Infertile Women's Perception on the National Support Program for Infertile Couples

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Policy
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Infertility affects a significant portion of couples globally.
• National support programs aim to alleviate the financial burden of infertility treatments.
• Understanding user perception is crucial for program effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the perspectives of infertile women regarding a national medical expense aid program.
• To identify areas for improvement in support services for infertile couples.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of five focus group discussions.
• Data collected from 30 Korean infertile women between January and August 2014.
• Audio-taped sessions were transcribed for detailed analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants expressed gratitude for the existing support program.
• Key themes included thankfulness, mixed emotions, encountered inconveniences, and a desire for enhanced services.
• While beneficial, the program was perceived as not comprehensive, failing to cover all medical costs.

Conclusions:

• Recommendations include increasing financial coverage for all medical expenses.
• Expanding program eligibility criteria and incorporating special leave for working women are suggested.
• Emphasizes the need for national infertility prevention strategies.