01 Sociocultural Factors Influencing Infertile Couples to Consult Faith Healers in Southern Punjab

Abstract

Present study explores the sociocultural influences motivating infertile couples to consult faith healers in southern Punjab. The study was conducted under positivistic epistemological stance and tried to find out the causal relationship between sociocultural factors and consultation with faith healers by infertile couples. For the present study, 261infertile couples were selected from Multan, Lodhran and Bahawalpur districts in southern Punjab. Inclusion criteria for sample consist of couples having primary infertility, married for two years and visiting the faith healer. A semi structured interview schedule was constructed to conduct the cross sectional survey of the sampled population. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to find out the relationship hypothesized. Findings indicate that poor socio economic status, religiosity, traditional gender roles, social pressure (family, peer, in laws),appropriateness of faith healing for women to practice were the major factors influencing infertile couples to consult the faith healers in the study area.