Title: Dissecting the knowledge and myths of infertile women in a rural area of Bihar and to making aware the value of hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of infertility

Authors: Sofia Nasim (MSc MIT), Ruqiya Ramzan (MSc MIT)

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i12.33

Abstract

Background: Infertility is defined as being unable to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex.  According to World Health Organization (WHO), Infertility is classified as a disease, which is considered a condition that should be treated. Many women have little awareness regarding knowledge of infertility and when to seek treatment. People in developing countries when faced with fertility resort to popular medicine, Tantric practices and take advantage of the help from Quacks instead of seeking medical care. In our society, the word Infertility has become Generic to women only, but it is biologically incorrect because Men and Women both are almost equally responsible for it. Infertility in Men is considered Taboo and so it remains always hidden. The primary role of HSG (hysterosalpingography) is to evaluate the morphology and the patency of the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tube will appear as a thin and smooth line that widens in the ampullary section.

Aim

A descriptive study to assess the Knowledge, myths, and attitude towards infertility and to make aware the value of hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of infertile patients.

Objective

  • To assess the level of knowledge and compare the level of knowledge between educated and uneducated women regarding infertility. 
  • To assess the level of myths and compare the level of myths between educated and uneducated women regarding infertility.
  • To make aware of the diagnostic accuracy of hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of infertile patients.

Material and Method: This study were prospective, comparative questionnaire-based designed and carried out among women of Barahpura, Islamnagar, and Bhikhnpur of district Bhagalpur, Bihar. A total 100 of infertile women were included in the study. The investigator was given brief information about self and the purpose of the study to the women and obtaining their verbal and written informed consent for willingness to participate in the study and data collection was carried out by using structured interview questioners to assess the knowledge, myths, and awareness of HSG regarding infertility. The questionnaire was divided into four sections which consisting demographic, knowledge, myths, and awareness-related question.

Result: A Cross-sectional Prospective and Questionnaire-based study was carried out with the size of 100 infertile women on the topic "Dissecting the knowledge and myths of infertile women in a rural area of Bihar and to make aware the value of hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of infertility". The study showed that majority 61.30% had no knowledge and 38.70% had adequate knowledge regarding infertility, With regard to myths women majority 48% of women had a strong belief in myths, 11% had no belief in myths and 41% had a poor belief about the myths of infertility and With regard to the level of awareness of women, 44.80% had good awareness level and, 55.20% had no awareness regarding infertility.

Conclusion: The present study assessed the knowledge, myths, and awareness regarding infertility among women. The study findings revealed that there was a significant difference in the level of knowledge and myths of women and concluded that education on infertility was an effective method to improve the knowledge, myths, and awareness of infertile couples.

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Corresponding Author

Sofia Nasim (MSc MIT)

Department of Radiology & Imaging Technology, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi