Psychosocial Experiences of Men With Infertility in the Tamale Metropolis

Abstract

Infertility is a public health concern and a life-threatening situation to men who experiences it. These men experience numerous psychosocial crisis in their daily lives. The literature on infertility was concentrated on women without considering men within the realm of reproduction. There is inadequate knowledge of the experiences of men with infertility in the Northern part of Ghana. This study, therefore, explored the psychosocial experiences of men with infertility. The study adopted a qualitative exploratory descriptive design with the biopsychosocial model as a guide to the study. Using a semi-structured interviewed guide, data were collected via a face-to-face in-depth interview with fourteen purposively selected men with self-reported infertility at the Natural Solution Herbal clinic. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. After thematic content analysis of the transcribed data, nine (9) major themes and thirty-three (33) sub-themes emerged. The findings from the study demonstrated that men with infertility experience numerous psychosocial problems; attribute the cause of their infertility to God and the work of supernatural forces; and financial constraints when seeking infertility treatment. These men need clinical psychologist /professionally trained counsellors in the various fertility clinics and hospitals to address the needs of these men. These men experiencing infertility desire assistance in seeking infertility treatment. Therefore, there is a need for policymakers to have an insurance package for these men to cope with their infertility. The findings of this study have implications for nursing practice, nursing research and policy formation.