Impaired fertility and perceived difficulties conceiving in Ghana:measurement problems and prospects

Fledderjohann, Jasmine and Johnson, David R. (2016) Impaired fertility and perceived difficulties conceiving in Ghana:measurement problems and prospects. Journal of Biosocial Science, 48 (4). pp. 431-456. ISSN 0021-9320

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Abstract

What is the most appropriate measure of impaired fertility for understanding its social consequences in sub-Saharan Africa? The dearth of subjective measures in surveys in the region has prevented comparisons of subjective and objective measures. Perceived difficulties conceiving may have a greater impact than objective measures for social outcomes such as divorce, stigmatization and distress. This study compares 12- (clinical) and 24- (epidemiological) month measures from biomedicine and 5- and 7-year measures from demography with a subjective measure of impaired fertility using correlations, random effects models and test-retest models to assess relationships between measures, their association with sociodemographic characteristics and the stability of measures across time. Secondary panel data (1998-2004) from 1350 Ghanaian women aged 15-49 of all marital statuses are used. Longer waiting times to identification of impaired fertility required by demographic measures result in more stable measures, but perceived difficulties conceiving are most closely aligned with clinical infertility (r=0.61; p<0.05). Epidemiological infertility is also closely aligned with the subjective measure. A large proportion of those identified as having impaired fertility based purely on waiting times are successful contraceptors. Where subjective measures are not available, epidemiological (24-month) measures may be most appropriate for studies of the social consequences of impaired fertility. Accounting for contraceptive use is important in order to avoid false positives. Future research should consider a variety of measures of perceived difficulties conceiving and self-identified infertility to assess which is most valid; in order to accomplish this, it is imperative that subjective measures of infertility be included in social surveys in sub-Saharan Africa.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Biosocial Science
Additional Information:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-biosocial-science/article/div-classtitleimpaired-fertility-and-perceived-difficulties-conceiving-in-ghana-measurement-problems-and-prospectsdiv/0B45F2EBA0F7162DEB41738E453F54F2 The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Journal of Biosocial Science, 48 (4), pp 431-456 2016, © 2016 Cambridge University Press.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300
Subjects:
?? INFERTILITYSUB-SAHARAN AFRICAMEASUREMENTGHANAPUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHSOCIAL SCIENCES(ALL) ??
ID Code:
83893
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
09 Jan 2017 14:36
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2023 01:07