‘It's like donating blood’: Ghanaian university students' knowledge and attitudes towards egg and sperm donation

Abstract

There is anecdotal evidence that third-party reproduction, in particular gamete donation, is on the rise in Ghana. This is not surprising, considering the country has adopted assisted conception through the use of reproductive technologies for the past three decades. These technologies primarily aid infertile couples in Ghana in fulfilling their procreative responsibilities within the Ghanaian family and society. Potential donors' opinions regarding gamete donation have received minimal attention in the Ghanaian discourse on assisted reproductive technology (ART) usage. This study explores the knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate university students regarding gamete donation. The study utilized a qualitative methodology, which included 21 in-depth telephone interviews with students who were potential gamete donors. The data were thematically analyzed. The results of the study show that the participants knew that gamete donation was performed in Ghana. Positive sentiments about the technique were motivated by altruism, whereas negative attitudes were motivated by the urge to adhere to cultural norms that stigmatize incest and children conceived by artificial means. The decision to donate or decline egg or sperm donation was significantly influenced by one's religious convictions.

Keywords

• Egg donation
• Sperm donation
• Knowledge
• Attitudes
• Qualitative
• Ghana