CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF INFERTILITY AMONG COUPLES IN GOMBE METROPOLIS, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Authors: Hassana Yahaya Bello P.hD, Salisu Adamu, Abubakar Ibrahim Jalo, Badiya Mahmud, Sulaiman Ayuba & Maryam Ibrahim

ABSTRACT

The study examined the causes and effects of infertility among couples in the Gombe metropolis, Gombe State Nigeria. Three research objectives were formulated which were to: determine the perception of married men towards infertility, identify the effects of infertility on the durability of marriage, and suggest ways of management of infertility problems among couples in the Gombe metropolis. Coping theory and the theory of social stigma were used. 217 samples were drawn based on the purposive and simple random sampling techniques. A questionnaire and interview were used as instruments of data collection. The data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS while qualitative data was transcribed verbatim. The results obtained revealed that infertility has more negative effects on women than on men, infertility is caused by witches and witchcraft and early circumcision of male children were the perceptions of married men towards infertility. The study also shows that infertility leads to sexual stress when conceiving, it causes disagreements in marriages and causes fairness among partners. The results also revealed that some of the ways of managing infertility problems are medical treatments and the use of orthodox. It is recommended that: couples who are diagnosed of being infertile should form self-help groups for them to come together and manage their conditions effectively by providing helping hands to each other. Couples should support each other in the period when they are childless as this will go a long way to providing emotional support.

Keywords: Causes, Effects, Infertility, Couples, Gombe Metropolis.

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