'We are always desperate and will try anything to conceive': The convoluted and dynamic process of health seeking among women with infertility in the West Coast Region of The Gambia
Dublin Core
Title
'We are always desperate and will try anything to conceive': The convoluted and dynamic process of health seeking among women with infertility in the West Coast Region of The Gambia
Author
Dierickx, Susan
Balen, Julia
Longman, Chia
Rahbari, Ladan
Clarke, Ed
Bintou, Jarju
Coene, Gily
Balen, Julia
Longman, Chia
Rahbari, Ladan
Clarke, Ed
Bintou, Jarju
Coene, Gily
Language
English
Publication Date
20190131
Abstract
Introduction: In many Sub-Saharan African countries, women with infertility search relentlessly for treatment. Guided by the Partners for Applied Social Sciences model for health seeking behaviour and access to care research, this study aims to understand the health seeking behaviour of women with infertility in the West Coast region of The Gambia and the influence of aetiological beliefs on health seeking paths.
Methodology: A qualitative approach was used to generate both primary and secondary data for thematic analysis. The data collection methods included in-depth interviews (36), observations (18), informal conversations (42), group discussion (7) and made use of pile-sorting exercises. Sources of secondary data included government and non-governmental reports and media outputs.
Results: The health seeking approaches of women living in both rural and urban areas were extremely complex and dynamic, with women reporting that they looked for biomedical treatment as well as seeking indigenous treatment provided by local healers, sacred places and kanyaleng groups. While treatment choice was related to the perceived aetiology of infertility, it was also strongly influenced by the perceived effectiveness of the treatment available and the duration of the fertility problems. Other relevant factors were the affordability, accessibility and availability of treatment and respondents' family and social networks, whereby access to the biomedical health sector was strongly influenced by people's socio-economic background.
Conclusion: On the basis of this analysis and our wider research in the area, we see a need for health authorities to further invest in providing information and counselling on issues related to infertility prevention and treatment. The availability of locally applicable guidelines for the management of infertility for both men and women at all levels of the health system would facilitate such work. In addition, the public sphere should provide more space for alternative forms of social identity for both men and women.
Methodology: A qualitative approach was used to generate both primary and secondary data for thematic analysis. The data collection methods included in-depth interviews (36), observations (18), informal conversations (42), group discussion (7) and made use of pile-sorting exercises. Sources of secondary data included government and non-governmental reports and media outputs.
Results: The health seeking approaches of women living in both rural and urban areas were extremely complex and dynamic, with women reporting that they looked for biomedical treatment as well as seeking indigenous treatment provided by local healers, sacred places and kanyaleng groups. While treatment choice was related to the perceived aetiology of infertility, it was also strongly influenced by the perceived effectiveness of the treatment available and the duration of the fertility problems. Other relevant factors were the affordability, accessibility and availability of treatment and respondents' family and social networks, whereby access to the biomedical health sector was strongly influenced by people's socio-economic background.
Conclusion: On the basis of this analysis and our wider research in the area, we see a need for health authorities to further invest in providing information and counselling on issues related to infertility prevention and treatment. The availability of locally applicable guidelines for the management of infertility for both men and women at all levels of the health system would facilitate such work. In addition, the public sphere should provide more space for alternative forms of social identity for both men and women.
Primary Classification
14.1
Secondary Classification
14.1; 9.1
Primary keywords
health care delivery [pri]; infertility [pri]; reproductive health services [pri]; women's health [pri]
Secondary keywords
culture; data collection; decision making; epidemiology; health services accessibility; health services research; interviews; Muslims; religious ethics; rural population; socioeconomic factors; spiritual therapies; stigmatization; traditional medicine
Subject
Mandinka [pri]; The Gambia [pri]
Subject
buluntoo; fibroids; kuntofengo; seketoo
Subject
medical pluralism
Journal Article
PLoS One 2019 January 31; 14 (1), e0211634: 20 p
Link for Internet access
Note
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Primary Document Type
j
Subject Captions
e
Bibliography
110 refs.
ISSN
19326203 (online)
Collection
Citation
“'We are always desperate and will try anything to conceive': The convoluted and dynamic process of health seeking among women with infertility in the West Coast Region of The Gambia,” Islamic Medical & Scientific Ethics, accessed January 16, 2025, https://imse.ibp.georgetown.domains/items/show/38072.