Pattern of Infertility Among Couples in Gezira Area, Sudan
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- Category: Vol. 79, September 2011
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Pattern of Infertility Among Couples in Gezira Area, Sudan,NEZAR M. ABDALLA
Abstract
Objectives: To screen couples in Gezira area, central of Sudan, to identify prevalence, types and main causes of infertility.
Patients and Methods: This study was performed in Gezira State (Wad Medani City), Central Sudan. Four primary health care (PHC) centers were randomly chosen. A consecutive sample was followed to include 2000 couples (i.e., 2000 husbands and 2000 wives) attending the selected 4 PHC centers for any complaint. A questionnaire was constructed by the researcher for collection of variables related to full history of both the wife and the husband, present complaint, past complaint, surgical history, family history of chronic diseases and infertility, sexual intercourse history, results of all necessary physical examination and conducted investiga-tions.
Results: Almost two-thirds of participant wives aged 30- 39 years (62.5%). Only 3.7% of wives had university education, compared with 9.5%, of husbands. Prevalence of infertility was 10.4%, mainly primary infertility (77.4%), with a duration of 5-9 years among 46.6% of the couples and >10 years among 26.4% of the couples. In about one third of the couples, infertility was due to female factors (33.7%), while in about one fourth of the couples, infertility was due to male factors (25.5%). However, cause of infertility was unknown in 38% of couples. Sexually transmitted infections were identified in only 4 infertile couples (1.9%), of whom two couples had N. gonorrheae and the other two had C. trachomatis. The great majority of wives (98.6%) underwent female genital mutilation. A minority of husbands received previous treatment for infertility (5.3%) compared with the majority of wives (90.4%).
Conclusions: Infertility is a public health problem in Central Sudan with a prevalence rate of about 10%. The main infertility pattern is primary rather than secondary infertility. There is delay in conducting investigations for infertility, especially among husbands. Sexually transmitted diseases are not the main causative cause for infertility. Almost all wives underwent extensive female genital mutilation during their childhood.