Gender Inequality and the Social Consequences of Infertility in Rural Punjab, Pakistan: A Human Rights Perspective

Abstract

Background: Infertility is an important concern regarding public health and social justice in developing countries as the patriarchal norms in these societies often put disproportionate burden on females. The gender inequality deepens the psycho-social and economic impacts of infertility in rural areas of Pakistan nurturing important worries about the reproductive rights, dignity and an equal access to healthcare.
Objective: The present research investigates how gender inequality constructs the social effects of infertility among rural couples in Central Punjab, Pakistan, from a perspective of human rights.
Methods: This study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional research design. A sample of 457 infertile couples was selected through multistage sampling from four rural districts of Central Punjab (Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang and Nankana Sahib). The data were collected using interview schedule which further were analyzed on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences through descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.
Results: Findings of the study highlight pervasive gender-based inequalities linked with infertility as 58% respondents reported facing social stigma and 55.6% experienced social exclusion. Almost 68.7% respondents faced pressure from their families to conceive children. 52.1 % females were blamed for infertility and a high level of secondary marital threats (Mean = 3.75) were reported by the respondents reflecting women's discriminating vulnerability within marital relationships. Furthermore, 62.1% respondents reported experiencing anxiety and depression while 70% recognized the high cost of treatment as major hurdles to healthcare access. Apart from this, the perceptions of divine retribution and the evil eye (cultural fatalism and religious beliefs) delayed medical treatment for over 40% respondents.
Conclusion: This research depicts that infertility is not merely a medical condition but a human right and gender justice issue in rural areas. It is essential to address the discriminatory social norms, strengthening legal and social policy protections and improving equitable access to reproductive healthcare to safeguarding the dignity, equality and reproductive rights of infertile couples particularly women.