Training in assisted reproduction in South Africa

Countries across the African continent have the highest infertility rate in the world, yet access to diagnosis of cause, treatment and assisted reproductive technology is sparse. Assisted reproduction clinics now operate in several countries, particularly Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Most support is in the private health system, and few women and men have access to low-cost assisted reproduction services at public hospitals. While clinics, biobanking services and laboratories are sparse, so too is training. We draw on data from a large study on assisted reproduction in South Africa to explore the provision of training. Most training is provided in South Africa, and people from other countries can access this. However, few teaching hospitals provide training, and people face long delays, sometimes years, before they can enrol. The limited opportunities for training seriously impact the capacity of countries to meet the health needs and support the reproductive hopes of many of their populations.