The social and cultural meanings of infertility for men and women in Zambia: legacy, family and divine intervention
an article by S. Howe, J.M. Zulu, J. Boivin and T. Gerrits published in Facts Views Vis Obgyn
Despite the high prevalence of infertility within the sub-Saharan sterility belt, infertility in Zambia is understudied, particularly from a social perspective. Furthermore, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa include the infertility experiences of men. This article seeks to fill this gap by qualitatively describing the ways in which infertility in Zambia is socially and culturally loaded for both men and women. Demonstrating fertility is necessary to be considered a full adult, a real man or woman, and to leave a legacy after death. People in Zambia, including medical professionals, currently lack the necessary information and access to (or ability to provide) care to effectively resolve fertility issues. Infertile people manage their experience through a variety of social, emotional, spiritual, and medical strategies. However, no solution is considered adequate unless the intervention results in childbirth. In this way, infertility is about producing babies and the social meaning of that process, rather than the raising of children.
Key words: infertility, Africa, quality of life, culture, gender, death.
You can download the full article here.
Author Sydney Howe is one of Share-Net Netherlands’ 16 selected young researchers to present her research during the 9th Annual Meeting on Linking research, policy and practice on November 12th.
General Information:
