Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / As a consequence of positioning women within the dominant gender role of motherhood, the inability to have a child has exposed women, and more notably women in Africa, to extreme social consequences that often violate their human rights and lead to socio-economic disempowerment. The aim of this study was to consider prevailing discursive construction that position women within dominant ideologies that engender motherhood for women, and to explore how women make sense of and construct meaning regarding their experience when they desire but are not able to have a child. / South Africa

<p>As a consequence of positioning women within the dominant gender role of motherhood, the inability to have a child has exposed women, and more notably women in Africa, to extreme social consequences that often violate their human rights and lead to socio-economic disempowerment. The aim of this study was to consider prevailing discursive construction that position women within dominant ideologies that engender motherhood for women, and to explore how women make sense of and construct meaning regarding their experience when they desire but are not able to have a child.</p>

<p>As a consequence of positioning women within the dominant gender role of motherhood, the inability to have a child has exposed women, and more notably women in Africa, to extreme social consequences that often violate their human rights and lead to socio-economic disempowerment. The aim of this study was to consider prevailing discursive construction that position women within dominant ideologies that engender motherhood for women, and to explore how women make sense of and construct meaning regarding their experience when they desire but are not able to have a child.</p>

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the School of Psychology, University of Zululand, 2007 / The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological impact of infertility on well-being. This study has been contextualized within the broader public health paradigm which re-establishes a balanced view of both illness prevention and health promotion. This study was conducted in the Durban area of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The nature of the research is concerned with the emotional experience of infertile women with regard to positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life and self-acceptance. Date was collected as a quantitative component using Ryffs 3-item Psychological Weil-Being Scale (PWB). Fifty-six women who had been diagnosed with infertility and who were undergoing fertility treatment participated in the study (n=56). The age of the participants was between twenty-nine and fifty-five years. Ninety-eight percent (98.2%) of the participants resided in the cities of KwaZulu-Natal, while less than two percent (1.8%) were rural dwellers. Approximately sixty-six percent (66.1%) of the participants were from nuclear families, while approximately thirty-three percent (33.9%) came from extended families. Conclusion and recommendations for future research Statistical analysis revealed that the overall results were statistically non-significant. The correlation between self-acceptance and duration of infertility revealed the only significant result in this study (p=0.004), highlighting the emotions of dissatisfaction and disappointment with self as a result of prolonged fertility difficulties. The correlation between purpose in life and duration of infertility in years showed to be approaching statistical significance (p=0.021). Disappointment and loss of hope seem to be the products of continued failed attempts of conceiving. This is seen as causing severe insult to self-assessed femininity, as well as further stress, anxiety and depression (Domar, 2004). It is recommended that studies of this nature should include a larger sample, specifically from the rural area, as well divide the sample into racial groups and consider a control group. This is likely to yield more accurate and valid findings. A further recommendation would be to examine the participants' belief systems and explore alternate treatment modalities targeting infertility. Possible limitations of the study Only patients diagnosed with infertility, mostly from the city, participated in the study. The sample size was also not large enough to generalize the findings and offer an accurate representation of the population. The nature of questionnaire required that participants answer several questions pertaining to sensitive personal issues, which may have caused participants to answer in a more socially desirable manner, causing possible inaccuracy in findings. / National Research Funf