CHILD ADOPTION AS A MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE FOR INFERTILITY: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN RURAL NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Background: Finding solution for infertility appears to be challenging for people of rural background due to its associated cost and less availability of specialized medical services. Child adoption provides an option for individuals suffering infertility to get children. The purpose of this study was to explore the behaviours of women with infertility in Northern Ghana towards child adoption. Methods: The study employed exploratory qualitative approach. Fifteen women attending a fertility clinic in a mission hospital in the Upper East Region were purposively selected and each of them interviewed face-to-face. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Results: Child adoption was perceived as a means of giving up the quest to conceive. However, some of the participants were more willing to adopt female and younger children. Formal child adoption was viewed preferred because it allows the adoptive parents to keep the adopted child permanently. Informal child adoption was seen acceptable to some of the participants on the basis of familiarity with the child’s parents hence reduced risk of adopting a child with unknown inherited diseases and bad behaviour. Furthermore, a number of the infertile women were indecisive regarding acceptability of child adoption Conclusion: Religion and lack of precedence influences people behaviours towards child adoption. Some participants stated that based on their religion, their husbands can marry other wives. Based on religion, others thought child adoption is a sign that one had given up becoming pregnant. Public education on child adoption should be intensified and religious bodies should be involved.