Complementary and alternative management of female infertility in African women : a systematic review protocol

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Although African women constitute the majority of the continent's population and play a central role in economic development, their reproductive health needs remain overlooked. Infertility is often regarded as a tragedy, carrying profound psychosocial consequences. The resulting stress and societal pressure undermine women's well-being and drive many to pursue alternative treatment options in their search for motherhood. This systematic review aims to map the existing evidence on complementary approaches to the management of female infertility in Africa. METHODS : A systematic review was conducted through searching English databases, including PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, Medline, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect. The screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts was conducted using searches such as CAM/therapy, women, and infertility. All studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 2020 to 2025 which examined women's needs in the field of CAM use were included in the review. Out of the 300 records reviewed, 30 studies were included in the final review. RESULTS : The 30 studies reviewed revealed widespread use of complementary approaches to infertility management among African women. These practices were shaped by sociocultural beliefs, psychosocial pressures, accessibility, and perceived limitations of conventional care. Overall, the findings indicate a strong tendency toward pluralistic health-seeking behaviors in the management of female infertility across African settings. CONCLUSION : Women experiencing infertility frequently seek treatments beyond conventional medicine, including herbal remedies, prayers, plant-based products, lifestyle and dietary changes, allopathic therapies, indigenous counselling, and acupuncture in their pursuit of pregnancy.