Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39907241›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics2025

The complex lived experience of women with infertility in Ethiopia: An interpretative phenomenologic analysis.

Bilen Mekonnen Araya, Maria P Velez, Kassahun Alemu, Silke Dyer, Hiwot Temesgen Andualem, Heather M Aldersey

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. The complex lived experience of women with infertility in Ethiopia: An interpretative phenomenologic analysis.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2025
    Article
  4. Addressing the Rehabilitation Needs of Women Experiencing Infertility in Ethiopia: Time for Action.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bilen Mekonnen ArayaDepartment of Rehabilitation Science, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1089-8585
Maria P VelezDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-8279
Kassahun AlemuDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4647-5178
Silke DyerDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Hiwot Temesgen AndualemDepartment of Rehabilitation Science, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Heather M AlderseySchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.

Funding

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar and Queen's University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo explore the lived experience of women living with infertility in Ethiopia.

methodWe used interpretative phenomenologic analysis with open-ended semi-structured questions, focusing on what living with infertility looks like and what that means to the women. Participants included women who had experienced infertility and were following treatment at St. Paul's Hospital Center for Fertility & Reproductive Medicine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We purposefully recruited 13 women living with infertility and used NVivo version 12 software for data analysis.

resultsThe study generated six themes: (1) the reason for wanting a child, (2) the financial sacrifice of accessing treatment, (3) infertility and marriage, (4) estrangement and ostracization in social life, (5) psychological despair and support, and (6) faith and resilience. Further analysis identified the superordinate themes: the meaning of a child; lineage and continuity of life; togetherness; marital discord; reduced social participation; being left out of the world, psychological suffering; support and relationship with healthcare providers; helplessness, acceptance, and hope. A child in the Ethiopian context has significant meaning for women and the community. Being unable to accomplish motherhood brings numerous challenges.

conclusionThe far-reaching consequences of infertility substantially affect women's psychological, financial, sociocultural, and spiritual lives. However, despite the difficult journey of infertility, women develop coping mechanisms and resilience. Professional psychosocial support is necessary to alleviate the consequences of infertility, yet access to and utilization of these services are inadequate. Infertility needs to receive better attention in the Ethiopian healthcare system as it has significant implications for couples' lives.

Indexed as

Infertility, FemaleAdaptation, PsychologicalAdultEthiopiaFemaleHumansMarriageQualitative ResearchResilience, PsychologicalSocial SupportYoung AdultAfricaEthiopiafinancialinfertilityinterpretative phenomenologic analysispsychosocialrehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID39907241
PMCPMC12093929

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.