Fertility Intentions and Awareness of Reproductive Aging among Final-Year Nigerian University Students

Abstract

The aim was to investigate university students’ intentions and towards future parenthood and their awareness regarding reproductive aging by a cross sectional survey of 167 male (40.6%) and 244 female (59.4%) students across two university campuses in southwest Nigeria. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS v.20. Analyses showed that female students were inclined to begin and end childbearing earlier than males (p = 0.000). Only 18.3% of male and 21.5% of female students correctly identified that female fertility markedly decreases by age 35. Males were significantly more likely to overestimate female fecundity above age 35; p = 0.000. Almost half of females (46.5%) intended to have children after age 35 years but 42.9% overestimated the probability of conception above 35 years of age. Intention to continue childbearing into older ages based on incorrect perceptions of reproductive aging could lead to involuntary childlessness among a population that values childbearing. Appropriate education to improve fertility awareness and knowledge could help young adults properly plan and make informed reproductive decisions.