Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (4): 272-277.doi: 10.12280/gjszjk.20240569

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Latent Profile Analysis of Stigma in Infertile Women and Influencing Factors

CHEN Chang-e, LUO Gui-ying, WANG Chun-yan, WANG Dan-ni, WANG Jie-yu()   

  1. Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China (CHEN Chang-e, LUO Gui-ying, WANG Chun-yan, WANG Jie-yu); Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China (WANG Dan-ni)
  • Received:2024-11-25 Published:2025-07-15 Online:2025-07-28
  • Contact: WANG Jie-yu, E-mail: wangjieyu0602@yeah.net

Abstract:

Objective: Based on the latent profile analysis, to understand the categorical characteristics of stigma in infertile women and the influencing factors of stigma in those infertile women. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using convenience sampling to select 345 infertile women who visited the Reproductive Medicine Center of The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from April 2020 to June 2020. The General Information Survey, Female Infertility Stigma Scale (ISS), and Herth Hope Index (HHI) were used for the evaluation of stigma. Results: Latent profile analysis showed that the characteristics of stigma in infertile women were divided into three potential categories: "low stigma and low family stigma group" 150 cases (43.48%), "middle stigma group" 140 cases (40.58%), and "high stigma and high social stigma group" 55 cases (15.94%). There were significant differences in the stigma among different categories of infertile women in terms of educational level, occupation, marital history, place of residence, and relationship with their husbands (all P<0.05). Using the "low stigma and low family stigma group" as a reference, high school/vocational education level (OR=2.484, P=0.048) is a risk factor for the "middle stigma group", while being in a first marriage (OR=0.268, P=0.006) is a protective factor for the "middle stigma group". Living in rural towns (OR=2.764, P=0.046) is a risk factor for the "high stigma and high social stigma group", whereas having a good relationship with the husband (OR=0.382, P=0.034) and having a high total HHI score (OR=0.582, P=0.010) are two protective factors for the "high stigma and high social stigma group". Using the "middle stigma group" as a reference, having a high total HHI score (OR=0.531, P=0.002) is a protective factor for the "high stigma and high social stigma group". Conclusions: Clarifying the potential categories of stigma among infertile women can help medical staff take intervention measures targeting the influencing factors to reduce their feeling of stigma, and improve their psychological health.

Key words: Infertility, female, Hope, Root cause analysis, Stigma, Latent profile analysis