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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on March 31, 2005
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dei008
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received December 14, 2004
Revised February 24, 2005
Accepted February 28, 2005

Article

Associates of self-reported fertility status and infertility treatment-seeking in a rural district of Malawi

J. Barden-O'Fallon 1*

1 Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#8120, 206 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516, USA


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examines the demographic, fertility preference, health/infection and behavioural factors associated with self-reported fertility problems and infertility treatment-seeking in a rural district of Malawi. METHODS: Data come from a population-based survey of 678 women and 362 men. RESULTS: Having a higher ideal number of children than actual number of children, i.e. a ‘child deficit’, is highly associated with women's reported fertility impairment and treatment-seeking. Other factors associated with women's infertility treatment-seeking are being educated and reporting infertility in self or spouse. In contrast, being in a polygamous union, having exchanged money or goods for sex, and having multiple sex partners are significantly associated with men's reported fertility impairment. Significant factors associated with men's infertility treatment-seeking are having no education, having a long waiting time to pregnancy and having a ‘child deficit’. CONCLUSIONS: There is a sex difference in which factors are associated with reported fertility impairment. Fertility preference variables are more often significantly related to women's reported fertility impairment, whereas sexual behaviours are more often significantly related to men's reported fertility impairment.

Keywords: Africa; fertility impairment; infertility; self-reports; treatment-seeking.

1Most attrition occurred during the first wave of the study, between the first and second weeks: compared to the second week of the first wave of data collection, the response rate at the third wave is 94% for women and 93% for men.


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J. Boivin, L. Bunting, J. A. Collins, and K. G. Nygren
International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment-seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2007; 22(6): 1506 - 1512.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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