Modern and traditional practices of Turkish infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation was carried out to determine modern and traditional practices of infertile couples in Kayseri, Turkey.


METHODS
Two hundred and fifty-two infertile couples were selected from the study area. Modern and traditional practices of the infertile women and their husbands were investigated through a questionnaire. The effects of some factors on the utilization of traditional methods were analysed through the logistic regression method.


RESULTS
It was found out that 92.5% of the infertile women and 71.8% of their husbands had consulted a physician for infertility and 92.1% of the women and 32.6% of their husbands had applied for medical or surgical intervention. However, only 11.1% of the couples had attempted in vitro fertilization. In contrast, 61.5% of the infertile couples admitted to carrying out traditional practices. All traditional practices were more prevalent among the women than the men.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that traditional practices were more prevalent in the rural areas and among the older couples.
Günay
O
O
Department of Public Health, Erciyes University, Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey.
Cetinkaya
F
F
Naçar
M
M
Aydin
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014505:Urban Population