Infertility and stigmatisation in Nigeria
Tolulope Adeogun “Globally the infertility rate has increased drastically. Many factors such as poor diet, bad habits, and so on are said to be responsible for the high rate of infertility (Onwizoo, 2023), however, sometimes the cause of infertility is unknown. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infertility as a disease of the reproductive system which fails to result in pregnancy despite 12 months of regular unprotected sex (Nargoska et al, 2019).”
Infertility, seen as a form of disability, attracts stigmatisation of diverse kinds, especially for African women. In Africa, socio-cultural and religious beliefs are held in high esteem. Nigeria, among many other African nations, is diverse in culture; there are 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria and there are diverse socio-cultural beliefs associated with each ethnic group. This belief system can be beneficial to a certain extent, however some beliefs are discriminatory and demeaning. For instance, once the marriage rites have been observed, it is expected of the woman that she will be pregnant within a certain period, and anything longer than that will put the woman in a tight corner where she experiences stigmatisation. Many women in Nigeria suffer depression, insomnia, anxiety, and various mental health complications as a result of stigmatisation that comes from beliefs associated with infertility.
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November 2023 | Collective Action Magazine
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