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Articles

CJBSS: Vol. 10 No.1, June 2019

Knowledge and Perception Regarding Infertility among University Students in Ile-Ife: A view through Gender Lens

  • Ayobami Atijosan, Olajumoke Adeyeye & Oluwatoyin Ogungbayi
DOI
https://doi.org/10.20370/cjbss.v10i1.1602
Submitted
August 26, 2019
Published
2019-06-29

Abstract

The knowledge of infertility is a decisive and principal step to safeguard future infertility. Studies have shown that university students are at higher risk of being infertile because they are more likely to postpone parenthood due to their academic and professional pursuits. Furthermore, they have insufficient or distorted fertility knowledge, stemming from sociocultural norms, traditions and beliefs.  However, not many researches have been conducted to study the knowledge and perceptions regarding infertility among university students from a gender perspective, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Gender used in the context of this study refers to sociocultural norms or traditions that shape our behaviors, preferences and knowledge This study investigated and analyzed gender-based perception and knowledge towards infertility amongst university students in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study adopted purposive sampling technique in which a total of 385 students were selected from Obafemi Awolowo University and Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. A questionnaire-based survey was used to assess their perceptions and knowledge on infertility. The study revealed that 59.7% of respondents believed that infertility is associated with female promiscuity and majority (53.2%) of respondents believed that infertility is a disease associated with women only. Through a gender lens, this study revealed that majority of the respondents (56%) have poor knowledge while 44% of the respondents have good knowledge regarding infertility. Increase in knowledge in order to deconstruct socio-cultural beliefs and norms regarding infertility is recommended for university students.