TY - JOUR
T1 - Holistic management of female infertility
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Armah, Deborah
AU - van der Wath, Annatjie
AU - Yazbek, Mariatha
AU - Naab, Florence
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Women's Health and Action Research Centre. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Although issues pertaining to infertility affect both males and females, women often become victims of stigmatization and rejection, making them susceptible to emotional pain and suffering. Due to these psychosocial problems, they require not only biomedical treatment, but also psychological, social, and spiritual support. Unfortunately, many women with infertility are not treated holistically. The aim of this review was to retrieve existing evidence of holistic healthcare interventions for women with infertility. Global databases were searched for articles published anywhere in the world between 2010 to 2018 that explored holistic healthcare interventions for women diagnosed with infertility. A total of 18 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed, and data extraction was performed. Findings revealed that interventions adopted in managing infertile women alongside the bio-medical management included: counseling; cognitive behavioral therapy; acceptance and commitment therapy; educational interventions; spiritual interventions; emotionally focused therapy/intervention and integrative body-mind-spirit interventions. The results of this review have implications for healthcare professionals to ensure holistic care of women diagnosed with infertility in Ghana and Africa at large. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[2]: 150-161).
AB - Although issues pertaining to infertility affect both males and females, women often become victims of stigmatization and rejection, making them susceptible to emotional pain and suffering. Due to these psychosocial problems, they require not only biomedical treatment, but also psychological, social, and spiritual support. Unfortunately, many women with infertility are not treated holistically. The aim of this review was to retrieve existing evidence of holistic healthcare interventions for women with infertility. Global databases were searched for articles published anywhere in the world between 2010 to 2018 that explored holistic healthcare interventions for women diagnosed with infertility. A total of 18 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed, and data extraction was performed. Findings revealed that interventions adopted in managing infertile women alongside the bio-medical management included: counseling; cognitive behavioral therapy; acceptance and commitment therapy; educational interventions; spiritual interventions; emotionally focused therapy/intervention and integrative body-mind-spirit interventions. The results of this review have implications for healthcare professionals to ensure holistic care of women diagnosed with infertility in Ghana and Africa at large. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[2]: 150-161).
KW - Healthcare interventions
KW - Holistic interventions
KW - Infertility
KW - Psychosocial interventions
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107231574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.29063/ajrh2021/v25i2.15
DO - 10.29063/ajrh2021/v25i2.15
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37585763
AN - SCOPUS:85107231574
SN - 1118-4841
VL - 25
SP - 150
EP - 161
JO - African journal of reproductive health
JF - African journal of reproductive health
IS - 2
ER -