TRADITIONAL CULTURAL SOCIO-RELIGIOSITY PRACTICES IN GLOBAL INFERTILITY TREATMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Infertility, a complex and diverse issue and in global, particularly within rural regions, it has been observed that a vast majority, approximately 80%, of individuals turn to practitioners of traditional medicine for assistance with various ailments, including infertility. Objective: Identify traditional practices used in the treatment of infertility in different countries, including herbal therapies, cultural rituals, and spiritual approaches. Design: In a systematic literature review conducted through the P.R.I.S.M.A, the keywords based on the research questions were "traditional medicine," "infertility," and "cultural practices." In processing article data for filtering using Zotero and scispase applications. The quality assessment tool of this study uses the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data Sources: Databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley Library, and Scopus, from 2014 to 2024 searching on September 2024. Review Methods: Databases were selected for extract data then detailed analysis. The exclusion criteria are those that cannot open full access to the article, and the purpose of the theme is not linear. By synthesizing existing literature. The search yielded 1310 Google Scholar entries, four from Scopus, 233 from Science Direct, 3 from PubMed, and 188 from Wiley Library, 18 valids articles. Results: Particularly in global, that of rural and urban populations opt for traditional medicine. In developing countries, particularly within rural locales, it is to address numerous health challenges, including infertility. Modifications in diet and lifestyle, rooted in traditional medicine, have been demonstrated to enhance the treatment of infertility significantly. Support from family, friends, and professionals, though necessary, is insufficient to fulfil the needs of individuals facing infertility, who are especially susceptible to complex stresses Conclusion: The study reveals that the use of traditional medicine such as herbal therapies, cultural rituals, and spiritual approaches is very common, especially in developing countries and rural areas. Factors such as accessibility, affordability, and cultural beliefs are the main reasons people choose this method, however, although many traditional practices show positive results