EFFECTS OF INFERTILITY ON MARITAL INSTABILITY AMONG COUPLES IN YELWA COMMUNITY BAUCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAUCHI STATE

ABSTRACT 7 Infertility has emerged as a growing social and health challenge with significant implications for marital stability, particularly in African societies where the ability to bear children is highly esteemed as a measure of family success and continuity. The inability of couples to conceive often creates tensions that go beyond the medical dimension, extending into cultural, psychological, and socio-economic spheres. This study investigates the effect of infertility on marital instability among couples in Yelwa Community, Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The main objectives were to examine the relationship between infertility and spousal conflict, to assess the psychological and emotional consequences of infertility on affected couples, and to determine the extent to which infertility contributes to marital instability, including separation, polygamy, and divorce. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with quantitative approaches. A total of 150 structured questionnaires were administered to purposively selected couples experiencing infertility; 100 questionnaires were validly completed and returned (response rate = 66.67%), while 50 questionnaires were invalid or unusable (33.33%). Data were obtained through these structured questionnaires and through in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that infertility significantly contributes to marital instability by heightening marital tension, generating emotional distress, encouraging family interference, and in some cases resulting in marital dissolution. Furthermore, the study indicated that women are more often blamed for childlessness and subjected to stigma, which exacerbates their psychological trauma and social exclusion. The study concludes that infertility is not only a medical problem but also a social phenomenon that undermines family cohesion, disrupts marital harmony, and deepens gender-based inequalities. Based on these findings, the study recommends improved access to affordable reproductive health services, pre- and post-marital counseling for couples, and community sensitization programs aimed at reducing stigma and promoting mutual support. Such interventions would not only address the health dimension of infertility but also mitigate its adverse effects on marital stability and family well-being. Keyword: Infertility, Marital Instability, Couples.