Quality of life of Sudanese patients attending a fertility clinic: a mixed methods study.

FertiQoL Infertility Sudan mixed methods quality of life

Journal

Health psychology and behavioral medicine
ISSN: 2164-2850
Titre abrégé: Health Psychol Behav Med
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101624393

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2021
Historique:
entrez: 9 12 2021
pubmed: 10 12 2021
medline: 10 12 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Infertility affects over 50 million people globally, the burden is disproportionately borne by women, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The impact of infertility on quality of life (QoL) has not been well documented or assessed qualitatively in LMIC like Sudan, where infertility is a pervasive problem. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-methods study was to assess the fertility-related QoL of infertile individuals in Sudan using the fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) tool. We used explanatory sequential design (surveys and interviews) in a fertility clinic in Sudan (January 2017-May 2018). We collected socio-demographic information, medical/reproductive history and used Arabic FertiQoL. We generated descriptive statistics of FertiQoL (core, domain) scores and independent variables; multiple linear regression models to assess the relationship between FertiQoL and dependent variables; and The study included 102 participants (72 women), 70 educated beyond secondary school, mean age 33.89 years (SD = 7.82) and mean duration of infertility was 4.03 years (SD 3.29). Mean FertiQoL core score 76.02 (SD = 16.26), domain scores: emotional 71.61 (SD = 22.04), relational 78.06 (SD = 16.62), mind/body 74.06 (SD 22.53) and social 78.88 (SD = 18.24). Men had better fertility-related QoL. A sense of something missing because of childlessness; social pressure from peoples' questions; impact on the spousal relationship (which differed amongst participants) and coping (faith-based and non-faith-based) which was necessary when the lived experience led to internal distress. Infertility negatively impacted the QoL of participants in this study, and women were worse off. Cognitive appraisal, social support and pressure may be key factors influencing the QoL of infertile individuals, therefore they should be encouraged to seek social and professional support. FertiQoL is a useful tool to assess fertility QoL in LMIC like Sudan.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Infertility affects over 50 million people globally, the burden is disproportionately borne by women, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). The impact of infertility on quality of life (QoL) has not been well documented or assessed qualitatively in LMIC like Sudan, where infertility is a pervasive problem. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-methods study was to assess the fertility-related QoL of infertile individuals in Sudan using the fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) tool.
METHODS METHODS
We used explanatory sequential design (surveys and interviews) in a fertility clinic in Sudan (January 2017-May 2018). We collected socio-demographic information, medical/reproductive history and used Arabic FertiQoL. We generated descriptive statistics of FertiQoL (core, domain) scores and independent variables; multiple linear regression models to assess the relationship between FertiQoL and dependent variables; and
RESULTS RESULTS
The study included 102 participants (72 women), 70 educated beyond secondary school, mean age 33.89 years (SD = 7.82) and mean duration of infertility was 4.03 years (SD 3.29). Mean FertiQoL core score 76.02 (SD = 16.26), domain scores: emotional 71.61 (SD = 22.04), relational 78.06 (SD = 16.62), mind/body 74.06 (SD 22.53) and social 78.88 (SD = 18.24). Men had better fertility-related QoL.
FOUR THEMES EMERGED UNASSIGNED
A sense of something missing because of childlessness; social pressure from peoples' questions; impact on the spousal relationship (which differed amongst participants) and coping (faith-based and non-faith-based) which was necessary when the lived experience led to internal distress.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Infertility negatively impacted the QoL of participants in this study, and women were worse off. Cognitive appraisal, social support and pressure may be key factors influencing the QoL of infertile individuals, therefore they should be encouraged to seek social and professional support. FertiQoL is a useful tool to assess fertility QoL in LMIC like Sudan.

Identifiants

DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2021.2007773 PMID: 34881115 PMC: PMC8648023
pubmed: 34881115
doi: 10.1080/21642850.2021.2007773
pii: 2007773
pmc: PMC8648023
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

1006-1030

Informations de copyright

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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Auteurs

Rasha R Bayoumi (RR)

School of Psychology, University of Birmingham Dubai, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai, UAE.
ORCID: 0000-0001-6115-1820

Emily Koert (E)

Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Jacky Boivin (J)

Cardiff Fertility Studies Research Group, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

Kasisomayajula Viswanath (K)

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.

Margaret McConnell (M)

Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.

Classifications MeSH