Knowledge transfer on assisted reproductive technology in Hungary

Hungary is among the countries where access to assisted reproduction is generously supported, and only state-owned healthcare providers are authorized to perform reproductive procedures. From this perspective, it is interesting to examine how knowledge transfer regarding assisted reproductive technology (ART) occurs in Hungary.

To this end, I conducted 24 telephone interviews with high school biology teachers between April 2021 and April 2023 to explore what is taught about ART and how interested students are in the topic. I recruited biology teachers from various types of high schools, including Budapest and small-town high schools, vocational schools, Budapest international private schools, and church-affiliated high schools.

The research revealed that there is no unified curriculum on assisted reproductive technology; most teachers decide for themselves what they want to teach about ART, and their own personal judgment and experiences with ART shape how they approach the topic. Furthermore, the type of school also determines how deeply they delve into ART. It seems that the topic is more important in international schools than in small-town high schools.

Another result of the research is that teachers often not only convey factual knowledge about ART but also transmit societal norms. For example, almost all of them reported discussing infertility issues in couples and how ART can help these couples. However, Hungary belongs to the group of countries that legally allow single women to participate in ART treatments. Furthermore, none of the teachers mentioned the possibility of reproduction through ART for lesbian women as a biological option for their students.

Knowledge transfer on assisted reproductive technology in Hungary