Stress and coping strategies among women undergoing fertility treatment in a tertiary care centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract

The present study was intended to identify the stress and coping strategies among women undergoing fertility treatment in the Department of Reproductive Health Medicine in a tertiary care hospital (SAT), Thiruvananthapuram. The descriptive cross-sectional study included 100 women who were receiving fertility treatment from a tertiary care centre, Thiruvananthapuram District. The participants were selected by consecutive sampling technique. The Theoretical framework of the study is based on Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through semi structured questionnaire. Stress and coping strategies were assessed through interview technique. Level of stress among women undergoing fertility treatment was assessed using Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility - Fertility Problem Stress Scale (COMPI FPSS) and their coping strategies were assessed using Copenhagen Multi- centre Psychosocial Infertility Coping Strategy Scale (COMPI CSS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study findings revealed that 30% of women undergoing fertility treatment had severe stress 61% had moderate stress, and 9% had mild stress. Among the women studied 36% women were using Active confronting as coping strategy, 21% were Meaning-based coping 14% participants were using Active avoidance coping, 10% were Passive avoidance coping and remaining 19% were using mixed type of coping strategies.