Lived experience of infertility among Hong Kong Chinese women

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study aims to explore and describe the phenomenon of women with infertility and to enhance understanding on how infertility affects their lives and the specific social consequence they encountered. Method: A qualitative phenomenological design was adopted in this study. A total of 13 women who are infertile participated in the study. A snowball sampling method was adopted. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged in the study, including (i) non-escapable cultural burden in Chinese family; (ii) psychological distress: isolation caused by envy; (iii) disappointment towards reproductive health services; and (iv) self-compassion and religion as coping strategies. Conclusions: The causes of infertility are highly complex. Apart from medical conditions, many social conditions would also probably trigger the difficulty of conceiving. Health care professional should also focus on the social and psychological aspects of women of infertility.

KEYWORDS:

• Infertility
• lived experience
• phenomenological study
• Chinese women

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work reported in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the Katie Shu Sui Pui Charitable Trust—Research and Publication Fund (KS 2016/1.2)

Notes on contributors

Mimi MH Tiu

Mimi MH Tiu, RN, Department Head cum Professor at School of Nursing and Health Studies, The Open University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are quality of life, nursing management and qualitative studies.

Juliana YF Hong

Juliana YF Hong, RN, is currently a Tutor at School of Nursing and Health Studies, The Open University of Hong Kong. She worked in the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service for 33 years and in the past 17 years of her service, she worked in the capacity of a Department Operations Manager. Academically, she has obtained a Doctor of Health Science, Master in Management in Health Care and Bachelor (Hons) of Healthcare Studies (Nursing). Furthermore, she also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

Vincent S Cheng

Vincent S. Cheng, Assistant Professor at School of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University of Hong Kong. His research is in the field of sociology, criminology, and China Studies.

Connie YC Kam

Connie YC Kam, RN, and Chinese Medicine Practitioner, is currently a Senior Lecturer at School of Nursing and Health Studies, The Open University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are Chinese medicinal nursing and Chinese medicine therapeutics.

Bernadette TY Ng

Bernadette TY Ng, RN, is currently a Senior Lecturer at School of Nursing and Health Studies, The Open University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are health promotion, caregivers’ experience on caring of rare diseases children.