Assisted Reproduction Technology: Perceptions among infertile couples in Ilorin, Nigeria.
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Date
2017
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Publisher
A taif University Saudi
Abstract
Background: Infertility is a global health problem and a socially destabilizing condition for
couples carrying several stigmas and a cause of marital disharmony. Assisted reproduction
technologies (ARTs) offers a chance at parenthood to couples, who until recently would
have had no hope of having a “biologically related” child. Aims and Objectives: This study
aimed to determine the awareness and perception of ART services among infertile couples
at a public health facility in Ilorin, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a cross‑sectional
descriptive study of consecutively consenting infertile couples seen at the ART unit of the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin,
between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2015. Results: The patients aged 22–52 years
with a mean age of 36.1 ± 6.6 years and mean duration of infertility of 7.3 ± 5.8 years.
Most (60.8%) belonged to middle social class. Of the 559 infertile couples interviewed,
87.3% were aware of ART services. Less than half (48.8%) were aware of surrogacy while
majority (85.7%) rejected the use of surrogate mother. Reasons to decline surrogacy were
desire to carry one’s own child (51.7%) and “do not like the idea” (22.3%). Female partner
age, duration of infertility, and religion had a significant influence on acceptance of donor
egg (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the high level of awareness of ART, its low utilization
remains a gap in the delivery of these services. Government and nongovernmental agencies
need to institute interventions to stem the trend.
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Keywords
awareness, gamete donation, Nigeria, surrogacy