Exploring the lived experiences of infertility treatment and care by involuntarily childless women
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Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
This study explored the lived experiences of fertility treatment and care by South African women with infertility . A total of 21 women from different age and ethnic groups (age range = 26 to 41; whites = 53%, coloured = 47%) were interviewed for the study . The women responded to semi-structured interviews on their lived experiences of fertility treatment and care whilst undergoing treatment . The data were analysed using thematic analysis . Four main themes were identified in the study; including: lack of compassionate care from treatment care providers, the need for infertility clinics to integrate psychosocial support care, a need for continuing education for fertility staff, as well as financial support resourcing . Participants expressed a need for health care staff at fertility clinics to be more attentive to their emotional and psychological needs . In addition, participants perceived a need for psychosocial care as a result of the distressing nature of the treatment process . The women also felt that some health care staff lacked technical knowledge about the fertility treatments and this left them deprived of crucial information . The costly nature of fertility treatment presented as an added burden for participants . Overall, participants seemed to require a more individualised and patient centred form of fertility care.
Description
Keywords
Fertility treatment, South Africa, Infertility care, Health care practitioners, Qualitative
Citation
Pedro, A. & Faroa, B.D. (2017). Exploring the lived experiences of infertility treatment and care by involuntarily childless women. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 27(3): 267-272.