Socio-Cultural Determinants of Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) uptake among Infertile Couples Visiting Fertility Clinics in FCT, Abuja

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility is defined as the failure of a couple to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse, and it is ranked the 5th highest global disease.Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is one of the safest healthcare options for infertility, which offers a chance at parenthood to infertile couples.Nigeria is the largest and most populous African country with three major tribes, namely, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa.Scanty information about the socio-cultural effects of ART uptake on infertile couples prompted this study.Methods: Two hundred and twenty-seven (227) consented participants attending infertility clinics in Abuja, Nigeria, aged 18-49 years for females and 18 years and above for males, obtained by simple random sampling, were used for the study.Prior ethical approval has been sought and obtained from the hospital management of the two private and two public hospitals.A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire was given to the participants to complete for the study that lasted three months.Data were obtained and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 23.0.Results: Greater percentage of the respondents were educated, and enlightened about ART, most Protestants Christian accept the uptake of ART, Invitro Fertilization (IVF) is the most embraced of all ART types and ART uptake also varies along tribal line in our study with the Igbo tribe having a higher percentage of uptake.Conclusions: From this study, it can be reasonably concluded that socio-cultural components had an influence on the uptake of ART in Abuja, Nigeria.