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Perceptions, Experiences, and Coping Strategies Related to the Psychosocial Burden of Infertility among Women Attending Fertility Clinics in Benin City, Nigeria: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Methods Study

DOI : https://doi.org/10.36344/ccijmb.2026.v08i04.001
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Background: Infertility is a major reproductive health challenge that affects millions of couples worldwide and is associated with profound psychological, emotional, marital, and social consequences. In Nigeria, women experiencing infertility are particularly vulnerable to stigma, discrimination, and psychosocial distress because of prevailing sociocultural expectations regarding childbearing. Objective: This study explored the perceptions, psychosocial burdens, and coping strategies of infertility among women of reproductive age attending selected fertility clinics in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed. The quantitative component involved 194 women receiving infertility care in three selected fertility clinics using a structured questionnaire, while the qualitative component consisted of in-depth interviews with purposively selected participants until data saturation was achieved. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS version 20, whereas qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings from both components were integrated during interpretation to provide comprehensive insights into women's experiences. Results: Overall, 84.3% of respondents demonstrated positive perceptions of infertility. A high level of psychosocial burden was reported by 73.3% of participants, with anxiety, sadness, fear of childlessness, guilt, social isolation, and marital strain emerging as the most common experiences. Respondents employed various adaptive coping strategies, particularly emotional self-control, social support, positive reappraisal, assisted reproductive planning, and religious coping. Social support and spirituality emerged as important sources of resilience. A statistically significant association was found between respondents' perceptions of infertility and their level of psychosocial burden (χ² = 24.728, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings complemented

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