Abstract

Introduction

In most traditional societies in Ghana, infertility is unacceptable and every couple is expected to conceive children by any means. This study explores the sociocultural implications of infertility in Ghana and the challenges couples encounter in accessing assisted reproductive technology.

Methods

The study used a qualitative descriptive design in two health facilities in an urban community in Southern Ghana. The study recruited 20 participants: 16 individuals who had accessed assisted reproductive technology, two nurses and two gynecologists. Participants were purposely selected and data were analyzed thematically.

Results

Culturally, couples who are unable to give birth are considered witches, discriminated against in decision making and are believed to be rejected by the ancestral world when they die. It was found that these sociocultural implications of infertility compelled couples to access assisted reproductive technologies and were faced with social challenges, psychological implications, economic constraints, and medical complications.

Conclusions

Children born through assisted reproductive technologies are not accepted by some sections of the society despite the challenges couples encounter in accessing these technologies. Public sensitization should be intensified in Ghana to accept the use of assisted reproductive technologies to limit stigmatization of couples with fertility problems and children born through assisted reproductive technology. Abbreviations: ART: assisted reproduction technology

中文翻译：

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不孕症的社会文化影响和获得辅助生殖技术的挑战：来自加纳南部两家医疗机构的夫妇的经验

摘要

介绍

在加纳的大多数传统社会中，不孕症是不可接受的，每对夫妇都希望以任何方式怀孕。本研究探讨了加纳不孕症的社会文化影响以及夫妇在获得辅助生殖技术方面遇到的挑战。

方法

该研究在加纳南部一个城市社区的两个卫生设施中使用了定性描述设计。该研究招募了 20 名参与者：16 名使用过辅助生殖技术的人、两名护士和两名妇科医生。参与者是有目的的选择，并按主题分析数据。

结果

在文化上，无法生育的夫妇被视为女巫，在决策中受到歧视，并被认为死后会被祖先世界拒绝。研究发现，不孕症的这些社会文化影响迫使夫妇获得辅助生殖技术，并面临社会挑战、心理影响、经济限制和医疗并发症。

结论

尽管夫妇在使用辅助生殖技术方面遇到了挑战，但社会的某些部分并不接受通过辅助生殖技术出生的孩子。加纳应加强公众意识，接受使用辅助生殖技术来限制对有生育问题的夫妇和通过辅助生殖技术出生的孩子的污名化。缩写： ART：辅助生殖技术