PERCEPTION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMONG INFERTILE WOMEN IN SELECTED HOSPITALS IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has been found to provide new possibilities for couples struggling with infertility. However, factors such as poor perception and perceived high costs discourage many infertile married women in Lagos State from utilizing ART. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the perception of ART techniques among infertile women in Lagos State, to assess their level of knowledge and awareness regarding ART, and to evaluate their willingness to utilize these technologies. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. Lagos Island General Hospital and Ikorodu General Hospital were selected through simple random sampling from among the general hospitals in Lagos State. 131 participants were randomly selected for this study. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and the hypotheses were tested at a significance level of 0.05. There was an overall negative perception with a score of 3.86, indicating a negative perception of ART among the infertile women studied. The total acceptability score was 51.29% (below the average threshold of 55%), suggesting that ART was not generally acceptable to the participants. However, the study participants (56%) demonstrated good knowledge, indicating that the majority of infertile women had a correct understanding of ART. There is a negative perception and low acceptability toward ART among infertile women in Lagos State. It is recommended that the government, through the Ministry of Health, develop policies and programs aimed at increasing awareness and acceptance of ART.