Ignorance could hurt: an assessment of fertility awareness, childbirth intentions and parenting attitudes among university students
-
Olumide Abiodun
,
Kamil Alausa
Abstract
Background:
An emerging pattern of increasing median age at first birth among women has been well documented in Western countries. A similar but less remarkable trend is being experienced in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a paucity of information in Sub-Saharan Africa about awareness of age-related fertility decline. The aim of this study was to assess the perception of fertility, childbirth intentions and parenting attitudes among university students.
Materials and methods:
A cross-sectional survey of 231 female and 158 male students randomly selected university undergraduates in Nigeria using a self-reported questionnaire.
Results:
The respondents overestimated the ages of slight (92.1%) and marked decline (89.4%) in female fertility. The chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex during ovulation was overestimated by 93.1% of the respondents. Over three-quarters of them overestimated the success rate of in-vitro fertilization. The sources of information regarding fertility issues were mainly school (40.1%), the media (20.6%) and family members (18.8%). About 98.7% of the childless respondents reported an intention to have children in the future. The mean number of children desired was 3.29±1.14. Females desire to have their first and last children earlier than males (p=0.000). The perceived potential obstacles to having the desired children were the pursuit of career aspirations (35.5%) and the pursuit of personal interests (20.8%).
Conclusions:
Misconceptions about fertility issues have grave implications for involuntary childlessness and secondary infertility. Comprehensive family planning education that will address the misconceptions about female fecundity and parenting issues are required.
Authors’ contributions: OA designed the study, collected the sample, instrumentation design, conducted data analysis, wrote the initial draft of the manuscript and participated in all aspects of the study. KA participated in data analysis and in the study design. OO conducted the literature review and participated in data analysis and manuscript construction. All authors contributed to the revisions to the manuscript.
We hereby transfer, assign, or otherwise convey all copyright ownership, including any and all rights incidental thereto, exclusively to the journal, in the event that such work is published by the journal.
Conflict of interest statement: No external funding was sought or obtained for this study. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
1. Mathews T, Hamilton B. Delayed childbearing. Hyattsville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics; 2009.Suche in Google Scholar
2. Statistics Sweden. Population Statistics 2004. Orebro; 2005.Suche in Google Scholar
3. van de Walle E. Recent trend in marriage ages. In: Foote K, Hill K, Martin L, editors. Demographic change in Sub-Saharan Africa [Internet], 1st ed. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 1993 [cited 24 April 2016]:138–41. Available from: http://www.nap.edu/read/2207/chapter/5.Suche in Google Scholar
4. Federal Ministry of Health. National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 [Internet]. Abuja: FMOH, 2014. Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR293/FR293.pdf.Suche in Google Scholar
5. Heck K, Schoendorf K, Ventura S, Kiely J. Delayed childbearing by education level in the United States, 1969–1994. Matern Child Health J 1997;1:81–8.10.1023/A:1026218322723Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
6. Benzies K, Tough S, Tofflemire K, Frick C, Faber A, et al. Factors influencing women’s decisions about timing of motherhood. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2006;35:625–33.10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00079.xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed
7. Tydén T, Svanberg A, Karlström P, Lihoff L, Lampic C. Female university students’ attitudes to future motherhood and their understanding about fertility. Eur J Contracep Reprod Health Care 2006;11:181–9.10.1080/13625180600557803Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
8. Bretherick K, Fairbrother N, Avila L, Harbord S, Robinson W. Fertility and aging: do reproductive-aged Canadian women know what they need to know? Fertil Steril 2010;93:2162–8.10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.01.064Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
9. Cooke A, Mills T, Lavender T. ‘Informed and uninformed decision making’ – Women’s reasoning, experiences and perceptions with regard to advanced maternal age and delayed childbearing: a meta-synthesis. Int J Nurs Studi 2010;47:1317–29.10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.06.001Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
10. Federal Ministry of Health. National Demographic and Health Survey 2008 [Internet]. Abuja: FMOH; 2009. Available from: http://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR222/FR222.pdf.Suche in Google Scholar
11. Peterson B, Pirritano M, Tucker L, Lampic C. Fertility awareness and parenting attitudes among American male and female undergraduate university students. Hum Reprod 2012;27:1375–82.10.1093/humrep/des011Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
12. Greil A, Slauson-Blevins K, McQuillan J. The experience of infertility: a review of recent literature. Sociol Health Ill 2010;32:140–62.10.1111/j.1467-9566.2009.01213.xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
13. Tough S, Benzies K, Fraser-Lee N, Newburn-Cook C. Factors influencing childbearing decisions and knowledge of perinatal risks among Canadian men and women. Matern Child Health J 2007;11:189–98.10.1007/s10995-006-0156-1Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
14. Schmidt L, Sobotka T, Bentzen J, Nyboe Andersen A. Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Hum Reprod Update 2011;18:29–43.10.1093/humupd/dmr040Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
15. American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Age and Fertility: A guide for patients. Patient information series 2012 [Internet]. 2013. Available from: http://docplayer.net/423961-Age-and-fertility-a-guide-for-patients-patient-information-series.html.Suche in Google Scholar
16. Bertarelli Foundation Scientific Board T. Public perception on infertility and its treatment: an international survey. Hum Reprod 2000;15:330–4.10.1093/humrep/15.2.330Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
17. Lampic C, Svanberg A, Karlstrom P, Tynden T. Fertility awareness, intentions concerning childbearing, and attitudes towards parenthood among female and male academics. Hum Reprod 2006;21:558–64.10.1093/humrep/dei367Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
18. Virtala A, Vilska S, Huttunen T, Kunttu K. Childbearing, the desire to have children, and awareness about the impact of age on female fertility among Finnish university students. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2011;16:108–15.10.3109/13625187.2011.553295Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
19. Blake D, Smith D, Bargiacchi A, France M, Gudex G. Fertility awareness in women attending a fertility clinic. Aus N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 1997;37:350–2.10.1111/j.1479-828X.1997.tb02429.xSuche in Google Scholar
20. Leridon H. Can assisted reproduction technology compensate for the natural decline in fertility with age? A model assessment. Hum Reprod 2004;19:1548–53.10.1093/humrep/deh304Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
21. Centre for Disease Control. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) report. CDC; 2008.Suche in Google Scholar
22. Byamugisha JK, Mirembe FM, Faxelid E, Gemzell-Danielsson K. Emergency Contraception and Fertility awareness among University Students in Kampala, Uganda. Afr Health Sci 2006;6:194–200.Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
23. Rouchou B. Consequences of infertility in developing countries. Perspect Public Health 2013;133:174–9.10.1177/1757913912472415Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
24. Rovei V, Gennarelli G, Lantieri T, Casano S, Revelli A, et al. Family planning, fertility awareness and knowledge about Italian legislation on assisted reproduction among Italian academic students. Reprod Biomed Online 2010;20:873–9.10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.03.024Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
25. Hashiloni-Dolev Y, Kaplan A, Shkedi-Rafid S. The fertility myth: Israeli students’ knowledge regarding age-related fertility decline and late pregnancies in an era of assisted reproduction technology. Hum Reprod 2011;26:3045–53.10.1093/humrep/der304Suche in Google Scholar
26. The World Factbook [Internet]. Cia.gov. 2015 [cited 24 April 2016]. Available from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2256.html.Suche in Google Scholar
27. Schoen R, Astone N, Kim Y, Nathanson C, Fields J. Do fertility intentions affect fertility behavior? J Marriage Fam 1999;61:790.10.2307/353578Suche in Google Scholar
28. Oladokun A, Oladokun R, Morhason-Bello I, Arulogun O, Bamgboye A, et al. O708 Attitude of infertile women to child adoption in Nigeria. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2009;107:S296.10.1016/S0020-7292(09)61081-XSuche in Google Scholar
29. Makinde O, Olaleye O, Makinde O, Huntley S, Brown B. Baby factories in Nigeria: starting the discussion toward a national prevention policy. Trauma Violence Abuse 2015.10.1177/1524838015591588Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
30. Jegede A, Fayemiwo A. Cultural and ethical challenges of assisted reproductive technologies in the management of infertility among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria. Afr J Reprod Health 2010;14:115–27.Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
31. Rasch V, Knudsen L, Wielandt H. Pregnancy planning and acceptance among Danish pregnant women. Acta Obstet Gyn Scan 2001;80:1030–5.10.1034/j.1600-0412.2001.801111.xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed
32. Kemkes-Grottenthaler A. Postponing or rejecting parenthood? Results of a survey among female academic professionals. J Biosoc Sci 2003;35:213–26.10.1017/S002193200300213XSuche in Google Scholar PubMed
©2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Editorial
- Sibling abuse: a Cadmean victory for societal indifference!
- Original Articles
- Effectiveness of a modified dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents within a stepped-care model
- The parental role in adolescent screen related sedentary behavior
- Parental support for human papilloma virus vaccination by adolescents in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Evaluation of social anxiety, self-esteem, life quality in adolescents with acne vulgaris
- A retrospective chart review: adolescents with borderline personality disorder, borderline personality traits, and controls
- Orofacial pain and quality of life in early adolescents in India
- Immune status of representative infectious diseases among Japanese female university students
- Using photovoice in adolescent health research: a case-study of the Well-being of Adolescents in Vulnerable Environments (WAVE) Study in Ibadan, Nigeria
- Utilisation of maternal health services by adolescent mothers in Kenya: analysis of the demographic health survey 2008–2009
- Parents as partners in adolescent HIV prevention in Eastern and Southern Africa: an evaluation of the current United Nations’ approach
- Eating habits and presence of cardiovascular risks in children
- Ignorance could hurt: an assessment of fertility awareness, childbirth intentions and parenting attitudes among university students
- Influenza vaccination challenges in an at-risk student population: considerations for health services
- Case Report
- From oliguria to urinary incontinence: a case of Munchausen’s syndrome in an adolescent boy
- Short Communications
- Both high and low testosterone levels may play a role in suicidal behavior in adolescent, young, middle-age, and older men: a hypothesis
- Obesity and facial dysmorphism in an adolescent patient with a 16p11.2 microdeletion
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Editorial
- Sibling abuse: a Cadmean victory for societal indifference!
- Original Articles
- Effectiveness of a modified dialectical behaviour therapy for adolescents within a stepped-care model
- The parental role in adolescent screen related sedentary behavior
- Parental support for human papilloma virus vaccination by adolescents in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Evaluation of social anxiety, self-esteem, life quality in adolescents with acne vulgaris
- A retrospective chart review: adolescents with borderline personality disorder, borderline personality traits, and controls
- Orofacial pain and quality of life in early adolescents in India
- Immune status of representative infectious diseases among Japanese female university students
- Using photovoice in adolescent health research: a case-study of the Well-being of Adolescents in Vulnerable Environments (WAVE) Study in Ibadan, Nigeria
- Utilisation of maternal health services by adolescent mothers in Kenya: analysis of the demographic health survey 2008–2009
- Parents as partners in adolescent HIV prevention in Eastern and Southern Africa: an evaluation of the current United Nations’ approach
- Eating habits and presence of cardiovascular risks in children
- Ignorance could hurt: an assessment of fertility awareness, childbirth intentions and parenting attitudes among university students
- Influenza vaccination challenges in an at-risk student population: considerations for health services
- Case Report
- From oliguria to urinary incontinence: a case of Munchausen’s syndrome in an adolescent boy
- Short Communications
- Both high and low testosterone levels may play a role in suicidal behavior in adolescent, young, middle-age, and older men: a hypothesis
- Obesity and facial dysmorphism in an adolescent patient with a 16p11.2 microdeletion
