Infertility-Related Stress, Coping Strategies, Fertility Adjustment and Self-Help Practice Among Women Attending selected Gynaecological Clinics in Ibadan: A Pilot Study

Background: Infertility is associated with significant psychological distress among women, particularly in developing countries. Women living with infertility often experience infertility-related stress that may influence coping strategies, fertility adjustment, and the use of self-help approaches to manage psychosocial challenges. Aim: This study aimed to culturally adapt standardized instruments for assessing infertility-related stress, coping strategies, fertility adjustment, and self-help practices among women attending gynaecological clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at St. Peter’s Maternity Hospital, Aremo, Ibadan. Using purposive sampling, 40 women with infertility were recruited for a pretest, representing 20% of the projected main study sample size (N = 202). A structured questionnaire consisting of six sections was utilized: Sociodemographic Data, Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), Infertility-Related Stress Scale (IRSS), Coping Scale for Infertile Women (CSIW), Fertility Adjustment Inventory (FAI), and Practice Assessment of Self-Help Plus. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics summarized study variables, and internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Findings: The mean age of participants was 35.5 ± 6.4 years. Most respondents (80%) had secondary education, 90% were in monogamous marriages, and 85% were employed. Approximately 62.5% had never experienced abortion, 92.5% had no living child, and 42.5% reported infertility lasting six to ten years. A substantial proportion (82.5%) experienced moderately high stress levels on the FPI, while 17.5% reported average stress. Mean scores were 39.3 for perceived infertility-related stress, 54.6 for coping strategies, and 47.7 for fertility adjustment. Regarding Self-Help Plus practices, 87.5% demonstrated a fair level of engagement. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the instrument was 0.74, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Conclusion: The findings indicate that women with infertility experience considerable psychological stress, and existing coping strategies may be insufficient to fully mitigate its effects on fertility adjustment. Recommendation: Routine assessment of stress levels, coping strategies, fertility adjustment, and self-help practices should be incorporated into infertility care before and after treatment initiation to reduce psychological morbidity. The adapted instruments may also be utilized in future infertility-related research. Key words: Infertility, Infertility-related stress, Coping strategies, Fertility Adjustment, Self-Help plus