A Cross Sectional study of Psychosocial aspects of Infertile Women who are attending in the OPD

AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To examine the psychosocial wellbeing of infertility women who are attending in OPD. 2. To find the association between social support and stress or depression in infertile women. METHODOLOGY: A Qualitative approach using a cross sectional descriptive correlation design was used to examine the psychosocial wellbeing in infertile women. Semi structural questionnaire prepared by the investigator RESULTS: The study was done in the participants who are inability to conceive even after two years of unprotected sex. 300 participants were recruited during the study period based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age of the study participants is 28.8±4.11. The minimum age of the study participants is 21 years of age and the maximum age is 40 years of age. Majority of the study participants falls in 132 (44%) in 26-30 years of age group followed by 31-35 years of age. Almost 210 (70%) of the study participants lives in nuclear family 222 (74%) have primary infertility whereas 78 (26%) have secondary infertility. Most of the participants 168 (56%) attained their menarche at 13-15 years of age 180 (60%) of the study participants have a irregular menstrual cycle. Majority 141 (47%) of the study participants have completed their secondary education. Almost 122 (40.7%) belongs to class III Socioeconomic status. Most (67%) of the study participants have their infertility for 3-5 years. The mean score of social concern in our scale is 20.84±6.78. The sexual concern mean score is 17.09 ± 1.39. The mean score of the relationship concern is 16.20 ± 1.91. The rejection of child free mean score is 15.81 ± .994. The need for parenthood mean score is 18.90 ± .943. The overall mean score is 93.88 ±6.53. Association is found between mean scores of the study population and variables like age, type of family, Type of infertility, Education status, Duration of infertility and socioeconomic status. There difference is found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: To conclude, it can be stated that infertility is a life crisis that brings with itself a number of psychological problems. Taking preventive measures upon calculating psychological problems that could affect treatment success is a critical issue to observe in providing healthcare services. During the infertility treatment process, to have some awareness on the psychological problems experienced by individuals not only helps in the adaptation of infertile individuals to infertility diagnosis and treatment procedure, but it could also lower the intensity of reactions against infertility. ❖ It is thus strongly suggested that analysis of infertile couples or individuals within the context of psychological indicators and findings should be integral to an entire infertility treatment protocol