ASSESSMENT OF EXPERIENCES AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG WOMEN WITH INFERTILITY ATTENDING TEACHING HOSPITALS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study determines the assessment of experiences and coping strategies among women with infertility attending teaching hospitals in Ogun State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women attending gynaecological clinics at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) and Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH). From a population of 440 women, 231 respondents were determined using Slovin’s formula and selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-dministered questionnaire with a cronbach’s alpha reliability index score of 0.76–0.82 and analysed with SPSS version 26 using descriptive and Chi-square statistics at a 5% significance level. Ethical approval was obtained from b o t h i n stit u ti o n s. Th e s o c i o – d emo g r a p h i c characteristics of this study shows that majority of the respondents are within the ages of 36 – 40 years (37.7%), having monogamous type of marriage (84.4%) and are Christian by religion (60.2%). Findings reveal that majority are employed (74%), are from Yoruba ethnic group (84%), with tertiary education (53.6%), and has 16 to 20y ears of inf e rtilit y (26.8%), with abortion/miscarriage as their outcome of last pregnancy (32.5%). This study conclude that life experiences of infertility among respondents are loss of identity and depression (71%), stigma (50.2%), social isolation (50.7%), societal pressure like strained relationship with family and friend (71.9%), discrimination (83.9%), lack of support and understanding (51.1%) and high cost of infertility treatment (52.0%). This study noted that coping strategies used among respondents include Seeking emotional support from friends and family (71%), spiritual (faith–based) (71.9%), keeping issues of their fertility to themselves (71.9%), self-care activities like mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion (59.4%), seeking medical treatment (83.9%), formal adoption (83.1%)adopting traditional methods (84.9%), receiving support from spouse and family members (79.3%) and social withdrawal and isolation (82.3%). In

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  • • Name: ADELEYE-AWOSIGA, HANNAH ITUNU
  • • Name: ALUKO, JOEL OJO
• Keywords: Coping Strategies; Women; Infertility; Teaching Hospitals.
• Manuscript: ASSESSMENT-OF-EXPERIENCES-AND-COPING-STRATEGIES