Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies among University Students in Health Sciences

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 91 - 96, 15.05.2025

Tiinçe Aksak

https://doi.org/10.19127/bshealthscience.1595087

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of university students in healthcare fields regarding infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), as well as to examine the impact of demographic factors on these attitudes. This descriptive survey was conducted at Toros University Faculty of Health Sciences and Vocational School of Health Services in Mersin, Türkiye. A sample of 469 participants completed a 24-item questionnaire covering demographic information, infertility knowledge, ART-related attitudes, and opinions on gamete donation. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27 software to identify relationships between demographic variables and attitudes toward infertility. Most participants were familiar with infertility but lacked detailed knowledge of its causes. Similarly, attitudes toward in vitro fertilization (IVF) were generally positive, but misconceptions about the legitimacy of IVF-conceived children were identified. Female students scored significantly higher on infertility attitude scales than male students (P<0.001). Awareness of gamete donation and related legal frameworks was notably low. However, attitudes toward gamete donation were found to correlate with general infertility attitudes (P=0.045). No significant differences were observed in infertility attitude scores between students familiar with the concept of gamete donation and those not (P=0.535). A substantial proportion of participants (74.9%) desired seminars on infertility and ART to be organized at universities, highlighting the demand for further educational efforts. The findings highlight the need to update educational curricula in health sciences to address knowledge gaps in infertility and ART. Incorporating ethical, legal, and psychosocial dimensions into training programs would better prepare students to support infertile individuals effectively. Further studies involving more diverse demographic groups could also inform targeted interventions to address these gaps.

Keywords

Infertility, Awareness, Knowledge, University students, Health science

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted with the approval of the Toros University Faculty of Health Sciences Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (approval date: September 27, 2024, protocol code: 14).

Project Number

no project number

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