A qualitative study of Ottawa university students’ awareness, knowledge and perceptions of infertility, infertility risk factors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART)

Reproductive Health

Karen P Phillips²  Olivia Remes¹  Amanda N Whitten¹  Zainab Khan¹  Kelley-Anne Sabarre¹ 

[1] Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

关键词: ART;    Risk perception;    University students;    Qualitative;    Infertility;   

Others  :  811338
DOI  :  10.1186/1742-4755-10-41

 received in 2013-04-18, accepted in 2013-08-15,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Awareness of infertility risk factors is an essential first step to safeguard future fertility. Whereas several studies have examined university students’ awareness of female fertility and related risk factors, the topic of male infertility has not been well examined. The objective of this study was to assess young men and women’s awareness, knowledge and perceptions of infertility, male and female infertility risk factors and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2008 with a multi-ethnic sample of sixteen male and twenty-three female Ottawa university students, followed by qualitative data analysis to identify major themes. Interview topics included awareness of male and female infertility risk factors, infertility diagnosis/treatments and personal options in the event of future infertility.

Results

Participants were generally familiar with infertility as a biomedical health problem, could identify sex-specific risk factors but overestimated fertility of women in their thirties and ART success rates. Reproductive health knowledge gaps and confusion of the physiological life-stage of menopause with infertility were apparent. Most participants would pursue in vitro fertilization or international adoption in the event of personal infertility. Some participants wished to use a ‘natural’ approach and were concerned with potential side effects of ART-related medications.

Conclusions

The general awareness of infertility in young adults is promising and supports the potential uptake for health promotion of fertility preservation. This study underscores the continued need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and promotion for adolescents and young adults.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Sabarre et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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