Knowledge, perceived causes, and psychosocial consequences of infertility among women in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Infertility is a significant reproductive health issue with serious medical, social, and psychological effects. In Nigeria, women’s views of the causes of infertility, influenced by biomedical knowledge and cultural beliefs, may affect both their mental well-being and health-seeking behaviours, yet these aspects are not well studied. This study aimed to evaluate women’s understanding of infertility, their perceived causes, and the related psychosocial consequences among women attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 women with infertility attending the gynaecological clinic at University College Hospital, Ibadan, using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests at a 5% level of significance. The mean age of participants was 34.7 ± 6.9 years, and 53.6% demonstrated good knowledge of infertility. Commonly perceived causes included sexually transmitted infections (96.4%), uterine fibroids (93.6%), pelvic inflammatory disease (92.7%), and spiritual factors (73.6%). Psychosocial consequences include negative societal remarks (93.6%), feelings of unhappiness (91.8%), and threats of a second marriage (87.3%). Educational status significantly influenced knowledge of infertility (χ² = 5.507, p = 0.014). Knowledge was significantly associated with perceived causes (χ² = 15.538, p < 0.001) and psychosocial consequences (χ² = 37.319, p < 0.001). Women with infertility exhibit varying levels of knowledge and sociocultural perceptions of infertility, which are significantly associated with adverse psychosocial consequences. These findings underscore the need for targeted infertility education, integrated psychosocial support within infertility care, and community-based sensitization supported by institutional and policy actions.