Infertility and treatment seeking behaviour: Some observations from women of Empowered Action Group (EAG) of states of India

Treatment seeking behaviour for infertility is affected by community’s socio-cultural norms. Using DLHS-3 data this study examines prevalence of infertility among currently married women of 8 EAG states of India that accounts for 45 percent of India’s population. Eight percent Indian and 51 percent EAG states women had infertility problems. The leading states were Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. A significant proportion of women were Hindu, illiterates, aged 20-29 years, had rural background and age at consummation of marriage was less than 18 years. More than two fifth had taken treatment for infertility. Larger proportions of women were rich, Christian, hailed from other backward classes and had higher level of education. Around half Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa women had allopathic treatment but Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar women had religious/traditional treatment. Multivariate analysis indicated that treatment seeking was affected educational and economic status. Allopathic treatment seeking was determined by knowledge factor and treatment cost. Infertility was highest in Bihar but highest proportion of UP women took treatment for infertility. More Bihar women had responded to infertility treatment. There is a need to look at infertility problems as an issue in domain of reproductive health research.