Guidelines to manage women with infertility: an e-Delphi study

Introduction: The psychosocial health problems associated with infertility is compounded in African women when prevail-ing cultural expectations emphasize the value of parenthood. Despite the social stigma these women endure, they are still mostly managed from a biomedical approach, especially in Ghana, the context of the study. Objective: This study explored the views of a panel of experts to reach consensus on holistic guidelines to manage women with infertility in Ghana. Methods: An e-Delphi technique was employed to retrieve information using a panel of 20 experts. Data collection was conducted in two rounds, and each participating expert was emailed the preliminary guidelines to rate based on certain crite-ria. Data analysis was done in accordance with the expert participants’ rating of and comments on the guidelines. Results: The final guidelines for holistic healthcare to manage women with infertility include the following interventions: Holistic healthcare assessment, psychological interventions, health education, spiritual support, relevant support from significant others; all within a therapeutic relationship. Conclusion: When healthcare providers use the final set of guidelines to manage women diagnosed with infertility, these women will receive holistic healthcare to attain optimal health and improved chances of conceiving.