Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Clinical Determinants, Psychosocial Perceptions,and Service Accessibility Among Patients Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly in-vitro fertilization (IVF), has expanded the therapeutic options available to people experiencing infertility, access remains highly unequal. The objective of this study was to assess the socio-demographic characteristics, clinical and reproductive determinants, psychosocial perceptions, service accessibility, treatment experience, and patient recommendations among individuals undergoing ART in Benin City, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 150 patients undergoing ART in Benin City between Dec 2024 and Dec. 2025 in the IVF unit of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Edo Specialist Hospital Benin City using consecutive sampling technique to recruit participants with ethical approval number CMS/REC/2026/906 while statistical software SPSS version 26 was used for analysis. The mean age of respondents was 36.2 years (range 23–47 years). Females constituted 90.0% (n=135) and males 10.0% (n=15). Half of the respondents were aged 30–39 years, while 40.0% were aged 40–49 years. All respondents were married. Secondary education was reported by 56.7%, while 43.3% had tertiary education. Most respondents were self-employed (66.7%), and 63.3% reported monthly earnings of at least NGN 200,000. Rural residents constituted 53.3% of the sample. Clinically diagnosed infertility was documented in 93.3%, with secondary infertility accounting for 93.3% of respondents. IVF alone was the predominant treatment modality (93.3%). A substantial majority (83.3%) perceived ART as culturally unacceptable within their social environment, while none reported publicly disclosing their ART treatment. Personal privacy was the most frequently cited reason for non-disclosure (76.7%), followed by fear of social stigma (23.3%). Accessibility was perceived as difficult by 76.7% and very difficult by 23.3%. Despite these barriers, 86.6% rated their clinical experience as satisfactory or very satisfactory, and 93.3% would recommend the fertility centre to others. Conclusively ART patients in this Benin City study were predominantly women in their thirties and forties, married, economically active, and affected mainly by secondary infertility. Improving access to ART in Nigeria will require cost-reduction strategies, public or insurance-based financing, decentralization of fertility services, strengthening of specialist and laboratory capacity, confidential patient-centred care, and culturally sensitive psychosocial support.