Variation in Self-Perceived Fecundity among Young Adult U.S. Women.
Journal
Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
ISSN: 1878-4321
Titre abrégé: Womens Health Issues
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9101000
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
05
03
2020
revised:
06
07
2020
accepted:
14
07
2020
pubmed:
26
8
2020
medline:
5
1
2021
entrez:
26
8
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Individuals' perceptions of their fecundity, or biological ability to bear children, have important implications for health behaviors, including infertility help-seeking and contraceptive use. Little research has examined these perceptions among U.S. women. This cross-sectional study examines perceptions of one's own fecundity among U.S. women aged 24 to 32 who participated in the 2009-2011 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) cohort. Analyses were limited to 3,088 women who indicated that they or their partners never received a doctor's diagnosis regarding fertility difficulties. Of the women in the sample, 67% perceived their hypothetical chances of becoming pregnant as very likely; the remainder perceived their chances as somewhat likely (13%), not as likely (15%), or provided a "don't know" response (6%). Twenty-six percent of Black women and 19% of Latina women perceived themselves as not very likely to become pregnant, compared with only 12% among non-Black/non-Latina women (p < .001). Only 6% of women with a college degree perceived their chances of becoming pregnant as not very likely, compared with 36% among women without a high school degree (p < .001). Racial/ethnic and educational differences persisted in fully adjusted models. Other factors associated with fecundity self-perceptions include partnership status, parity, fertility expectations, sexual activity, prolonged exposure to unprotected intercourse for at least 6 and/or 12 months without becoming pregnant, and self-rated health. Findings indicate that self-perceived fecundity differs systematically by demographic and other characteristics. This phenomenon should be investigated further to understand how it may influence disparities in health behaviors and outcomes.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Individuals' perceptions of their fecundity, or biological ability to bear children, have important implications for health behaviors, including infertility help-seeking and contraceptive use. Little research has examined these perceptions among U.S. women.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study examines perceptions of one's own fecundity among U.S. women aged 24 to 32 who participated in the 2009-2011 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) cohort. Analyses were limited to 3,088 women who indicated that they or their partners never received a doctor's diagnosis regarding fertility difficulties.
RESULTS
Of the women in the sample, 67% perceived their hypothetical chances of becoming pregnant as very likely; the remainder perceived their chances as somewhat likely (13%), not as likely (15%), or provided a "don't know" response (6%). Twenty-six percent of Black women and 19% of Latina women perceived themselves as not very likely to become pregnant, compared with only 12% among non-Black/non-Latina women (p < .001). Only 6% of women with a college degree perceived their chances of becoming pregnant as not very likely, compared with 36% among women without a high school degree (p < .001). Racial/ethnic and educational differences persisted in fully adjusted models. Other factors associated with fecundity self-perceptions include partnership status, parity, fertility expectations, sexual activity, prolonged exposure to unprotected intercourse for at least 6 and/or 12 months without becoming pregnant, and self-rated health.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that self-perceived fecundity differs systematically by demographic and other characteristics. This phenomenon should be investigated further to understand how it may influence disparities in health behaviors and outcomes.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32839092
pii: S1049-3867(20)30067-0
doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.07.002
pmc: PMC7769880
mid: NIHMS1614712
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
31-39Subventions
Organisme : NICHD NIH HHS
ID : T32 HD007275
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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