Journey of infertile couples: scoping the barriers for infertility care among infertile women in Morocco.

Abstract

Objective: The World Health Organization recognized infertility as a disease and emphasized universal access to high-quality treatment as a fundamental component of reproductive health. Nevertheless, inequality and inequity in infertility care are pervasive in Morocco, access to care is hindered by multiple potential barriers delaying treatment seeking and management. This study aimed to explore factors and barriers to assisted reproductive technology (ART) among infertile women in Morocco.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study relies on prospective data collected through a standardized questionnaire, was carried out in January-June 2023. The target population concerned 110 infertile women attending a private clinic in Morocco.

Results: Women who experienced infertility in Morrocco have demonstrated several barriers including: cost and lack of financial means (90%) and distance from fertility care (80%). On bivariate analysis findings suggest there are multifactorial factors that influence access to ART: the age, marriage span, monthly household income, duration of infertility, and education level and profession. On multivariable logistic analysis, age over 35 years old (odds ratio [OR], 3.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-10.65; P=0.004) and the duration of infertility over 10 years (OR, 5.59; 95% CI, 1.24-25.24; P=0.003) remained significantly associated with women who had undergone ART.

Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that infertile women confront economic barriers, social pressure, and constraints related to health systems. Women over the age of 35 with the duration of infertility exceeding 10 years are certainly making more considerable economic efforts to access ART. Policy-makers must to take into account these barriers and factors to ensure efficient access to ART.