Quality of Life of Women Liviing with Infertility in the Tamale Metropolis

Abstract

Background: Infertility remains a major reproductive health concern globally and is particularly significant in Ghana, where motherhood is highly valued as a marker of womanhood and social identity. Women living with infertility often face challenges that extend beyond biomedical dimensions, affecting their health, socioeconomic stability, psycho-spiritual well-being, and family relationships. Despite this, limited research has explored the lived experiences of women living with infertility in northern Ghana, particularly within the Tamale Metropolis. Objective: This study explored the quality of life of women living with infertility in the Tamale Metropolis, drawing on the Holistic Quality of Life Model to capture health, social, psychological, spiritual, and family dimensions of their experiences. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was employed. Ten women of reproductive age (18–45 years), diagnosed with infertility for at least one year and attending gynecological clinics at Tamale Teaching Hospital, were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews guided by a semi-structured interview guide developed from the Holistic Quality of Life Model, study objectives, and literature review. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Trustworthiness was enhanced through supervision by experienced qualitative researchers and mentoring by a professor in infertility and women’s health. Findings: Five major themes emerged: (1) health and functioning, including physical health challenges, emotional distress, reduced daily functioning, and negative self-perception; (2) socioeconomic impact, comprising financial burden, career disruption, stigma, cultural pressures, and economic vulnerability; (3) psycho-spiritual impact, with grief, faith-based coping, and reliance on religious and traditional healing; (4) family and social support, highlighting spousal support, extended family responses, pressures, gendered expectations, and social comparison; and (5) coping strategies and recommendations, including personal resilience, peer support, healthcare utilization, community education, and spiritual/alternative therapies. Conclusion: Infertility profoundly affects the holistic quality of life of women in the Tamale Metropolis, with implications beyond physical health to psychological, socio-economic, spiritual, and family domains. Nursing and midwifery practice must adopt culturally sensitive, family centered, and holistic approaches. Education should strengthen infertility-related content, while health policies must address affordability and stigma. Further research is needed to design interventions that enhance the well-being of women living with infertility.