Authors: Gabrielle Laure Mengne, Pascale Mpono Emenguele, Fidelia Mbi Kobenge, Etienne Belinga, Jean Marie Kasia, Thomas Obinchemti Egbe.
Introduction: Infertility is a public health problem that has severe psychosocial repercussions on affected persons though it is not a life-threatening condition. The psychosocial consequences of infertility include depression, anxiety, problems with sexual relations, marital issues, violence, a decline in self-confidence, jealousy, and a poor quality of life. In Cameroon, little is known about the effects of infertility on women’s mental health and social lives.
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial effects of infertility among infertile women attending the outpatient consultation unit of the Hospital Center for Research in Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproduction (CHRACERH) Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive hospital-based cross-sectional study with a quantitative data collection method from the 14th of March to the 6th of April 2023 at the outpatient consultation unit of CHRACERH Yaoundé. Sociodemographic, psychological status using the GHQ-28, and social effects of infertility data were collected with a pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, thematic analysis and Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis using the SPSS software. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Results: The mean age of participants was 39.52±7.64 years, the mean duration of infertility was 10.27±7.9 years and secondary infertility was higher 53.2%. The prevalence of psychological disorder was 40%. The overall mental score was 23.2±11.85, highest subscale score was anxiety 7.92±5.39 (14.7%) and the lowest was depression 2.74±3.77 (1.6%). The social effects identified include 1) Mood changes; frustration (35.8%), joy impaired (55.8%) and envious of pregnant woman (97.9%). 2) Relationship changes; Sexual life is conditioned by need for a child (33.2%), problems with partner (29.5%), fear of divorce (36.8%), husband having children out of marriage (51.1%); 3) Stigma; sense of guilt (74.2%), and suicidal ideation (5.3%).
Conclusion: Most of the study participants were in the late thirties. Anxiety was the predominant symptom and depression was the least. Over one-third participants feared losing their partner.
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