University students' knowledge about fertile period

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study is to identify the knowledge of the university students, who are from a university in a developed city, about the fertile period during which women can get pregnant. Methods: Research is a descriptive and cross- sectional study. Study population consisted of 2473 students from a university located in west part of Turkey. Sample included 1291 of those students. Data collected from questionnaires answered by the students were analyzed on the computer by using percentile and Chi-square statistical tests. Results: The mean age of the participants is approximately 23 and the ratio of males to females is close. The ratio of students who have sexual relationship experience is 38% (11.6% females; 66.6% males). 43.1% of the students have grown up in Aegean Region, and remaining students have grown up in other parts of the country. When investigating students' knowledge about fertile period during which pregnancy might occur 40% of students correctly identified fertile period as "two weeks before expected menstruation" Half of female students, and one third of males correctly identified fertile period. Knowledge level of fertile period is higher among students who have grown up in Aegean Region than those have grown up in other regions (p<0.05). Conclusions: Every 6 students out of ten either don't know fertile period or misinterpret it. Aegean Region is more developed as compared to other regions. Socio-economic and cultural characteristics of this region positively influenced young people's knowledge about fertility period.

Full text

HealthMED - Volume 6 / Number 9 / 2012
University students' knowledge about fertile
period
Sevgi Ozsoy1, Filiz Adana1, Hilal Sanli Colakoglu2
1 Adnan Menderes University, Aydin School of Health, Nursing Department, Aydın, Turkey,
2 Adnan Menderes University, Practice and Research Hospital, Gynaecology and Obstetric Department,
Aydın, Turkey.
Abstract Introduction
Objective: The aim of the present study is to
identify the knowledge of the university students,
who are from a university in a developed city,
about the fertile period during which women can
get pregnant.
Methods: Research is a descriptive and cro
ss-sectional study. Study population consisted of
2473 students from a university located in west
part of Turkey. Sample included 1291 of those stu
dents. Data collected from questionnaires answe
red by the students were analyzed on the computer
by using percentile and Chi-square statistical tests.
Results: The mean age of the participants is
approximately 23 and the ratio of males to fema
les is close. The ratio of students who have sexual
relationship experience is 38% (11.6% females;
66.6% males). 43.1% of the students have grown
up in Aegean Region, and remaining students
have grown up in other parts of the country. When
investigating students’ knowledge about fertile pe
riod during which pregnancy might occur 40% of
students correctly identified fertile period as “two
weeks before expected menstruation” Half of fe
male students, and one third of males correctly
identified fertile period. Knowledge level of fertile
period is higher among students who have grown
up in Aegean Region than those have grown up in
other regions (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Every 6 students out of ten either
don’t know fertile period or misinterpret it. Aege
an Region is more developed as compared to other
regions. Socio-economic and cultural characteri
stics of this region positively influenced young
people’s knowledge about fertility period.
Key words: University student, youth, fertile
period, knowledge, reproductive health, culture.
World Health Organization identifies the ages
between 15 and 24 as “young”. [1]. Today there are
approximately 1.2 billion young who are between
15 and 24 [2]. This age period, which includes tran
sition from childhood to adulthood, is an important
period during which physical, psychological and
sociological changes are experienced, some beha
viors and habits are gained and an adult lifestyle is
determined. Health habits and sexual behaviors are
also shaped during this period. Therefore, it is very
important that sexual health/ fertility health should
primarily be considered in adolescent education.
Previous research show that young people have
insufficient knowledge about fertility health [3, 4]
and that while they were informed they show safe
behaviors regarding fertility health [5, 6]. The fact
that young people in the world have insufficient
knowledge about fertility health and the importance
of education in fertility health have also mentioned
in international conferences [7, 8].
Population of Turkey is approximately 75 milli
on [9]. Significant part of the population (approxi
mately 13 million, 17%) consists of young people
between the age of 15 and 24, and most of the
se people are university students. According to
higher education statistics there were 3,296,373
university students in 2009 [10]. This number
constitutes 26.3% of young population and 4.5%
of total population.
Research on young fertility health conducted in
Turkey showed that females and males have in
sufficient knowledge about sexual health and fer
tility health [11-23].
Unwanted pregnancy is one of the important fer
tility health problems among young people. Young
people should know birth control methods and use
to avoid unwanted pregnancy. However, effective
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HealthMED - Volume 6 / Number 9 / 2012
usage of family planning methods mostly depen
ds on knowing during which period the woman
can most likely become pregnant in her menstru
al cycle. Therefore, understanding the basic ferti
lity physiology is a prerequisite to apply all birth
control methods effectively especially withdrawal
method, which is the most commonly used in Tur
key [24]. Özcebe et al. [12]’s in their “2007 Turkey
Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey” re
search reported that young people have insufficient
knowledge about woman-men fertility organs and
their anatomy and physiology and that 27.4% don’t
have accurate knowledge about fertility period.
However, as people’s age, education and socioeco
nomic status increase, and for people who live in
urbanized regions fertility health knowledge also
increases. However, studies conducted by univer
sity students showed that unmarried students have
already active sexual lives and that their knowledge
about sexual health/fertility health is insufficient.
[13-18, 20, 21, 23, 29-32].
The city in which the present study was con
ducted is a more modern, has a higher literacy rate
and welfare level, younger population, and more
popular for culture and sea tourism than many
other cities in Turkey [33]. It is predicted that the
se characteristics of the region might influence
whether young people know fertility periods.
The aim of the present study is to identify
whether university students of Aydin know ferti
lity periods during which women can get pregnant.
Methods
Study design, setting and sample
This research is a descriptive and a cross-sec
tional study. The research was conducted in Aydin,
which is located in west part of Turkey. City of
Aydin, with a population of 250,000, is a modern
city. Its literacy rate is high, and it is well devel
oped with its agriculture, industrial and touristic
institutions. 17.4% of its population (43,625) con
sists of young people between the age of 15 and
24 [34]. The university located in the city has ap
proximately 20,000 students.
There 10 faculties and junior colleges belong
ing to Adnan Menderes University. Study popu
lation consisted of 2473 registered senior students
of Adnan Menderes University during 2009-2010
academic years. Sample, included 1291 under
graduate senior students who participated to the
class when the study was conducted and who vol
unteered to participate to the study. The data were
collected by questionnaires between February and
May during spring semester in intro classes which
most students from all faculties and junior col
leges attend. Students were given informed con
sent about the study and answered the questions
by themselves on the questionnaires, which were
given to them with a sealed envelope.
Ethical considerations
Written consent forms were obtained from the
university, administrations. The studens were in
formed about the purpose of the study,verbal and
written consent was obtained as well. The research
was granted by Adnan Menders University Scien
tific Research Unit.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS
for Windows (Version 11.5; SPSS Inc., Chicago,
IL, USA). A chi-square test, t test and percentile
tests were used for comparisons among categori
cal variables. A p value <0.05 was considered sta
tistically significant
Results
Students are between the ages of 20 and 35,
and the mean age is 22.7±1.7. The ratio of males
to females is close, most students are unmarried,
and the ratio of students who have sexual relati
onship experience is 38% (11.6% females; 66.6%
males). 43.1% of the students reported that they
have grown up in Aegean Region, and remaining
students reported that they have grown up in other
parts of the country (Table 1).
When investigating students’ knowledge about
fertile period during which pregnancy might occur
40% of students correctly identified fertile period
as “two weeks before expected menstruation”
Half of female students, and one third of males
correctly identified fertile period. Yet, other stu
dents either had no idea about fertility period or
they had incorrect knowledge about it (Table 2).
Figure 1 shows the relation between students’
knowledge about fertility period and the regi
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HealthMED - Volume 6 / Number 9 / 2012
ons that they have grown up. According to this
graph, knowledge level of fertile period is higher
among students who have grown up in Aegean
Region than those have grown up in other regions
(x2=8.47, p< 0.05).
Table 1. Some characteristics o f students ’ (N=1291)
Characteristics n%
Age
20-24 1138 88.2
25< 153 11.8
Gender
Male 617 47.8
Female 674 52.2
Marital status
Married 25 1.9
Single 1266 98.1
Residence
At home with family/relatives 178 13.8
At dormitory 273 21.1
At home with friends 727 56.3
Alone 113 8.8
Region of born and grown
Aegean Region 557 43.1
Other regions 734 56.9
Sexual intercourse experience
Yes 489 37.9
No 802 62.1
The Ae gea n Reg ion Oth er regio ns
Re g io ns
x 2- 8 .47 p —0.0 04
Figure 1. The relation between students’
knowledge about fertility period and the regions
that they have grow n up (N=1291)
Discussion
Students participated to the study are on ave
rage 23 years old. Every 4 students out of ten had
sexual experiences and 4 out of10 knew fertile pe
riod accurately. The finding that 30% of students
don’t know fertility period is an important finding.
Research conducted in Turkish society and uni
versities showed that knowledge level about ferti
lity period during which a woman has the highest
probability of getting pregnant in her menstruation
cycle is low [12-14, 24]. Other researches in the
world were shown similar results [25-28].
According to Turkey Demographic and Health
Survey, 2008, among married women between
15 and 49 26% knows fertile period accurately,
30% don’t know and remaining unmarried wo
men have inaccurate knowledge [24]. A national
study conducted in Turkey identified that 27.4%
of young people accurately know fertile period
[12]. Other studies conducted by university stu
dents indicated this ratio as 37% [13], 59% and
31% [14]. Students in our study know fertility
periods better than students from rural regions
such as Inonu [13] and Dicle [14] Universities and
know less than students from Hacettepe Univer
sity [14], which is located in capital city of Turkey,
Ankara. Half of female students (48%), and one
third of males (32%) correctly identified fertile
period. Koluaçik’s research in [13] İnönü Univer
sity (43%-27%), Akin et. al’s research in [14] Ha
cettepe and Dicle University (%67-%48 and %43-
%23) females who accurately knows fertility peri
ods are higher than males. This difference implies
that males think that women are more responsible
to know fertility period than men.
City of Aydin is a more modern city than many
cities of Turkey. Its education level, especially
women’s education level is higher than avera
Table 2. K nowledge about fertile perio d o f students
Period of pregnancy may occur Male Female Totally
n % n % n %
After the menstrual bleeding 144 23.3 183 27.2 327 25.3
During menstual bleeding 36 5.8 8 1.2 44 3.4
Two weeks before expected menstruation 195 31.6 321 47.6 516 40.0
Every time 81.3 13 1.9 21 1.6
Don’t know 234 37.9 149 22.1 383 29.7
Totally 617 100 674 100 1291 100
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HealthMED - Volume 6 / Number 9 / 2012
ge. Birth rate is under Turkey’s average [33-35].
There are seven geographical regions in Turkey.
Aegean region to which Aydin also belongs, takes
the second place in “socio-economic development
index according to geographical regions” [33].
When investigating the effect of the region whe
re a person has grown up on the knowledge level
of the fertility period, it was found that differen
ces between regions were statistically significant
(p<.05), and that knowledge level of fertile period
is higher among students who have grown up in
Aegean Region than those have grown up in other
regions. Socio-cultural characteristics of the regi
on can influence children’s knowledge of fertility
health during their growing periods. In their rese
arch conducted in two universities from two diffe
rent regions, Akin et al. [14] stated that a region
where an individual has grown up influences one’s
knowledge related to fertility health. Some resear-
chs in turkey and other countries reported that as
education level and welfare level increase fertility
period knowledge increase [12, 25, 26].
As a conclusion, in our research young people’s
knowledge about fertility period is found to be low.
The finding that one third of young people don’t
have any idea about fertility period during which
pregnancy is a high probability is an important
finding of the present research. Males’ knowledge
about fertility period is less than females’ knowled
ge. Young people who have grown up in Aegean
region have better knowledge about fertility period
than young people from other regions. In Turkey,
every four young people out of ten are university
students. University education is an opportunity to
increase fertility health knowledge of these young
people who are the leaders of the future. In this
respect, universities, which are regarded as the last
step of formal education by most young people,
have important responsibilities for them.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank university ad
ministrations, all of the students who participated
in this study and and the Adnan Menders Univer
sity Scientific Research Unit for their support in
realizing this project.
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Corresponding Author
Sevgi Ozsoy,
Adnan Menderes University,
Aydin School of Health,
Nursing Department, Aydin,
Turkey,
E-mail: sevgigokdemirel@gmail.com
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