Topic > The Effects of Infertility on Marriage and Family

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive children or young people according to the Oxford English dictionary. Infertility has over time become a discussion that the world has embraced and the challenges surrounding it are constantly being researched to find ways to resolve them. In the past, everywhere in the world, the debate on infertility was considered shameful and unattractive. Regardless of whether one was male or female, the inability to have children was relegated behind closed doors and even considered taboo in many African communities. One was called cursed and not suitable for any partner for courtship or marriage. But times have changed and they have changed immensely. In a recent interview with Doctor Oz, a world-famous actor, Gabrielle Union opens up to the world after years of struggling with infertility and states: “When it doesn't work it can be absolutely devastating. And there are so many of us as women, hidden in simple places, suffering in silence, no one wants the world, which is what it feels like, to think you are "defective" or less than a perfect woman or less than capable. And there is so much shame and mystery and guilt surrounding fertility issues.” The interviewer goes on to ask her why talk about it now, why not after ten years when all this is over and she replies “Because there is no reason to feel alone, there is no reason to suffer in silence, there is no reason to feel like Seal Team Six going to a doctor's appointment because you're afraid of what someone will say about a medical problem. Which pushes people further and further into the shadows and you are literally suffering in silence. And that's all I'm saying: enough!” An example like this and others who have come forward talking about the causes of infertility are what drives this article. In developing countries in the African region, the effects of infertility are instability within a marriage leading to polygamy or divorce, economic hardship as many depend on children for economic survival, and social rejection and stigmatization of sterile individual and his family members.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The World Health Organization defines infertility in three main categories: clinical, demographic and epidemiological, where each is defined as a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse (WHO-ICMART glossary), the inability of people of reproductive age (15-49 years) to become pregnant or become pregnant within five years of exposure to pregnancy, and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) at risk of pregnancy (not pregnant, sexually active, not using contraceptives and not breastfeeding) who report having unsuccessfully attempted pregnancy for two years or more respectively. A global WHO report estimates that approximately 34 million women predominantly suffer from infertility resulting from maternal sepsis and unsafe abortion in the fetus, especially in predominantly developing countries. In Africa, the highest prevalence and highest rates of infertility in the world are found in non-Western societies, particularly those in the “infertility belt” of central and southern Africa. In countries with little or no resources, the problem is estimated to affect up to 30% of couples, causing enormous suffering. The key area of ​​this article will cover the broad and known knowledge of infertility in two dimensions: primary infertility and secondary infertility. Women whose pregnancy terminates spontaneously, or whose pregnancy results in astillborn child, without ever having had a live birth, are considered primary fertility while a woman is classified as having secondary infertility when she is unable to have a child, either due to the inability to get pregnant or the inability to carry it a pregnancy to a live birth following a previous pregnancy or a previous ability to carry a pregnancy to a live birth. In the African context, infertility most often presents in a marital situation. In this case, pregnancy is truly appreciated; it is the essence of marriage within the African Community (Mburugu & Adams, 2004). Therefore the inability to have children causes instability and trauma between couples. In most cases, if a woman is unable to conceive, it is believed that she is the problem. Therefore the man is given the right to marry a second woman to give him children, a free ticket to practice polygamy. Since having children is a desired and valued social role, the community allows him to sleep with another woman while the other woman is shamed and condemned. Such injustice towards the woman is even condoned at the levels of violence within the society and only the far-sighted people among her can save her from such cruelty. In Kenya, a woman's hands were slaughtered by her husband due to her inability to bear children, a case of primary infertility. While Ngila, her husband, allegedly attacked her because they could not have children, a hospital in Nairobi said Mwende was fertile and it was her husband who had reproductive problems. In cases like this, the company stepped in and was granted grounds for divorce. Unfortunately in most societies women suffer in silence and are abused by their husbands. This does not mean that men do not tolerate abuse from women when infertility problems arise from them. But studies in African countries such as Kenya reveal that women bear greater repercussions of childlessness than men. Among the Luhya of Kenya, infertility has always been considered the woman's fault. According to the Kamba community, the notion of “vinya”, i.e. “strength”, is linked to reproduction or pregnancy and marriage. Observing the theory of structural functionalism which sees the family as a social institution that carries out some essential functions for society and if these functions are not carried out the family is said to be dysfunctional. We can apply it to address the injustices that arise from the instability caused by infertility. In the case of Mwende, where the crime was committed, the theory states that communities must work together to establish and carry out consequences, thus creating a stronger bond of solidarity between members of society. In a 2016 CNN report the attack was condemned by politicians, activists and citizens across Kenya and the Bangladeshi embassy in Kenya promised to provide Mwende with medication for at least three months, while Lay claims that she and others activists have offered to provide her with prosthetic limbs, an allowance of $250 a month, transportation to therapy and business skills to help her prepare for life after recovery. This clearly demonstrates a practice of structural functionalism theory. Another effect of infertility is economic difficulties. According to a 2011 report by the WHO, a 2008 study found a primary infertility rate of 2.7 percent among women in an urban area of ​​Tanzania. A nuclear family is generally seen as consisting of a husband, wife and children. In most African communities, having children is a way to achieve economic stability within the family. It is believed that once the firstborns have acquiredskills or basic education, they will be able to go on and secure basic jobs, educate their younger siblings and, in the long term, take care of their parents. When a couple faces infertility issues, this economic foundation is disrupted. Another factor is the financial burden of infertility treatment. Modern treatments such as in vitro fertilization, hormone injections, and artificial insemination are time-consuming, expensive, and unavailable in developing countries. In the third world how to handle this vast problem has not been well studied and the need to offer treatment affordable to the common citizen is overdue. Even if you want to explore traditional healers, they are more expensive than faith-based healers. In Nigeria, women spend between 55% and 100% of their earnings on attempts to cure their infertility. In Nigeria and Rwanda, one of the major concerns for an infertile woman is the financial discrepancy between her and her extended family. Therefore, in the interest of growth and economic status of a nation, a solution to the economic difficulties arising from infertility. To help analyze this aspect, an application of systems theory, according to which a social system is a process between actors, is essential. Talcott Parsons states that “it is the structure of the relationships between the actors involved in the interactive process that is essentially the structure of the social system. The system is the network of these relationships." Since infertility has a ripple effect within the family and therefore the nation, systems theory explains how things have no meaning in themselves. A meso- and macro-level approach to linking access to resources often facilitated by centralized figures and focused between communities and formal community organizations can play an important role in changing the negative effects caused by infertility on the economy within a household and of a nation. Stigmatization and social rejection is one of the main effects of infertility not only for the infertile individual but for the parties involved as a whole. Women, in particular, also commonly suffer from severe negative social consequences such as stigmatization, ostracism, abuse and economic deprivation. In Nigeria, a woman who has not had children cannot be recognized as elderly because she has not been able to bear a child; therefore, she has no right to her husband's property, nor can she return to her parents' compound as she will be mistreated. A barren woman is often left homeless and without money. Stigmatization can manifest itself in various forms. You may feel ashamed of being associated with yourself or your partners. Families can be affected as one party may carry the burden more than the other. In many developing countries, social stigma is attached to infertility. For example, women cannot join community social groups, as access to this privilege occurs after pregnancy. However, it is not only women who are affected by infertility; Infertile men are also plagued by negative consequences. Loss of social status, social isolation, and marital instability for both men and women define social outcomes. Psychologically, women lose their “femininity” and sense of gender identity when they cannot conceive; men are not considered “men” if they do not have children. For example, in Rwanda men who do not have children said they are less motivated to work since they have no children to support. Compared to Western societies, infertile couples in Third World countries feel a deeper sense of guilt, shame and uselessness. and depression if they cannot conceive..