Background: The incidence of infertility is on the rise in India. Adoption remains a largely under researched field. Modest success rate of ART (Assisted Reproductive Techniques) coupled with lower rate of adoptions in India intrigued the researchers to go for the study. Objectives: The study aims to find the knowledge, attitude and practice of the infertile couples about adoption as an alternate to ART. It also brings out the difference between the opinion of the husband and wife regarding adoption. Further it makes an attempt to analyze and enlist the reasons which are responsible for the low rate of adoption. Material and methods: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study was carried out at a tertiary care ART center in Pune wherein 87 couples including 101 infertile subjects were interviewed using an objective and comprehensible questionnaire separately for husband and wife. The data was collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: 89% of couples were aware about adoptions and 77% had a positive opinion about them, however only 54% were willing to adopt in case ART is not successful. 65% preferred an orphan child and rest preferred a child in relation. Only 12% were aware of any adoption center and only 8% had knowledge about the legal process of adoption. 68% couples wanted to adopt a child of less than 6 months of age. For 60% gender of child didn’t matter. Only 42% couples expected support from family and relatives. Only 26% couples thought that the Indian society has a positive attitude towards adoptions. Want of a biological child, fear of illegitimacy; social stigma and uncertainty about adopted child’s genetic traits were the 4 most common causes with couples disagreeing to adopt. Conclusion: There is a need for generating awareness amongst prospective adoptive parents about the process, procedures and laws related to adoption. The society needs to be sensitized to develop a positive attitude towards adoption to create enabling environment.

Infertility, Adoption, ART, Suitable Child, Ethics