Psychosocial characteristics of female infertility in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria

Objectives: Women with infertility experience higher rates of psychological distress compared with their fertile counterparts. In developing countries, socio-cultural factors may aggravate this distress. We aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress as well as its associated socio-cultural characteristics among women attending the infertility clinic of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Women (n = 100) attending an infertility clinic were consecutively recruited over a twomonth period and compared with a similar number of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the same hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to record socio-demographic and clinical variables. The 30-item General Health Questionnaire was used to screen for psychological distress. Results: The prevalence of probable psychological distress was significantly higher among the infertile group compared with their fertile counterparts (P 0.001). There were significant differences between the groups in terms of their mean age (P 0.01), employment status (P 0.02), educational status (P 0.01), and duration of marriage (P 0.001). Infertile women who had previously sought help from a traditional or faith-based healer for infertility were more likely to experience probable psychological distress (P 0.017). Conclusion: Infertile women are more vulnerable to psychological distress and require psychological support. There is a need to incorporate mental health screening and treatment in the routine care of infertile women in Nigeria.