The Experience of Infertility by Low-Income Immigrant Latino Couples: Attitudes Toward Adoption

Low-income immigrant Latino couples attending an infertility clinic in San Francisco participated in three in-depth interviews. Couples were unwavering in their desire to become parents by “natural” means, yet faced with the prospect of childlessness, many expressed a guarded willingness to consider adoption in the future. Although few had actually made the commitment or initiated steps toward formal adoption, several couples had experiences with adoption through informal channels. Couples generally expressed concerns about stigma and appeared daunted by financial and bureaucratic obstacles. Low-income Latino families in California would benefit from increased adoption information, research, and support.