Larry Lumor Gotah
Head of Department of the St. Karols School of Nursing in Ghana
Title: Perceptions of male infertility among men in the Accra metropolis, Ghana
Biography
Biography: Larry Lumor Gotah
Abstract
The concept of male infertility appears to be shrouded in secrecy. This study explored the perceptions of male infertility
among men in the Accra metropolis. The Common Sense Model of illness representation (CSM) was used as an organizing
framework. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 14 men. The men were interviewed for 30 to 45 minutes. All interviews
were audio- taped and transcribed verbatim and thematic content analysis was conducted. Four main themes emerged from
the data (illness representation, coping, health outcomes and unmet needs of men with infertility). Out of these, three themes
were consistent with the CSM while one new theme emerged from content analysis. Findings revealed, men with infertility are
perceived to experience stigmatization, divorce and financial crisis with infertility treatment. The men perceived that Ghanaian
men are pressured to marry and produce children. Failure to conform to the society’s expectation was perceived to result in
stigmatization and in some instances, infertile men are perceived to commit suicide if they fail to respond to this obligation.
Men with infertility are also perceived to engage in risky habits like alcoholism and multiple sexual partners as strategies to cope
with infertility. Child adoption as an option for coping with male infertility is perceived to be a stigmatized concept in Ghana.
Poor health outcomes such as hypertension and madness are beliefs associated with male infertility. In conclusion, nurses need
to understand the perceptions the society hold about men with infertility and pay attention to how these perceptions influence
health service accessibility.