Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Fateme Ahmadi Rezamahaleh
- . Talat Khadivzadeh 1
- . Seyed Mohsen Asgharinekah 2
- . Habibollah Esmaeili 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 PH.D in Biostatistics, Professor, Social Department of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fertility is always one of the most important functions of the family. Having a
child equals growing up and entering the adult world. Adoption is one of the methods that can be
considered to treat infertility. One of the duties of health professionals, especially midwives, is to
advise and educate infertile people, which helps them in a way beyond medical treatment. Therefore,
this study was conducted to determine the effect of face‑to‑face and telephone counseling on the
desire for adoption in infertile couples.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a two‑group counseling intervention study that was
performed on 34 infertile couples referred to Mashhad Infertility Center. Infertile couples were randomly
assigned to face‑to‑face and telephone counseling groups. All participants completed the Adoption
Adoption Questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study. Data were analyzed by spss16 software.
RESULTS: The mean score of propensity to adopt in the face‑to‑face counseling group 2 weeks after
the intervention was significantly higher than before the intervention. Furthermore, the mean score
of desire for adoption in the telephone counseling group increased significantly 2 weeks after the
intervention compared to before (P < 0.001). Adoption scores varied in the face‑to‑face counseling group
at 3.15 and in the telephone counseling group at 3.23. There was no statistically significant difference
between the two groups (P < 0.885). The most common reason for not wanting to adopt was hope
for self‑treatment and having children (70.6% women and 67.6% men). The most common reason for
accepting an adopted child was the strong need to have a child (23.5% in women and 23.5% in men).
CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, counseling can increase people’s awareness
of the conditions of adoption and thus increase the desire of people to accept the adopted child. For
this reason, considering adoption counseling sessions for infertile couples who have been receiving
infertility treatment for a long time but have not become pregnant can help the couple decide.
Keywords
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