Effectiveness of Comprehensive Self-Care Supervised Intervention Package on Lifestyle Factors in Primary Infertile Women Visiting Infertility Centres at Selected Hospitals in Goa: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a crucial reproductive health problem affecting women physically, socially, psychologically and emotionally. Lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep and healthy behaviours play a crucial role to improve the fertility outcomes. Structured comprehensive self-care interventions may improve lifestyle practices among infertile women and enhance their overall reproductive health. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured comprehensive self-care supervised intervention package on lifestyle factors among primary infertile women attending infertility centres. Methods: A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted among 20 primary infertile women attending infertility centres in Goa. Using envelop method participants were randomly allocated into intervention (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The intervention group received a structured comprehensive self-care supervised intervention package, while the control group received routine care on consultation which included advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle factors were assessed using a validated self-structured Lifestyle Assessment Inventory before and after 30 days of intervention. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Before intervention, all participants (100%) in both experimental and control groups had average lifestyle scores. Following the intervention, 80% of women in the intervention group achieved good lifestyle scores, whereas all participants in the control group remained in the average category. The mean post-test lifestyle score in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (Mean=63.3, t=23.87, p<0.001). Within-group analysis also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in lifestyle scores among the intervention group (Mean=92, t=25.56, p<0.001). Conclusion: The structured comprehensive self-care supervised intervention package was highly effective in improving lifestyle factors among primary infertile women. By including such interventions into infertility management programmes may improve health-promoting behaviours and potentially enhance fertility outcomes.