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<p>Infertility is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, where women face profound stigmatization rooted in patriarchal norms equating womanhood with motherhood. Despite its psychological impact, the mechanisms through which stigma leads to trauma remain underexplored. This study explored the forms of infertility-related stigma, its internalization, and the coping strategies adopted by affected women. Using a phenomenological qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 women receiving treatment at Dipshikha Infertility Care and Counselling Center (DICCC) in Sylhet, along with five key informants. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis, guided by Goffman’s Stigma Theory and the Modified Labeling Theory. Findings revealed four interconnected themes, such as social stigma (invasive questioning, gendered blame, scapegoating despite male infertility); internalized stigma (shame, inadequacy, identity disruption); emotional consequences (distress, isolation, conflict between traditional beliefs and modern reproductive technologies); and coping strategies (self-care, prayer, selective disclosure, treatment-seeking). The interaction of these factors generates a cycle in which reinforced stigma and silence sustain social stigma. Mapping this process underscores infertility-related stigma in Bangladesh as a social justice issue, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive mental health support, public awareness initiatives, and couple-centered reproductive healthcare to promote reproductive justice.</p>

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Stigma-Driven Trauma and Coping Strategies of Women Experiencing Infertility in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月8日

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  • Priyanka Bhattacharjee,
  • Tulshi Kumar Das,
  • Rituparna Bhattacharyya

摘要

Infertility is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, where women face profound stigmatization rooted in patriarchal norms equating womanhood with motherhood. Despite its psychological impact, the mechanisms through which stigma leads to trauma remain underexplored. This study explored the forms of infertility-related stigma, its internalization, and the coping strategies adopted by affected women. Using a phenomenological qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 women receiving treatment at Dipshikha Infertility Care and Counselling Center (DICCC) in Sylhet, along with five key informants. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis, guided by Goffman’s Stigma Theory and the Modified Labeling Theory. Findings revealed four interconnected themes, such as social stigma (invasive questioning, gendered blame, scapegoating despite male infertility); internalized stigma (shame, inadequacy, identity disruption); emotional consequences (distress, isolation, conflict between traditional beliefs and modern reproductive technologies); and coping strategies (self-care, prayer, selective disclosure, treatment-seeking). The interaction of these factors generates a cycle in which reinforced stigma and silence sustain social stigma. Mapping this process underscores infertility-related stigma in Bangladesh as a social justice issue, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive mental health support, public awareness initiatives, and couple-centered reproductive healthcare to promote reproductive justice.