Lithuanian Infertile Families’ Attitudes Toward Their Social Problems
INTRODUCTION. Infertility is a disease that causes not only severe psychological and emotional stress, but complicated social problems as well. Medical help as well as any other support is of great importance for infertile families. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of infertile families toward their social problems. METHODS. The descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The 2-stage triangulation method was employed: a structured interview (n=68) and a participants’ survey (n=200). The response rate was 75% in the first stage and 98% in the second stage. The data were collected from infertile women from whole Lithuania by using an electronic email-based survey in 2009. RESULTS. The mean age of respondents who faced the problem of infertility was 30.5 years; 66% of them had higher education, and most of them (75%) evaluated their economic status as average. Infertile couples reported the following social problems: financial problems, the lack of participation in public life, and problems related to the treatment of infertility. Respondents were angry about the state’s attitudes and absence of support, were tired of long treatment of infertility, and were irritated by the society’s negative attitudes toward infertile families. CONCLUSIONS. It is an urgent need to develop a social support and help system for infertile families at the state level as infertility of families might lead to numerous economic problems. The nurse’s role in informing and supporting the infertile families is important.
Correspondence to N. Istomina Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Klaipėda University, Herkaus Manto 84, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania. natalja.istomina@ku.lt