Knowledge, Perception, and Acceptance of Assisted Reproductive Technology Among Women Attending an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic in Southeastern Nigeria
Ohakwe Udodirim Precious *
African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR), University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Goodman John Ani
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
Tosin Sina Akerele
Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Infertility is an important reproductive-health concern with substantial social and economic consequences, while access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains uneven in many low- and middle-income settings. This study assessed awareness, knowledge, perceptions, acceptance, and perceived barriers related to ART among women attending an obstetrics and gynaecology clinic in southeastern Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The intended sample size was 384, calculated using Cochran's formula; the final analytic sample comprised 364 women. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire informed by the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour. Results were summarized using frequencies and percentages, with item-specific denominators reported where responses were incomplete and multiple-response items identified explicitly. Results: Among 324 women with a recorded response to the awareness item, 300 (92.6%) had heard of ART. The retained composite classification indicated that 78% had good knowledge, although a prominent misconception remained: 272 of 364 respondents (74.8%) incorrectly believed that ART always guarantees success. Perceptions were generally favourable; 320 (88.0%) agreed or strongly agreed that ART is socially acceptable, and 344 (94.5%) agreed or strongly agreed that it gives hope to couples experiencing infertility. Among 348 women with a recorded acceptance response, 272 (78.2%) reported personal acceptance of ART. High cost was the most frequently identified system-level challenge (272/364, 74.7%). Conclusion: In this tertiary-care sample, awareness and favourable attitudes toward ART were common, but important knowledge gaps and financial barriers remained. Patient counselling should emphasize realistic treatment outcomes and procedure-specific information, while affordability and access require health-system attention.
Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology, infertility, knowledge, perception, acceptance, Nigeria, health belief model