Copyright (c) 2025 Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher
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The Prevalence of Infertility Among Outpatient Department Attendants in Orotta National Referral Maternity Hospital in Asmara-Eritrea, 2007-2015
Corresponding Author(s) : Ghirmay Ghebreigziabher
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 5 No. 3 (2017): 2017 Volume 5- Issue -3
Abstract
The clinical definition of infertility is a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The four main categories of causes of infertility well recognized in clinical practice are male infertility, female infertility, infertility in both male and female partners, and unexplained infertile couples. The objective of the study is to estimate the prevalence and describe the magnitude of identified causes of infertility based on the clinical and laboratory findings of the attendants in Orotta National Referral Maternity Hospital (ONRMH).
Methodology
A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. The sampling frame and sampling size were based on the patients’ cards of ONRMH. Ethical consideration was thought and permission was obtained from the respected bodies.
Results
A total of 55287 in reproductive age patients visited the outpatient department (OPD) starting 01/01/ 2007 to 31/12/2015 in ONRMH and 1547 patients were diagnosed as infertility cases. The prevalence of infertility was 2.8%. Majority (82.7%) were couples. About half (43.5%) of the attendants were between 25-34 years old. Almost all of the participants (92.4%) were married. The male factor of infertility was highest 48% followed by female factor 25%. Primary infertility (64%) was more dominant than secondary infertility.
Conclusion and Recommendation
This study showed that the prevalence of infertility was very low. Male factor and primarily infertility were the highest contributors. Age, sex, and year of visit were found to have significant net effect on infertility. There is a need of public sensitization to increase attendants from all zones to the infertility referral hospital.
Keywords
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[2]. Araoye MP. (2003). Epidemiology of Infertility: social problems of the infertile couple. West African Journal of Medicine 22, 2003, 190-6. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ORC Comparative Reports No. 9.
[3]. Cates W, Farley TM, Rowe PJ. (1985). worldwide patterns of infertility: is Africa different? Lancet 2, 1985, 596-8.
[4]. Cong J, Li P, Zheng L, Tan J (2016) Prevalence and Risk Factors of Infertility at a Rural Site of Northern China. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0155563. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155563
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[8]. Lekr.J.I.(2004).The prevalence of infertility and its preventive measures in sub-Sahara Africa
[9]. Mahboubi et al. (2014). A case-control study of the factors affecting male infertility in Iran.
[10]. Mascarenhas MN, Flaxman SR, Boerma T, Vanderpoel S, Stevens GA. (2012). National, Regional, and Global Trends in Infertility Prevalence Since: A Systematic Analysis of 277 Health Surveys. PLoS Med 9(12), 1990, e1001356.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001356
[11]. Nwajiaku LA, Mbachu II, Ikeako L. (2012). Prevalence, Clinical Pattern and Major Causes of Male Infertility in Nnewi, South East Nigeria: A Five Year Review
[12]. Okonofua FE, Odunsi OA (Eds.). (2003).Contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology for Developing Countries. Benin City: Women’s Health and Action Research Center, 2003, 128-56.
[13]. Rustein SO, Iqbal HS. (2004) Infecundity, Infertility and Childlessness in Developing Countries. DHS Comparative Reports No. 9. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ORC Macro and Geneva: World Health Organization; 2004.
[14]. Sereke et al. (2015). A retrospective descriptive cross sectional study on prevalence of infertility ONRMH.
[15]. Shaheen et al. (2010). A descriptive cross sectional study on Prevalence of Infertility in a Cross Section of Pakistani Population
[16]. World Health Organization. (1987). Infections, pregnancies and infertility: Perspectives on prevention. Fertility and Sterility 47, 1987, 964-8.
References
[2]. Araoye MP. (2003). Epidemiology of Infertility: social problems of the infertile couple. West African Journal of Medicine 22, 2003, 190-6. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ORC Comparative Reports No. 9.
[3]. Cates W, Farley TM, Rowe PJ. (1985). worldwide patterns of infertility: is Africa different? Lancet 2, 1985, 596-8.
[4]. Cong J, Li P, Zheng L, Tan J (2016) Prevalence and Risk Factors of Infertility at a Rural Site of Northern China. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0155563. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155563
[5]. Delphine. (2015). Infertility & Women: Sub-Saharan Africafile:///G:/publication%20infertility/Infertility%20&%20Women%20%20Sub-Saharan%20Africa%20_%20LinkedIn.htm
[6]. Gerias AS, Rushman H. (1992). Infertility in Africa. Population Sciences 12, 1992, 25-46.Developing Countries. DHS
[7]. Larsen U. (2000). Primary and secondary infertility in Sub-Saharan Africa, International Journal of Epidemiology 2000, 29285-91.
[8]. Lekr.J.I.(2004).The prevalence of infertility and its preventive measures in sub-Sahara Africa
[9]. Mahboubi et al. (2014). A case-control study of the factors affecting male infertility in Iran.
[10]. Mascarenhas MN, Flaxman SR, Boerma T, Vanderpoel S, Stevens GA. (2012). National, Regional, and Global Trends in Infertility Prevalence Since: A Systematic Analysis of 277 Health Surveys. PLoS Med 9(12), 1990, e1001356.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001356
[11]. Nwajiaku LA, Mbachu II, Ikeako L. (2012). Prevalence, Clinical Pattern and Major Causes of Male Infertility in Nnewi, South East Nigeria: A Five Year Review
[12]. Okonofua FE, Odunsi OA (Eds.). (2003).Contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology for Developing Countries. Benin City: Women’s Health and Action Research Center, 2003, 128-56.
[13]. Rustein SO, Iqbal HS. (2004) Infecundity, Infertility and Childlessness in Developing Countries. DHS Comparative Reports No. 9. Calverton, Maryland, USA: ORC Macro and Geneva: World Health Organization; 2004.
[14]. Sereke et al. (2015). A retrospective descriptive cross sectional study on prevalence of infertility ONRMH.
[15]. Shaheen et al. (2010). A descriptive cross sectional study on Prevalence of Infertility in a Cross Section of Pakistani Population
[16]. World Health Organization. (1987). Infections, pregnancies and infertility: Perspectives on prevention. Fertility and Sterility 47, 1987, 964-8.