Socio-economic Factors Influencing Depression among Infertile Women

The purpose of this study is to identify the socio-economic factors influencing depression among infertile women who received treatment of assisted reproduction technologies and provide the information of evidence-based heath care program for infertile women.

Method:
- Retrospective study involving self-report questionnaire and focus group
interviews from June to September, 2010.
- For the data analysis, technical statistics, χ2-test, multiple regression and logistic regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 14.0 program.

Result: Financial burden of medical treatment, duration since infertility diagnosis, relationship with husband and in-laws were significant factors, which explained 21.9% of the variance in depression among infertile women( p<.001). In logistic regression analysis, a severe level of depression was found among the infertile women who experienced the high degree of financial burden(OR=2.92), broken intimate relationship with husband and his family(OR=3.11, OR=2.01), were diagnosed infertility over two years ago(OR=3.15).

Conclusion: Emotional support from husband and in-laws was identified to relieve depression of infertile women. The depression care intervention should target first the infertile women who were in low economic classes and diagnosed infertility over two years ago.