ArticlePLOS global public health2026
Factors influencing infertile couples' decisions to seek healthcare: A mixed methods study from Islamabad, Pakistan.
Article in PLOS global public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This study examines the factors influencing the decision-making of infertile couples to seek healthcare, focusing on socio-demographic characteristics and barriers to accessing care. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including in-depth qualitative interviews (IDIs) and a cross-sectional survey of women experiencing infertility. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2024, including 269 participants, along with in-depth interviews with 12 women seeking infertility treatment. Qualitative findings showed significant emotional distress among participants, with many feeling judged and inadequate. Social isolation and external stigma were common, worsening the emotional burden. Limited access and inconsistent support further increased the difficulties faced by infertile couples. Of the 269 participants, 43.9% reported primary infertility, and 56.1% secondary infertility. Most had been married for 1-5 years and had been delaying treatment for over three years. The main reason for seeking medical treatment was the inability to conceive, followed by family pressure. Financial constraints, lack of access, and social stigma were major barriers to healthcare. Regression analysis indicated that individuals with lower educational levels were less likely to seek healthcare than those with higher levels. Couples in joint families were more inclined to pursue treatment, and primary infertility was a key factor influencing the decision to seek medical care. Community-based awareness programmes are vital to dispel myths surrounding infertility, alongside counselling services to address emotional stress. Healthcare providers should receive training to offer empathetic support tailored to infertile couples. Furthermore, social health protection schemes should consider subsidized treatment or insurance coverage to alleviate financial burdens for low-income families in Pakistan.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.