The presence of the child, the opportunity or a threat to marital satisfaction: A qualitative study

Perception of having children through surrogacy in individuals with MRKH in Vietnam: a qualitative study

Introduction

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is rare condition that has a negative impact on quality of life because affected women lack a uterus and vagina, and are therefore unable to engage in sexual intercourse and experience natural pregnancy. This study evaluated perceptions of surrogacy in Vietnamese women with MRKH who have started families.

Method

Women with MRKH who had undergone successful vaginal reconstruction, were married, and had started families participated in a semi-structured, in-depth, one-on-one online video interview with an experienced female psychologist. Open-ended questions were used to encourage participants to express their perceptions of surrogacy; prominent themes were discussed, compared, and combined.

Results

Twenty women (mean age 31 years) agreed to participate. Key themes identified from interviews were the importance of having genetic offspring, consideration of surrogacy as a preferred solution to infertility, the barriers to surrogacy in Vietnam, lack of reproductive information and counselling, individuals concealing their health condition, the impact of religion on the possibility of surrogacy, the economic cost of surrogacy, and the difficulty in finding a surrogate under the restrictions imposed by Vietnamese law.

Discussion

Based on the perceptions of women from MRKH from Vietnam, there is an opportunity to improve how infertility is managed in these people, including information about surrogacy. These data show that individuals with MRKH should be provided with information about the possibility of surrogacy, encouraged to be open and seek support, and be managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes psychological support; the provision of economic support for fertility treatments in women with MRKH should also be considered.

Socioeconomic characteristics and domestic work as correlates of family satisfaction in Hong Kong mothers of young children

BACKGROUND

Family life satisfaction is an important contributor to the mental health of mothers with young children, who are particularly vulnerable to various sources of stressors. However, there is a dearth of studies on this topic in this demographic, the determinants of which likely differ across geographical and cultural contexts. We examined indicators of maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and domestic help as correlates of family satisfaction in Hong Kong mothers of young children.

METHODS

Mothers (N = 322) of young children (3-5 years old) were recruited from neighbourhoods stratified by SES and population density. They self-completed a survey containing items on socio-demographics, SES characteristics (including household income and maternal education and employment status), maternal family satisfaction and division of domestic work in the household and family. Confounder-adjusted associations of maternal SES indicators and participation in housework and childcare activities by various agents (e.g., mother, spouse, other residents) were estimated. We also estimated the moderating effects of household income on the associations between maternal employment and family satisfaction, and those of maternal employment on the associations between domestic work division and family satisfaction.

RESULTS

Household income and maternal education were positively related to maternal family satisfaction. Mothers in part-time employment had lower family satisfaction than non-working mothers and mothers working full-time. The latter reported higher family satisfaction than non-working mothers only if their household income was below HK$ 15,000. Domestic work performed by non-residents was predictive of higher family satisfaction, while mothers' housework and child(ren) tutoring were predictive of lower family satisfaction. Only part-time employed mothers benefited from spouse's assistance with domestic work. The interaction effects of maternal employment status on the associations between the division of child tutoring and family satisfaction were complex.

CONCLUSIONS

In Hong Kong, mothers of young children with lower education and household income, who hold a part-time job and participate in housework and child tutoring activities have the lowest levels of family satisfaction and, hence, are at higher risk of mental health problems. Spouses' and non-resident family members' participation in domestic work, as well as the establishment of more family-friendly employment practices, may help mitigate this risk.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

N/A.

Explaining the pattern of childbearing behaviors in couples: Protocol for a focused ethnographic study

BACKGROUND

One of the most basic life events is fertility or reproduction, which, although known as a social phenomenon, is a complex and multidimensional concept with economic, cultural, political, and religious significance. The present study aims to explain the pattern of childbearing behaviors in couples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is a focused ethnographic qualitative research. Participants of this study will be 20-35 years old couples who, using purposeful sampling method, will be selected from comprehensive health centers, ultrasound centers, laboratories, premarital counseling centers, offices of obstetricians and midwives, universities, shopping centers, cinemas, parks, restaurants, and entertainment centers in Isfahan, Iran. Sampling will continue considering the strategy of maximum variation in terms of age, occupation, education, and economic status until data saturation is reached. Data will be collected through semi-structured and in-depth individual interviews, focus group discussions, observation, field notes, daily notes, and document analysis. Simultaneous with data collection, the data will be analyzed using the thematic analysis method based on Braun and Clarke's approach.

CONCLUSION

This present study is expected to lead to a deep understanding and identification of the attitudes, beliefs, and values of couples with regard to childbearing. Moreover, by understanding the pattern of childbearing behaviors of couples, useful information will be provided to the policymakers and planners for effective planning in the field of healthy childbearing. The findings can also be used in reproductive health counseling for newly married couples and community-based interventions.