Time Course of Treatment Seeking for Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR): A Comparative Study between Private and Government Healthcare Facilities in Guwahati, India

Pratyashee Ojah, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
Manas Ranjan Pradhan, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Infertility affects nearly 180 million couples globally, with South Asia having one of the highest primary infertility rates. In India, despite the growing demand for fertility services, disparities in accessibility persist, particularly between private and government healthcare facilities, affecting time to treatment. This cross-sectional study aims to compare the treatment-seeking time course of women undergoing Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) in a private and government facility in Guwahati, India. A total of 97 women were interviewed using a structured schedule, collecting data on sociodemographic characteristics and infertility treatment history. Time-related factors, such as pre-consultation (planning pregnancy, perception of infertility) and post-consultation (treatment duration, waiting time) phases, were analyzed. Preliminary findings show that women seeking treatment at government facilities delayed their initial consultation by an average of 10 months compared to those at private facilities. Additionally, private facility treatment seekers had a shorter treatment duration during their first MAR consultation and faced less waiting time between treatments. Treatment seekers devote more time to non-MAR treatments along with lengthy waiting times. These disparities highlight the need for improved accessibility and quicker transition between treatments, particularly in government facilities, to reduce the overall treatment duration and increase chances of successful conception.

Keywords: Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Population and Development, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

See extended abstract.