Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco

IntroductionInfertility has significant implications on health. It affects physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. In Morocco, about 12% of couples or live with infertility. In 2013 the first public Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Center was established at the Maternity and Reproductive He...

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Main Authors: Amal Benbella, Gitau Mburu, Asmaa Zaidouni, Sanae Elomrani, Abdelhakim Yahyane, Karima Gholbzouri, James Kiarie, Rachid Bezad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Reproductive Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2024.1513243/full
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author Amal Benbella
Amal Benbella
Gitau Mburu
Asmaa Zaidouni
Sanae Elomrani
Abdelhakim Yahyane
Karima Gholbzouri
James Kiarie
Rachid Bezad
Rachid Bezad
author_facet Amal Benbella
Amal Benbella
Gitau Mburu
Asmaa Zaidouni
Sanae Elomrani
Abdelhakim Yahyane
Karima Gholbzouri
James Kiarie
Rachid Bezad
Rachid Bezad
author_sort Amal Benbella
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionInfertility has significant implications on health. It affects physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. In Morocco, about 12% of couples or live with infertility. In 2013 the first public Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Center was established at the Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital les Orangers in Rabat, Morocco. This qualitative study explores the experiences of infertility among couples who have benefited from diagnosis and treatment at ART center. The study represents a part of the overall evaluation of this first public ART centre in Morrocco.MethodsData were collected through in-depth patient interviews. A semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit the perspectives and experiences couples with infertility. Data collection occurred between January and March 2023. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to explore the experiences of infertility among the couples.ResultsThe study showed that couples with infertility were exposed to negative experiences such as (i) biomedical experiences (diagnostic delays, fragmented care, multiplicity of treatments), (ii) social experiences (gendered social pressures, stigma, discrimination, marital challenges, isolation and disrupted social routines), (iii) mental experiences (anger, anxiety, depression, and mood changes) as well as (iv) financial limitations (out of pocket payments and financial indebtedness). Solutions addressing these challenging experiences were suggested by interviewed couples including continued quality and respectful care to enhance biomedical experiences; public education campaigns to educate the public and destigmatize infertility to improve social experience, inclusion of psychosocial services as part of fertility integrated care to enhance psychological experiences, and enhanced financial protection, and service decentralisation to mitigate negative financial pressures.ConclusionCouples with infertility are exposed to various challenges in the biomedical, social, psychological, and financial domains. A health system strengthening approach is essential to address those challenges, and multiple strategies are needed to improve the experiences of couples with infertility in Morocco. Given interconnectedness between biomedical, social, psychological, and financial divers of experiences, a holistic approach is required to comprehensively improve the experiences of infertile couples and address all the issues faced by couples during their treatment journey.
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spelling doaj-art-4e23410b0b7e47a1afbc9e64b318bceb2025-01-07T06:40:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Reproductive Health2673-31532025-01-01610.3389/frph.2024.15132431513243Experiences of infertility among couples in MoroccoAmal Benbella0Amal Benbella1Gitau Mburu2Asmaa Zaidouni3Sanae Elomrani4Abdelhakim Yahyane5Karima Gholbzouri6James Kiarie7Rachid Bezad8Rachid Bezad9Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital les Orangers of IbnSina University Hospital, Rabat, MoroccoFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoUNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, SwitzerlandAssisted Reproductive Technology Center, Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital les Orangers of IbnSina University Hospital, Rabat, MoroccoDepartment of Biology and Health, University Ibn Toufail, Kenitra, MoroccoPopulation Directorate, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat, MoroccoReproductive Health and Research Unit, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, EgyptUNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, SwitzerlandAssisted Reproductive Technology Center, Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital les Orangers of IbnSina University Hospital, Rabat, MoroccoFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoIntroductionInfertility has significant implications on health. It affects physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. In Morocco, about 12% of couples or live with infertility. In 2013 the first public Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Center was established at the Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital les Orangers in Rabat, Morocco. This qualitative study explores the experiences of infertility among couples who have benefited from diagnosis and treatment at ART center. The study represents a part of the overall evaluation of this first public ART centre in Morrocco.MethodsData were collected through in-depth patient interviews. A semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit the perspectives and experiences couples with infertility. Data collection occurred between January and March 2023. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to explore the experiences of infertility among the couples.ResultsThe study showed that couples with infertility were exposed to negative experiences such as (i) biomedical experiences (diagnostic delays, fragmented care, multiplicity of treatments), (ii) social experiences (gendered social pressures, stigma, discrimination, marital challenges, isolation and disrupted social routines), (iii) mental experiences (anger, anxiety, depression, and mood changes) as well as (iv) financial limitations (out of pocket payments and financial indebtedness). Solutions addressing these challenging experiences were suggested by interviewed couples including continued quality and respectful care to enhance biomedical experiences; public education campaigns to educate the public and destigmatize infertility to improve social experience, inclusion of psychosocial services as part of fertility integrated care to enhance psychological experiences, and enhanced financial protection, and service decentralisation to mitigate negative financial pressures.ConclusionCouples with infertility are exposed to various challenges in the biomedical, social, psychological, and financial domains. A health system strengthening approach is essential to address those challenges, and multiple strategies are needed to improve the experiences of couples with infertility in Morocco. Given interconnectedness between biomedical, social, psychological, and financial divers of experiences, a holistic approach is required to comprehensively improve the experiences of infertile couples and address all the issues faced by couples during their treatment journey.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2024.1513243/fullinfertilityqualitativeexperiencesMoroccoLMICsfertility care
spellingShingle Amal Benbella
Amal Benbella
Gitau Mburu
Asmaa Zaidouni
Sanae Elomrani
Abdelhakim Yahyane
Karima Gholbzouri
James Kiarie
Rachid Bezad
Rachid Bezad
Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
infertility
qualitative
experiences
Morocco
LMICs
fertility care
title Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
title_full Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
title_fullStr Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
title_full_unstemmed Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
title_short Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
title_sort experiences of infertility among couples in morocco
topic infertility
qualitative
experiences
Morocco
LMICs
fertility care
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2024.1513243/full
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