Patients’ knowledge and searching behaviours for health establishments for male infertility at the department of male sexual medicine, Binh Dan hospital in 2017

Bui Dong Tien1*, Ha Van Nhu2

1Binh Dan Hospital

2Hanoi University of Public Health

Objectives: to describe the knowledge and behaviors of looking for infertility treatment services and some influencing factors of the out-patients at the Department of Male Sexual Medicine, Binh Dan Hospital in 2017.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study on 154 male out-patients at the Department of Male Sexual Medicine, Binh Dan Hospital from February to June 2017, using the cluster sampling method. The knowledge of male infertility was investigated at the cutting point of 70%. The qualitative data were collected from 13 indepth interviews with department heads, doctors at the Department of Male Sexual Medicine and 10 patients to identify affective factors.

Main findings: the rate of out-patients with adequate knowledge of male infertility was 18.2%. About the cause of male infertility, 71.4% of outpatients known about taking unknown medicine; 42.9% known about exposure to pesticides; 24.7% with alcohol and drug abuse; 24% with STDs and 23.4% with smoking. Regarding the behaviors of looking for infertility treatment services: 33.8% chose traditional medicines; private clinics (17.9%). The affective factors included: Lack of information on treatment facilities, geographic distance, worry about long waiting time, treatment costs. Conclusions: patients’ knowledge on male infertility was very poor, especially knowledge about the harm caused by drinking alcohol and smoking. Patients tended to choose traditional medicine or private clinic for treatment. Therefore, it was necessary to increase the dissemination of knowledge about male infertility and information about infertility treatment facilities.

Keywords: male infertility, knowledge, practice, Binh Dan hospital

*Corresponding author: Bui Dong Tien

Work place: Binh Dan Hospital

Email: dongtien1962@yahoo.vn