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Quality of life of infertile couples in the Gaza Strip, Palestine
Suha Baloushah1, Samira Barjasteh2, Aymen Elsous3, Ali Aldirawi4, Soha Abu Eid4, Atef Masad5
1 Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing, Islamic University - Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine
2 Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Faculty of Medical Sciences, Israa University - Gaza; Unit of Planning and Institutional Performance Development, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, Palestine
4 Shifa Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, Palestine
5 Faculty of Medical Sciences, Israa University - Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Correspondence Address:
Aymen Elsous
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Israa University - Gaza; Unit of Planning and Institutional Performance Development, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip
Palestine
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/2305-0500.331263
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Objective: To investigate the quality of life of infertile couples who seek in vitro fertilizations (IVFs) by gender in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, from February 2019 to November 2019, among 383 infertile couples selected through convenient sampling. A valid and reliable Arabic version of the fertility quality of life questionnaire (FertiQoL) was used in data collection. One way analysis of variance and independent t-test were applied to compare between males and females.
Results: The mean age of males and females was (34.54±8.54) years and (29.28±6.71) years, respectively. More than half of them had university degree (64% and 60%, respectively). The mean duration of infertility was (5.66±3.54) years. The mean males’ scores of FertiQoL and its subscales (emotion, mind/body, social, core, tolerability, and treatment) were significantly higher than females’ scores (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Males have higher scores of FertiQoL and its subscales than females. The mean score of FertiQoL increases with better education, but decreases with increase of age, duration of marriage, duration of infertility and number of IVF attempts. Routine psychological assessment and counseling are necessary for infertile women taking into considerations factors affecting their quality of life. |
