a poor understanding of their infertility and were less likely to endorse stress and supernatural causes of infertility. Womenwith infertility in Ghana have beliefs about infertility that may influence their health behaviors. There is a need to explore these beliefs and their influence on the health outcomes of women with infertility in Ghana.