LAND OF FIRE, HEARTS OF ICE: PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE INVOLUNTARY CHILDLESSNESS IN AZERBAIJAN

Authors

  • Bahar Graefen College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA
  • Aytan Abdullayeva Scientific Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Araz Jabrayilov The International School of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Gulgaz Alakbarova Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Khayala Tahmazi Scientific Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Jamila Gurbanova Scientific Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Nadeem Fazal College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v6i2.158

Keywords:

childlessness, infertility, psychology, mental health, Azerbaijan

Abstract

Involuntary childlessness is a common and distressing problem affecting millions of couples worldwide. This phenomenon can have a profound impact on the psychological, emotional, and social well-being of individuals and couples, leading to feelings of grief, shame, and social isolation. This study aims to examine the psychological factors related to involuntary childlessness in Azerbaijan specifically. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Proquest, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing, and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Scopus were used as well as hand searching. Grey literature was searched using Google and Google Scholar, and the snowballing method was used to identify additional sources. The findings underscore the importance of integrating psychological care into fertility treatment programs and training medical professionals to provide holistic care to patients undergoing fertility treatment. To address the psychological impact of infertility, it is recommended that medical education, psychological services, and medical-psychological examination and treatment procedures be implemented at a national level. Further research should also be conducted to determine the effectiveness of psychotherapy for infertility-related issues, and appropriate psychosocial rehabilitation plans should be developed and implemented based on the results.

 

Author Biographies

  • Bahar Graefen, College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA

    Bahar Graefen, MD, MScPH, PhD is Fulbright Scholar and working as Postdoctoral Visiting Researcher at Chicago State University. She is a member of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and American Public Health Association (APHA).

  • Nadeem Fazal, College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, USA

    Nadeem Fazal, MD, PhD is Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at Chicago State University. He is a member of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) and American Society for Microbiology (ASM). His areas of expertise include Immunology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, and Infectious Diseases.

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Published

2023-10-23

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Articles

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How to Cite

LAND OF FIRE, HEARTS OF ICE: PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE INVOLUNTARY CHILDLESSNESS IN AZERBAIJAN. (2023). European Journal of Public Health Studies, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejphs.v6i2.158