Battling with Failed Procreativity: Involuntarily Childless Patients’ Experiences in Bulawayo Public Hospitals, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Involuntarily childless women seeking medical attention in Bulawayo’s public hospitals sometimes experience loss reminders that lead to a depleted sense of worth and feelings of social rejection. The purpose of this study was to understand their psychological, sociocultural and spiritual experiences so as to develop an evidence-based wholistic approach of addressing their needs. Ten married childless women were interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews. The researcher adopted a qualitative paradigm. He utilized Giorgi’s phenomenological approach in analysing the data. Women in this study experienced many negative emotions that made them feel worthless. They could not fit in the company of those that had children. They also felt cursed by God or bewitched by their enemies. The study concluded that carefulness in treating involuntarily childless patients was essential. This included the selection of words when addressing them. A special ward for them was necessary in order to prevent the resurfacing of loss reminders. Adequate counselling before they left the hospital was viewed as imperative. Education and awareness were seen as invaluable in lowering the stigma attached to this challenge. The provision of chaplaincy services was comprehended as indispensable if these women were to receive wholistic patient care.