PREVALENCE OF INFERTILITY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG COUPLES IN BUGUMA, ASARI-TORY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
Dr. Ibinabo Fubara Bob-Manuel* and Abel Fortune Charles
ABSTRACT
Introduction: This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of infertility and its associated factors among married couples in Buguma, Asari-toru local government area of Rivers state. Three objectives and research questions each and two hypotheses guided the study. Methodology: The sample size was 422, using a prevalence of 48.1% (Adeyemi et al., 2009), analyzed using SPSS version 20 and presented in tables and graphs. Results: The study was male dominated, 239(56.64%), most of them between 25-34 years and married, 206(48.82%). They were mostly traders, 192(45.50%) or civil servants, 121(28.67%), almost all Christians, 413(97.87%), with 226(53.56%) having tertiary education. Similarly, 144(34.12%) have been married for 6-10 years, 53(12.56%) for over 16 years and mostly have between 1-2 children, 215(50.95%). 138(75.41%) females had been pregnant, of which 63(45.65%) had been pregnant once and 47(34.06%) twice, while 158(66.11%) males have not impregnated a woman before. About half of the respondents, 229 (54.27%) belief age plays crucial role in fertility, while 201(47.63%) strongly agreed and 221(52.37%) agreed that certain occupations can cause infertility. 301(71.33%) strongly agreed infertility can be due to infection, while 227(53.79%) and 195(46.21%) knew infertility can occur in both married and unmarried couples respectively, with 111(26.30%) strongly agreeing and 112(26.54%) agreeing it can be due to satanic attacks. Pursuit of education and career was strongly agreed 183(43.37%) to contribute to delay in child bearing, with age of a woman been agreed and strongly agreed, 79(18.72%) and 331(78.44%) as factor that influence child bearing, while 272(64.46%) agreed that male fertility declines in mid-30s. Generally, the respondents knew about infertility, the causes and factors associated with it. However, they have poor health-seeking attitude and belief, and as such focus on other causes of infertility. Awareness campaigns should be vigorous to ensure that more coverage is done.
Keywords: Infertility, couples, Buguma, childbearing, fertility
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
Impact Factor : 8.181 
