Psychological Assessment of Infertile Females in Eastern Uttar Pradesh: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation

Abstract

Infertility is not only a gynecological problem but also a psychological issue that holds significant social and cultural value for women. Women facing challenges in conceiving often struggle with emotional and psychological difficulties, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Infertile women are more likely to develop mental illnesses due to various etiological factors, which also impact their quality of life (QOL). This prospective study was conducted over six months, and 71 women between 20 and 40 years of age were interviewed. The primary objective of the study was to assess the impact of infertility on the mental health and QOL of women. Analysis was conducted using standardized tools: the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) and WHO Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the reliability of the results. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of the infertile women was 29.2 ± 5.21 years. Using DASS-21, we found that patients experienced moderate to severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, with extremely severe anxiety being more prevalent. Rural infertile women were found to experience higher levels of stress compared to their urban counterparts. QOL appeared moderate, with social relationships being the most affected domain. Infertile women experience highly severe levels of anxiety and moderate to severe levels of depression and stress. These findings highlight the multidimensional impact of infertility and underscore the need for comprehensive healthcare approaches to address the psychological challenges faced by infertile women.

Keywords: anxiety; dass 21; depression; female infertility; stress; whoqol-bref.