'We are always desperate and will try anything to conceive': The convoluted and dynamic process of health seeking among women with infertility in the West Coast Region of The Gambia.
Adult
Cultural Characteristics
Female
Fertilization
Gambia
/ epidemiology
Health Behavior
Humans
Infertility, Female
/ epidemiology
Male
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
/ statistics & numerical data
Reproductive Health Services
/ statistics & numerical data
Rural Population
Sexual Partners
/ psychology
Spiritual Therapies
Journal
PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2019
2019
Historique:
received:
27
08
2018
accepted:
17
01
2019
entrez:
1
2
2019
pubmed:
1
2
2019
medline:
13
11
2019
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In many Sub-Saharan African countries, women with infertility search relentlessly for treatment. Guided by the Partners for Applied Social Sciences model for health seeking behaviour and access to care research, this study aims to understand the health seeking behaviour of women with infertility in the West Coast region of The Gambia and the influence of aetiological beliefs on health seeking paths. A qualitative approach was used to generate both primary and secondary data for thematic analysis. The data collection methods included in-depth interviews (36), observations (18), informal conversations (42), group discussion (7) and made use of pile-sorting exercises. Sources of secondary data included government and non-governmental reports and media outputs. The health seeking approaches of women living in both rural and urban areas were extremely complex and dynamic, with women reporting that they looked for biomedical treatment as well as seeking indigenous treatment provided by local healers, sacred places and kanyaleng groups. While treatment choice was related to the perceived aetiology of infertility, it was also strongly influenced by the perceived effectiveness of the treatment available and the duration of the fertility problems. Other relevant factors were the affordability, accessibility and availability of treatment and respondents' family and social networks, whereby access to the biomedical health sector was strongly influenced by people's socio-economic background. On the basis of this analysis and our wider research in the area, we see a need for health authorities to further invest in providing information and counselling on issues related to infertility prevention and treatment. The availability of locally applicable guidelines for the management of infertility for both men and women at all levels of the health system would facilitate such work. In addition, the public sphere should provide more space for alternative forms of social identity for both men and women.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30703136
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211634
pii: PONE-D-18-22483
pmc: PMC6355002
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e0211634Subventions
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MC_EX_MR/R006148/1
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
ID : MC_UP_A900_1115
Pays : United Kingdom
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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