Coping outcomes among women living with infertility in Kumasi, Ghana: a qualitative study

Women experiencing infertility employed various coping strategies to overcome the diverse stressors encountered. These coping strategies had their peculiar consequences or outcomes. This study aimed to explore the outcomes deduced from the coping strategies employed by women with infertility.

The study employed a qualitative descriptive research design to gain an in-depth understanding of the outcomes of coping strategies used by women with infertility. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide.

The study was carried out at a private fertility and specialist hospital within the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, where 15 women diagnosed with primary infertility were interviewed for 45 min to 1 hour each. With all participants completing the study, interviews were audiotaped with consent, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis.

The findings revealed that women with infertility used various coping strategies to mitigate the psychosocial stressors encountered. The coping strategies employed had a varying impact on the well-being of women with infertility, from long-term (physical health, mental health and life satisfaction) to short-term (composure and reduced state anxiety) coping outcomes. The result of the coping strategy employed had a varying impact on the well-being of women with infertility.

Women with infertility shared how they experienced good physical health, mental health and life satisfaction after employing adaptive coping strategies like seeking social support. They also shared how they exercised composure and had reduced state anxiety after using some maladaptive coping strategies, such as self-control and avoidance.