Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study

Objective: To provide a comprehensive and multidimensional description and conceptualization of the experiences of Black women seeking treatment for infertility. Design: Convergent parallel mixed-methods study combining retrospective chart review data and semistructured interview data. Setting: Priv...

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Main Authors: Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D., Peggy Ann Shannon-Baker, Ph.D., Susan G. Silva, Ph.D., Renee E. Hart, M.S., Samad Jahandideh, Ph.D., Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D., Eleanor L. Stevenson, Ph.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-05-01
Series:F&S Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334122000137
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author Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D.
Peggy Ann Shannon-Baker, Ph.D.
Susan G. Silva, Ph.D.
Renee E. Hart, M.S.
Samad Jahandideh, Ph.D.
Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D.
Eleanor L. Stevenson, Ph.D.
author_facet Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D.
Peggy Ann Shannon-Baker, Ph.D.
Susan G. Silva, Ph.D.
Renee E. Hart, M.S.
Samad Jahandideh, Ph.D.
Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D.
Eleanor L. Stevenson, Ph.D.
author_sort Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D.
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To provide a comprehensive and multidimensional description and conceptualization of the experiences of Black women seeking treatment for infertility. Design: Convergent parallel mixed-methods study combining retrospective chart review data and semistructured interview data. Setting: Private infertility clinic. Patient(s): African American/Black women between 18 and 44 years of age who presented for an initial infertility evaluation with a male partner between January 2015 and September 2019 at an infertility clinic in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area. Intervention(s): None Main Outcome(s): Treatment seeking. Measure(s): Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors. Result(s): Along with the psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural domains, we understood that Black women who sought treatment for infertility were older and overweight, had complex gynecological diagnoses, and experienced infertility for long periods of time. The delay in seeking treatment was possibly because of a low perceived risk of infertility, poor understanding of treatment options, inadequate referral patterns of primary care providers, and limited social support. Further, Black women experienced delays in seeking treatment because they attempted lifestyle-based self-interventions before considering medical interventions. Facilitators to care included psychological distress, complex gynecological medical history, and finding culturally competent providers. Conclusion(s): The study findings show that Black women in the United States are vulnerable to disparities in healthcare delivery, especially within reproductive endocrinology. Our findings highlight areas where Black women are experiencing missed opportunities for teaching, early identification, and early referrals for infertility-related concerns. Future studies should seek to reduce barriers to infertility treatment at the clinical and policy levels.
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spelling doaj.art-3496bbab8e5c41f8bc31188822bf603b2022-12-22T03:23:10ZengElsevierF&S Reports2666-33412022-05-01322939Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods studyMorine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D.0Peggy Ann Shannon-Baker, Ph.D.1Susan G. Silva, Ph.D.2Renee E. Hart, M.S.3Samad Jahandideh, Ph.D.4Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D.5Eleanor L. Stevenson, Ph.D.6The University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, the National Clinician Scholars Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; The Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Reprint requests: Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D., the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine,1300 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.Georgia Southern University, College of Education, Statesboro, GeorgiaDuke University School of Nursing, Durham, North CarolinaUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaShady Grove Fertility Clinical Research, Rockville, MarylandDuke University School of Nursing, Durham, North CarolinaDuke University School of Nursing, Durham, North CarolinaObjective: To provide a comprehensive and multidimensional description and conceptualization of the experiences of Black women seeking treatment for infertility. Design: Convergent parallel mixed-methods study combining retrospective chart review data and semistructured interview data. Setting: Private infertility clinic. Patient(s): African American/Black women between 18 and 44 years of age who presented for an initial infertility evaluation with a male partner between January 2015 and September 2019 at an infertility clinic in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area. Intervention(s): None Main Outcome(s): Treatment seeking. Measure(s): Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors. Result(s): Along with the psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural domains, we understood that Black women who sought treatment for infertility were older and overweight, had complex gynecological diagnoses, and experienced infertility for long periods of time. The delay in seeking treatment was possibly because of a low perceived risk of infertility, poor understanding of treatment options, inadequate referral patterns of primary care providers, and limited social support. Further, Black women experienced delays in seeking treatment because they attempted lifestyle-based self-interventions before considering medical interventions. Facilitators to care included psychological distress, complex gynecological medical history, and finding culturally competent providers. Conclusion(s): The study findings show that Black women in the United States are vulnerable to disparities in healthcare delivery, especially within reproductive endocrinology. Our findings highlight areas where Black women are experiencing missed opportunities for teaching, early identification, and early referrals for infertility-related concerns. Future studies should seek to reduce barriers to infertility treatment at the clinical and policy levels.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334122000137Treatment seekingBlack womeninfertilityaccess to care
spellingShingle Morine Cebert-Gaitors, Ph.D.
Peggy Ann Shannon-Baker, Ph.D.
Susan G. Silva, Ph.D.
Renee E. Hart, M.S.
Samad Jahandideh, Ph.D.
Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D.
Eleanor L. Stevenson, Ph.D.
Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study
F&S Reports
Treatment seeking
Black women
infertility
access to care
title Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study
title_full Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study
title_fullStr Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study
title_full_unstemmed Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study
title_short Psychobiological, clinical, and sociocultural factors that influence Black women seeking treatment for infertility: a mixed-methods study
title_sort psychobiological clinical and sociocultural factors that influence black women seeking treatment for infertility a mixed methods study
topic Treatment seeking
Black women
infertility
access to care
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334122000137
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