Practice of cultural remedies for infertility among women in the Western Province, Sri Lanka

Abstract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: In Sri Lanka, the concept of infertility and its treatment are influenced by cultural norms. This study explored the common cultural beliefs and remedies associated with infertility in Sri Lanka and determined the trends of their practice. METHODS: A mixed-method study was conducted with infertile females participating in sub fertility clinics of four tertiary-care hospitals in the Western Province. The transcripts of focus group discussions with 40 females were thematically analysed and a self-administered questionnaire was developed. It was used to survey 330 infertile females; descriptive and inferential statistical analyses helped determine the trends of practices. RESULTS: The qualitative data revealed that the cultural remedies were related to ones' religion, societal norms and alternative medical practices. As observed in quantitative analysis, every participant has engage in cultural remedies; food habits, kind gestures towards pregnant mothers and/or children, and religious rituals were the commonest. The correlation between the strengths of believing and engaging was high. Stronger beliefs and higher engagement were observed among women who were seeking allopathic treatment for more than two years and who were married for more than four years. The practice of religious remedies increased with years of marriage while the practice of societal norms increased with years of seeking treatment. The belief of "Karma" has impacted on not believing solely in allopathic treatment. CONCLUSION: Infertile females commonly practice cultural remedies. The extent and focus are affected by years of treatment without a success (losing faith in medical measures) and increasing years of marriage (increasing faith on non-medical reasons for infertility).