Modern and traditional practices of Turkish infertile couples

Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2005 Jun;10(2):105-10. doi: 10.1080/13625180500034911.

Abstract

Objective: This investigation was carried out to determine modern and traditional practices of infertile couples in Kayseri, Turkey.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two infertile couples were selected from the study area. Modern and traditional practices of the infertile women and their husbands were investigated through a questionnaire. The effects of some factors on the utilization of traditional methods were analysed through the logistic regression method.

Results: It was found out that 92.5% of the infertile women and 71.8% of their husbands had consulted a physician for infertility and 92.1% of the women and 32.6% of their husbands had applied for medical or surgical intervention. However, only 11.1% of the couples had attempted in vitro fertilization. In contrast, 61.5% of the infertile couples admitted to carrying out traditional practices. All traditional practices were more prevalent among the women than the men.

Conclusion: It was concluded that traditional practices were more prevalent in the rural areas and among the older couples.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility / therapy*
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Medicine, Traditional*
  • Reproductive Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Rural Population
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Turkey
  • Urban Population