COPING STRATEGIES OF CLIENTS WITH FERTILITY GYNAECOLOGICAL CLINIC

Code No: 499644

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ABSTRACT

This study was on coping strategies of clients with fertility challenges attending Obstetric and
Gynaecological clinic of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. The objectives of the
study were to ascertain the use of escape/avoidance coping strategy by couples with fertility
challenges, determine the use of self controlling coping strategy by couples with fertility
challenges, determine if couples with fertility challenges use social seeking support as a
coping strategy and assess if couples with fertility challenges use positive reappraisal as a
coping strategy. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. A sample size of 232
respondents was used for the study which was calculated from the target population of 456
using power analysis. The instrument for data collection was adapted from Folkman and
Lazarus ways of coping. The face and content validity were determined by the supervisor,
psychologist and a consultant in Obstetric and Gynaecological clinic in UMTH. The results
were presented in tables as percentages, means and standard deviation. Pearson Chi-square
and Fisherâ€™s Exact test were used to determine the association between coping strategies
based on gender at 0.05level of significance. Major findings of the study revealed that males
used most coping strategies than the females. The analysis shows 57% of males and 31.1% of
females drinks smokes and indulges in drugs as escape/avoidance coping strategy. There was
significant difference in the used of this coping strategy (P=0.000). Similarly, there was
significant difference in the use of self controlling coping strategy as P=0.000, where 79.2%
of males and 50.3% of females avoid people who trouble them about pregnancy and children.
However, there was no significant difference in the used of social seeking support as 75% of
males and 92.2% of females ask people with similar problem for advice with P=0.080. In the
same vein, 64.9% of males and 89.2% of females used praying to God to change the situation
as a positive reappraisal coping strategy with P=0.087. In conclusion, escape/avoidance and
self control coping strategies were used more by men and there was no difference in use of
social seeking support and positive reappraisal coping strategies. It was recommended that
where couples cannot achieve pregnancy on their own, they should go for assisted
reproduction.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Infertility is perceived as a problem across virtually all cultures and societies and affects an estimated 10-15% of couples of reproductive age (Bovine, Bunting, Collins & Negron, 2007). It has been viewed differently in different cultures. The population in the developed and
developing countries hold different attitudes regarding infertility. In developing countries, infertility may be linked to an act of God, punishment for sins of the past, prolonged use of contraceptives, and the result of witchcraft which is causing childlessness, whereas people in
developed countries view infertility as caused by biological and other related factors like excessive alcoholism, lack of cooperation between the man and the woman during sexual intercourse (Bovine, Bunting, Collins & Negron, 2007). No matter the culture, infertility is
viewed as an enormous problem by couples everywhere.
According to Dhont, Van der Wijgert, Coene, Gasarabwe & Temmerman, (2010) children are seen as blessings of marriage and in some societies of the world; it is even believed that they are symbols of God's approval and blessings on marriages. Under normal circumstances, it is the choice of each individual and couple, within their own sense of conscience, to determine if they intend pregnancy and if so, the size of their family unit and the timing of when to have a child or children. However, in many African cultures, married couples who are unable to
bear children shortly a few years after marriage are faced with all forms of unfriendly pressure from the family and social groups which could lead to unnecessary frustration, resentment and depression.