Research Posters

Globally nearly half the instances of infertility are the result of a male condition. Yet, reproductive health research has tended to focus on female experiences. Research here presents narratives of infertility and treatment seeking in regions of Middle-East, Africa, and South Asia and discusses men’s experiences and perspectives. Male experiences of infertility often include instances of shame, disintegration of relationships, economic vulnerability in face of childlessness, mental health concerns, and feelings of inadequacy. Additionally, we see how while fertility treatments for men may have increased chances of achieving biological kinship for some, these techniques have also increased anxieties related to infidelity or kinship especially if using donor sperm or ICSI. Thus, biomedical treatments are not always culturally ‘effective’ and researchers advocate for traditional forms of treatment that alleviate emotional distress.

Many rural regions of Africa are characterized by extensive individual-level multilingualism. A typical adult may speak several local languages, as well languages of wider communication such as French or English. Little is known about how language choice affects the reception and understanding of messages related to health in these parts of the world.

Vernacular homes in the rural village of Devgain, Jharkhand, India display the deep connection that villagers have with the surrounding environment. Homes are constructed using local, natural (and mostly free) resources. The traditional form of housing consists of mud walls, clay roof tiles, and timber frames. This design responds effectively to the hot, tropical climate.However, homes face rapid deterioration from erosion each rainy season, along with other issues of water and property damage –leading to frequent, time-consuming, and labor-intensive maintenance –which, if neglected, can cause greater issues of health and safety. Changing climatic conditions and ambivalent weather patterns have exacerbated these conditions, and residents cannot keep up. About 90% of families sustain themselves through agriculture -many being subsist farmers. Yields have dropped at alarming rates due to the rapidly changing climatic conditions. Recurring heavy losses leave farmers under mounting debt.[1]