Keywords
How to Cite
Share
Abstract
This study examined how societal reactions influence the psychosocial development of women experiencing infertility in Fako Division, Southwest region Cameroon. Using a convergent mixed-method design, quantitative data were collected from 354 community actors and qualitative data from five clinically diagnosed women suffering from infertility. Findings showed predominantly negative societal reactions, with 76.4% of respondents acknowledging stigma and discriminatory behaviours such as blame, mockery, marital instability, and exclusion from family activities. Chi-square tests revealed that age, sex, education, occupation, religion, and marital factors significantly shaped societal attitudes toward women suffering from infertility. Qualitative accounts further highlighted rejection by spouses and in-laws, emotional withdrawal from family members, and pressure to seek spiritual or traditional remedies. Regression analysis demonstrated a strong and significant effect of societal reactions on psychosocial development (R = 0.595, p < 0.001), explaining 86.60% of the variation. Conclusively, the study showed that negative societal responses profoundly undermine the emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing of women facing infertility, underscoring the need for community education and culturally sensitive support systems.
References
Abbasi-Shavazi, M. J. (2006). Fertility and reproductive behaviours in developing societies. Oxford University Press.
Akinsola, H. A. (2013). Cultural perceptions of infertility among women in Cameroon. Journal of African Social Science, 9(2), 44–56.
Alhassan, A., Ziblim, A. R., & Muntaka, S. (2014). A survey on knowledge and perceptions of infertility among women in northern Ghana. Open Journal of Medical Psychology, 3(3), 232–239.
Atijosan, O., Adeyeye, O., & Ogungbayi, O. (2019). Social reactions and stigma among infertile women in Africa. African Health Review, 21(1), 76–89.
Dennison, C. (2016). Motherhood and identity among sub-Saharan African women. Women’s Studies International Forum, 58, 27–35.
Dierickx, S., Balen, J., Longman, C., Rahbari, L., Clarke, P., & Jarju, B. (2019). "We are always desperate and will try anything to conceive": The use of traditional and biomedical practices for infertility in The Gambia. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 21(6), 631–646.*
Dierickx, S., Rahbari, L., Longman, C., & Clarke, P. M. (2018). Addressing male infertility in low-income countries: A qualitative study of men’s experiences in The Gambia. Reproductive BioMedicine & Society Online, 6, 39–47.
Dyer, S. (2012). The social consequences of infertility for women in developing countries. Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn, 4(2), 102–109.
Dyer, S. J., Abrahams, N., Hoffman, M., & Van der Spuy, Z. (2004). Infertility in South Africa: Women’s experiences. Human Reproduction, 19(4), 960–967.
Elsenbruch, S., et al. (2021). Psychological distress among infertile women: A systematic review update. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 142, 110–116.
Gerrity, D. A. (2001). The emotional experiences of infertility. Journal of Reproductive Psychology, 17(1), 33–45.
Greil, A. L., McQuillan, J., & Slauson-Blevins, K. (2018). The social construction of infertility. Sociology of Health & Illness, 40(4), 695–710.
Hatamloye, S., & Hashemi, M. (2012). Infertility-related stress and wellbeing. Middle East Fertility Journal, 17(3), 215–222.
Hollos, M., & Larsen, U. (2008). Motherhood in sub-Saharan Africa: The social consequences of infertility in an urban population in northern Tanzania. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 10(2), 159–173.*
Ibisomi, L., & Mudege, N. (2014). Childlessness in sub-Saharan Africa and social stigma. Reproductive Health Matters, 22(44), 90–98.
Inhorn, M. C. (2017). Infertility and patriarchy: The cultural politics of gender and family life. Routledge.
Inhorn, M. C., & Patrizio, P. (2015). Infertility around the globe: New thinking on gender, reproductive technologies, and global movements in the 21st century. Human Reproduction Update, 21(4), 411–426.
Karaca, A., & Unsal, G. (2012). Psychological impact of infertility on women. Journal of Women’s Health Issues, 12(2), 78–85.
Kirca, N., & Pasinoglu, T. (2013). The psychosocial reality of infertile women. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50(12), 1651–1657.
Ombelet, W. (2017). Stigma and cultural dimensions of infertility. Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn, 9(1), 29–37.
Peterson, B., et al. (2020). Infertility-related distress among women: Cross-cultural evidence. Fertility and Sterility, 113(3), 527–535.
Stellar, C., et al. (2016). Violence and stigma in relation to infertility in low-income societies. Social Science & Medicine, 150, 56–63.
Tiagha, E., et al. (2020). Prevalence and causes of infertility in Southwest Cameroon. Pan African Medical Journal, 36(112), 1–10.
Wierzbicka, A., Kossakowska, K., & Chmaj-Wierzchowska, K. (2020). Social stigma and coping strategies among women experiencing infertility. Health Psychology Report, 8(3), 213–223.*
Yao, C., et al. (2018). Cultural expectations of marriage and fertility. Journal of Family Studies, 24(3), 245–259.
