Socio-Cultural Representations of Couple Infertility among Senegalese Women Wanting a Child
—A Study Carried out on 100 Women Monitored at the “Dalal Jamm” CHN in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: In African contexts, infertility is frequently interpreted through external explanations, with couples often seeking to externalize the origin of the problem in order to alleviate the narcissistic distress it causes. From a biomedical perspective, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after at least one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it affects approximately 80 million people worldwide, representing nearly 10% of couples. The objective of our study was to identify the socio-cultural representations of infertility observed among women in relationships. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out over the period from October 11, 2021 to October 17, 2022 at the maternity ward of the National Hospital Center “Dalal Jamm” in Dakar. Women in a relationship for one year who were consulted for pregnancy and those followed for infertility were included. Data was collected by direct interview, with the KOBO application, processed and analyzed using Excel and SPSS software. Results: Out of a total of 100 women surveyed, the average age was 34 years. The 30 - 37-year-old age group was the most represented (37%). The secondary education level was the most represented (31%). The liberal profession was 37%, Muslim women 95% and those in their first marriage 85%. Women had been cohabiting with their partner for more than 5 years in 54% of cases. Primary infertility was 61%. Thirty-six patients (36%) consulted after one year of waiting. Regarding the explanation given for infertility, seventy-one patients (71%) knew the responsibility for their infertility. According to them, it was linked to the woman in 51% of cases rather than being due to divine will (65%). The child represents a blessing, or one who will ensure the perpetuity of the family (69%) and motherhood offers the status of being a “real woman” (37%). Forty-seven patients (47%) had consulted a traditional practitioner. The explanation most often found among traditional practitioners was “possession by an evil demon” (68.1%). The treatment most prescribed by traditional practitioners was bath water (25%). The type of help expressed by the patients was medical (68%), financial (37%) and spiritual (23%). Conclusion: The treatment of infertility in African societies where traditional beliefs still occupy an important place, the caregivers must consider the different socio-cultural representations of the