Health-seeking behavior for infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Global Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Infertility affects a significant portion of couples globally.
• Health-seeking behavior (HSB) is crucial for infertility resolution but incurs substantial costs.
• Understanding HSB patterns is vital for improving reproductive health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the pooled proportion of health-seeking behavior for infertility among heterosexual couples worldwide.
• To identify the types of health services sought for infertility.
• To determine factors associated with health-seeking behavior for infertility.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of English language articles.
• Searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and PsycINFO databases until May 1, 2024.
• Utilized Appraisal tools for Cross-Sectional Studies and Newcastle-Ottawa scale for quality assessment.

Main Results:

• Pooled proportion of HSB for infertility was 60% (95% CI: 53-67), with wide variation across studies (25%-98%).
• Predominant interventions included drugs, surgery, traditional/complementary medicine, and assisted reproductive technology.
• Higher education, older age, higher income, and health insurance were associated with increased HSB.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion (two in five) of individuals diagnosed with infertility do not seek healthcare.
• Existing research is skewed towards high-income countries and female participants.
• Findings offer insights for policymakers to address barriers to equitable infertility care seeking.