Socioeconomic and racial disparities among infertility patients seeking care

Tarun Jain*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

253 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To examine sociodemographic differences based on patient race/ethnicity among infertility patients seeking care in a state with mandated coverage of infertility treatment. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: University-hospital-based fertility center. Patient(s): A total of 1,500 consecutive women who presented for infertility care. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Self-report questionnaire assessing patient race/ethnicity, diagnosis, income, education level, and duration of infertility before seeking care. Result(s): African American women experienced a significantly longer duration of infertility before seeking care compared with Caucasian women (4.3 vs. 3.3 years, respectively; P=.03). With regard to infertility diagnosis, a significantly greater proportion of African American and Hispanic women had tubal factor infertility compared with Caucasian women (24.0% and 27.3% vs. 5.3%, respectively; P=.001). Looking at the highest level of education attained by patients, a significantly greater proportion of African American and Hispanic women had less than a 4-year college degree compared with Caucasian women (48% and 40.9% vs. 13.2%, respectively; P<.001). Examining the gross annual household income of patients, a significantly greater proportion of African American and Hispanic women had household incomes below $100,000 compared with Caucasian women (72% and 68.2% vs. 37.3%, respectively; P<.01). Conclusion(s): African American women are more likely to seek infertility treatment after a longer duration of failed conception compared with Caucasian women. Furthermore, African American, and Hispanic women are more likely to have tubal factor infertility, a lower education level, and a lower household income compared with Caucasian women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)876-881
Number of pages6
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume85
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2006

Funding

Supported by the National Institutes of Health Contraception and Infertility Research LRP.

Keywords

  • ART
  • Access to care
  • Health disparities
  • IVF
  • In vitro fertilization
  • Infertility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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