The long-term objective of this project is to enhance the understanding of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous analyses have established that infertility in sub-Saharan Africa is determined by multiple factor, including evidence that regional and local factors are important determinants. The present proposal goes beyond these previous 'country level' analyses of infertility by studying a single local African community in depth. The proposed work will add clinical evaluation of infertile couples and the measurement of biological markers to community-based survey data obtained from both partners in a couple. By studying on community, this project will be able to integrate the biomedical, demographic, and anthropologic analyses of infertility, and to integrate knowledge of female, male, and couple factor of infertility. The quantitative analyses of survey data will include estimates of the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility by age of the woman, estimates of the risk factors of primary infertility based on a Cox model, and estimates of the risk factors of secondary infertility using a discrete logistic regression. The quantitative finding will be interpreted together with the findings of the qualitative analysis, which includes an ethnographic study and a content analysis of in depth interviews using software for qualitative analysis (QSR NUD IST). It is important to understand infertility for several reasons. Infertility is a strong indicator of poor health, and infertility can largely be prevented with appropriate public health interventions. In addition, infertility depresses population growth. Finally, infertility has serious social consequences, such as the ostracism of women which leads to strained gender relations. To address these issues the research has seven aims: 1. To estimate the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility. 2. To determine the proportions of female, male, and couple factors infertility. 3. To examine the risk factors of infertility. 4. To investigate local perceptions of the causes of infertility. 5. To describe treatment options and services that are currently in use, including traditional local healers, medical professionals, and self-treatment. A basic protocol for the recommended treatment of infertility will be developed. 6. To analyze the social implications of infertility. 7. To assess the demographic implications of infertility.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01HD041202-05
Application #
7057493
Study Section
Social Sciences, Nursing, Epidemiology and Methods 4 (SNEM)
Program Officer
King, Rosalind B
Project Start
2001-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2005-02-01
Budget End
2008-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$253,103
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland College Park
Department
Social Sciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
790934285
City
College Park
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20742
Ghebremichael, Musie; Paintsil, Elijah; Larsen, Ulla (2009) Alcohol abuse, sexual risk behaviors, and sexually transmitted infections in women in Moshi urban district, northern Tanzania. Sex Transm Dis 36:102-7
Ghebremichael, Musie; Larsen, Ulla; Paintsil, Elijah (2009) Association of age at first sex with HIV-1, HSV-2, and other sexual transmitted infections among women in northern Tanzania. Sex Transm Dis 36:570-6
Williams, Corrine M; McCloskey, Laura Ann; Larsen, Ulla (2008) Sexual violence at first intercourse against women in Moshi, northern Tanzania: prevalence, risk factors, and consequences. Popul Stud (Camb) 62:335-48
Sa, Zhihong; Larsen, Ulla (2008) Gender inequality increases women's risk of hiv infection in Moshi, Tanzania. J Biosoc Sci 40:505-25
Hollos, Marida; Larsen, Ulla (2008) Motherhood in sub-Saharan Africa: the social consequences of infertility in an urban population in northern Tanzania. Cult Health Sex 10:159-73
Mitsunaga, Tisha; Larsen, Ulla (2008) Prevalence of and risk factors associated with alcohol abuse in Moshi, northern Tanzania. J Biosoc Sci 40:379-99
Hattori, Megan Klein; Larsen, Ulla (2007) Motherhood status and union formation in Moshi, Tanzania 2002-2003. Popul Stud (Camb) 61:185-99
Larsen, Ulla; Mlay, Joseph; Aboud, Said et al. (2007) Design of a community-based study of sexually transmitted infections/HIV and infertility in an urban area of northern Tanzania. Sex Transm Dis 34:20-4
Klinger, Elissa V; Kapiga, Saidi H; Sam, Noel E et al. (2006) A Community-based study of risk factors for Trichomonas vaginalis infection among women and their male partners in Moshi urban district, northern Tanzania. Sex Transm Dis 33:712-8
Larsen, U; Masenga, G; Mlay, J (2006) Infertility in a community and clinic-based sample of couples in Moshi, Northern Tanzania. East Afr Med J 83:10-7

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