Socio-cultural Dimensions of Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Donation Techniques: A Review Study

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 a.PhD Student of Reproductive Health, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran b.Instructor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat

2 a.Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran b.Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 a.Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran b.Professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The assisted reproductive donation technologies have increased the hope of pregnancy among infertile couples. However, a large part of the world's population does not accept such methods due to socio-cultural issues. In this regard, the identification of different socio-cultural dimensions can be helpful. This study aimed to determine the socio-cultural dimensions of infertility and assisted reproductive donation technologies
Materials and Methods: In this review study, detailed research was conducted on the Persian and English articles indexed in valid databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SID. The related articles from quantitative and qualitative research in this field were reviewed without time limitation. The search was performed using the following keywords in English and Persian: "Reproductive donation techniques", "Infertility", and "Socio-cultural aspects".
Results: According to the review of 49 studies, 16 components related to socio-cultural dimensions of infertility and assisted reproductive donation techniques were extracted. These components included childbearing methods (spouse selection and traditional methods), social acceptance (isolation, stigma, and family acceptance), social identity (maternal or paternal role, generation survival, and prejudice), religious acceptance (sharia, reliance, and destiny and fate), and finally social support (legal support, financial support, social worker support, job support, and media support).
Conclusion: Infertile people face many cultural and social challenges using assisted reproductive donation techniques.

Keywords


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