Saudi Journal of Nursing and Health Care (SJNHC)
Volume-4 | Issue-12 | 452-460
Original Research Article
Infertility: Age, And Gender Differences among Infertile Couples Attending Fertility Clinic in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri
Ibebuike Julia E, Ekechukwu Edith Ugochi
Published : Dec. 4, 2021
Abstract
This research study was conducted in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri Imo State, precisely at the fertility clinic of the hospital. The copies of the validated questionnaire were administered by the researcher to the respondents at the area of the study. 67 questionnaires were distributed, completed and all collected back. This resulted to a 100% return rate. The process took 4 days. The collected data was analyzed using a descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages and mean scores as well as cumulative or cluster mean scores. The frequencies and percentages were used on cluster 1and 3 while mean scores and cluster mean scores were used on cluster 2. The data revealed that 58 respondents representing 86.6% responses majorly agreed that infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of regular sexual intercourse whereas the rest 9 respondents, representing 13.4% showed different understandings. Also in item No.2, 38 respondents representing 56.7% responses accepted that hormonal imbalance is the most common cause of infertility in females while the remaining 29 respondents or 43.3% response expressed other views. At the same instant 26 respondents or 38.8% responses expressed undescended testis as the most common cause of infertility in men whereas 61.2% responses collectively maintained that either low sperm count, ejaculatory dysfunction or prostate cancers may be the causes of infertility in men. In item No. 4 a total of 36 respondents or 53.7% responses showed that they have never gotten a child of their won while the rest expressed they have one, two or three children of their own respectively. Furthermore, expressing the number of years of infertility experience, 25 respondents representing 37.3% response said they have had 6 to 7years infertility experience whereas the rest said they have had between 0-2years, 3-5 years, and 8years above, infertility experience. In item 6, a total of 49(or 73.1%) response reveals that they have had miscarriages before but 18(or 9%) said No. From statistics, age and gender have significant relationship as far as infertility is concerned. While infertility is seen to occur more in people of the age cohort 30-35 years, it is observed that women are more vulnerable than men.