Patterns of Infertility and Sociodemographic Characteristics Among Patients with Infertility Attending Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Tanzania: Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Reproductive medicine (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-11, Vol.5 (4), p.243-251
• Main Authors: Kasililika, Anna Gideon, Hussein, Hindu Ibrahim, Joseph, Henry Stephen, Ng’weshemi, Secilia Kapalata, Chandika, Alphonce Bilola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2673-3897; 2673-3897
• DOI: 10.3390/reprodmed5040021

(1) Background: Infertility is a global health problem that affects one of six couples worldwide, leading to significant negative impacts on their quality of life. Despite numerous studies on infertility patterns and sociodemographic characteristics, there remains a lack of clarity on these aspects among patients seeking care in Tanzania. (2) Methods: This hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine infertility patterns and sociodemographic characteristics among 385 randomly selected male and female patients attending the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital. Structured interviews using a clinical proforma collected data on the patterns of infertility and sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. The analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. (3) Results: The findings indicated that the dominant pattern of infertility for both male and female participants was secondary infertility, accounting for 59.00% (228). Multivariate logistic regression analysis for both male and female patients revealed sociodemographic characteristics of infertility: age (38–43) years, AOR 5.068, 95% CI 1.573–16.33, p = 0.007), and duration of cohabiting or marriage of more than 10 years (AOR 0.406,95% CI 0.189–0.873, p = 0.021). (4) Conclusion: Integrating reproductive health education on appropriate fertility age into the reproductive health package and enhancing fertility care in public hospitals in Tanzania is recommended.