Case records and commentaries in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

The health care of women encompasses all aspects of medical aspects and therapeutics. The medical needs and concerns vary with a patient's reproductive status, her reproductive potential and her desire to reproduce. Childlessness may be a tragedy to the married woman, and can be a cause of marital upset as well as personal unhappiness and ill health. The ultimate therapy for male factor infertility as shown by unfavorable sperm parameters, a negative sperm penetration assay or both is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or zygote antrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). To determine the awareness and attitude of sperm donation by women attending clinic for infertility. A cross-sectional survey. The study was done at Murang'a district hospital gynaecology outpatient clinic (GOPC) between February and September 2003. All patients who consented to join the study were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data was obtained on knowledge attitude and practice. About 45% of the study population had heard of sperm donation. About 34% found it at least useful while 65.7% disagreed with its use. Only 22.9% would accept to receive sperms from another man and of these only 15.0% would like to know the donor while only 2.9% would like the offspring to know. Women who knew about sperm donation were significantly older than those unaware of sperm donation. Acceptance of sperm donation was not statistically influenced by age, religion or level of education .

Knowledge of sperm donation was low and was influenced by age and level of education. Acceptance was also low but was not influenced by age, religion or level of education.