Exploring the health-seeking behaviour of men with infertility in Southern Ghana

Background: Despite the rising prevalence of male infertility and the challenges associated with its treatment, there is limited documentation on their health-seeking behaviours worldwide. Health-seeking behaviours are closely linked to a nation’s health status and economic growth, and they are essential as they define disease outcomes and acceptance of health care. In Ghana, little is known about the health-seeking behaviours of men experiencing infertility. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the health-seeking behaviours of men experiencing infertility in the Accra Metropolis. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive design was employed, and snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit 13 men diagnosed with and who self-reported to have infertility. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, each of which lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using content analysis. Results: Two major themes emerged from the data: the attitude of men’s health-seeking behaviour (attitude of men based on health workers’ behaviour, attitude of men about the seriousness of infertility, attributing infertility to female ailment and reaction to diagnosis) and experiences of participants with infertility (personal beliefs about male infertility, beliefs of significant others, family influence and community influence). Participants were hesitant to seek healthcare due to negative healthcare provider attitudes. The negative impact of male infertility included the significant disruption to daily life activities and unproductivity at work. Men often denied infertility diagnoses, attributing them to female health problems. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that men held unfavourable attitudes, as they attributed infertility solely to females. Hence, involving men in infertility discussions and treatments could help to increase awareness and engagement in fertility care. The findings of this study have implications for nursing practice, policy formulation, and infertility research.