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. 2022 Sep 28;3(2):100113.
doi: 10.1016/j.xagr.2022.100113. eCollection 2023 May.

Religious and cultural interpretations of artificial insemination in South-West Nigeria

Chisaa Onyekachi Igbolekwu  1 , Abigail Affiong Mkperedem  2 , Ogadimma Chukwubueze Arisukwu  2 , Eunice Uwadinma-Idemudia  3 , John Iwuh  3 , Abiodun A Olawale  2
Affiliations

Religious and cultural interpretations of artificial insemination in South-West Nigeria

Chisaa Onyekachi Igbolekwu et al. AJOG Glob Rep. .

Abstract

Background: In a constantly changing and increasingly globalized world, religion and cultural practices still play a significant role in influencing people's behaviour towards assisted reproductive technologies.

Purpose: This study examined the religious, cultural and personal interpretations of artificial insemination.

Methods: The research methodology was triangulated using qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. A stratified and simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants for quantitative data, while, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) respondents were purposively sampled.

Results: The findings showed that the majority of the respondents were aware of artificial insemination, 75.3% of the respondents had adequate knowledge of artificial insemination. About 54.2% of the respondents agreed that their religious denominations supported any form of artificial insemination, For instance, in contrast to the 61.1% of Roman Catholic respondents' who acknowledged that their religious denomination did not support artificial insemination, 75% of Shia Muslims, and 65.0% of Pentecostal respondents' acknowledged religious support for artificial insemination. For 32.8% of the respondents, the process of artificial insemination by a donor negates the will of God, while 32.8% of the respondents, posited that artificial insemination is a deviation from cultural norms. The study also revealed that 57.0% of respondents personally perceived artificial insemination to be a very good medical breakthrough.

Conclusions and implications: Regardless of the technological or educational prowess leading to artificial insemination, certain religious denominations and cultural practices do not support artificial insemination. Medical ethics should take cognizance of the religious and cultural ideas and principles of the society in which they are practiced.

Keywords: Artificial insemination; donor; husband; infertility; medical breakthrough wife.

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