October Health – 2025 Report

Fertility in Zimbabwe

- Leading population-level driver: Economic insecurity and poverty. In Zimbabwe, low income, high unemployment, and rising living costs constrain people’s ability to plan, support, and access health services for childbearing, mounting stress around fertility. - Other major factors: - Barriers to reproductive health services (cost, distance, shortages of providers) including contraception and infertility care. - HIV prevalence and related stigma and health concerns that affect fertility decisions and stress. - Strong socio-cultural expectations and gender norms around childbearing, pressuring individuals or couples to have children. - Workplace mental health note: Companies can mitigate fertility-related stress by offering confidential counseling, flexible work arrangements, and access to reproductive health resources. October can support with digital group sessions and content on fertility and reproductive health stress if appropriate.

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Fertility Prevalence
7.71%
Affected people
4,240,500

Impact on the people of Zimbabwe

Effects of high fertility stress on health and personal life

  • Health effects

    • Mental health: higher anxiety, depressive symptoms, mood swings
    • Sleep and energy: insomnia or disrupted sleep, persistent fatigue
    • Physical symptoms: headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues
    • Chronic stress risks: ongoing stress can contribute to high blood pressure, weight changes, and weakened immunity

  • Personal life effects

    • Relationships: communication gaps, increased conflict, reduced sexual intimacy
    • Social/financial pressures: stigma or judgment, isolation, cost and burden of fertility treatments
    • Future planning: uncertainty about timelines and family-building goals

  • Workplace/daily functioning (relevant in Zimbabwe and many settings)

    • Concentration and productivity: difficulty focusing, more frequent absences or presenteeism

  • Coping strategies

    • Seek support: partner open dialogue, fertility-focused counseling, or group sessions (October can offer digital group support if appropriate)
    • Stress management: regular exercise, mindfulness or breathing practices, good sleep hygiene
    • Practical steps: set realistic timelines with your partner, create a simple budget for treatments, limit exposure to triggering social situations when needed
    • Professional help: talk to a healthcare or mental health professional about fertility-related stress and consider referral to fertility counseling

  • When to seek help

    • If you have persistent depression, thoughts of self-harm, or stress severely disrupts daily functioning; contact local mental health services or emergency resources.

Impact on the Zimbabwe Economy

  • Reduced productivity and presenteeism: Fertility-related stress can cause anxiety and burnout, lowering focus and efficiency at work. In Zimbabwe, this hits both formal and informal sectors where livelihoods are already fragile.

  • Higher health and social costs: Increased demand for mental health care, fertility counseling, and maternal health services can strain limited public health resources and social safety nets.

  • Labor market and gender effects: Caregiving burdens and stress may reduce women's participation and advancement, tightening the overall labor supply and affecting wage growth and productivity.

  • Demographic and macroeconomic implications: Persistent fertility stress can influence birth timing and rates, altering future age structure, dependency ratios, and long-term growth—particularly impactful in an economy with high unemployment and limited fiscal space.

  • Policy and business responses: Strengthen workplace mental health support, flexible work arrangements, and fertility-related resources. Consider digital solutions like October for group sessions and assessments to support employees dealing with fertility stress.

What can government do to assist?

  • Access to reproductive health and mental health services: Expand public clinics to cover family planning, infertility services, and confidential counseling for fertility stress; integrate mental health screening into reproductive health care.

  • Family-friendly policies: Ensure paid parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and affordable or subsidized childcare; protect jobs for parents and caregivers.

  • Economic protection and stability: Strengthen social protection (child allowances, wage support) and implement policies to stabilize prices and housing costs; ensure programs reach informal sector workers.

  • Workplace culture and policy: Encourage employers to adopt family-friendly practices, offer remote or flexible options, train managers to respond sensitively to fertility stress, and reduce stigma around infertility and parenting challenges.

  • Education and digital mental health support: Provide fertility education to improve planning and reduce stigma; expand digital mental health resources, including October digital group sessions, for fertility-stress support, with accessibility in rural areas and local languages.

What can businesses do to assist their employees?

  • Normalize and destigmatize fertility struggles

    • Leadership messaging that acknowledges fertility challenges, confidential channels for support, and manager training to respond with empathy.

  • Flexible work arrangements and compassionate leave

    • Flexible hours and remote options; compressed workweeks if needed; paid time off for fertility appointments and treatments; align with local Zimbabwean labor laws.

  • Fertility benefits and financial support

    • Consider coverage or subsidies for fertility treatments where feasible; provide information on local clinics; travel or accommodation assistance for treatments if possible.

  • Accessible mental health resources

    • Employee Assistance Program and fertility-focused counseling; group sessions (e.g., October) or digital resources; ensure privacy and confidentiality; schedule options around medical appointments.

  • Peer support and practical resources

    • Create an fertility-focused employee resource group; offer lunch-and-learns; provide an HR portal with vetted, locally relevant resources.