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Vol.4 , No. 1, Publication Date: Jan. 8, 2018, Page: 1-8
 and two faculties on sciences (Faculty of Science and Faculty of Engineering) at Istanbul University during an academic semester. The convenience sample of the study was consisted of 1030 undergraduate students who were available at data collection periods, not married and agreed to participate in the study. Demographic and reproductive health-related characteristics, basic knowledge about fertility awareness, intentions for parenthood and the factors affecting their plans have been questioned using an interview form prepared by researchers. Among the participants, 62.1% (n=640) were female and 37.9% (n=390) were male students. Sexual activity (50.5%) and contraceptive use (79.2%) rates were higher among males compared to females (14.2% and 52.7%, respectively). Knowledge about fertile ages, fertile period and father's role in determining the sex of a child was poor. Parenthood was considered “important/very important” by both genders. Two-child family was the most desired family size and desired age to become a parent was between 25 and 30 years. The main factor that positively affected the women’s decision to have children was their “partners’ desire” whereas “continuing generation” had a greater influence on men’s decision. University students had limited knowledge of fertility awareness although they generally had positive attitudes towards being parents.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/894.jpg)
| [1] | Gülay Rathfisch, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. |
| [2] | Ilkay Güngör, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. |
| [3] | Nezihe Kızılkaya Beji, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biruni University, İstanbul, Turkey. |
| [4] | Sabire Yıldız, Kurtalan State Hospital, Siirt, Turkey. |
| [5] | Mehtap Akyaz Abaş, Namık Kemal University Hospital, Tekirdağ, Turkey. |
The aim of the study was to investigate fertility awareness and intentions for parenthood among male and female university students. This descriptive study was conducted in three faculties on social sciences (Faculty of Law, Faculty of Education and Vocational School of Social Sciences) and two faculties on sciences (Faculty of Science and Faculty of Engineering) at Istanbul University during an academic semester. The convenience sample of the study was consisted of 1030 undergraduate students who were available at data collection periods, not married and agreed to participate in the study. Demographic and reproductive health-related characteristics, basic knowledge about fertility awareness, intentions for parenthood and the factors affecting their plans have been questioned using an interview form prepared by researchers. Among the participants, 62.1% (n=640) were female and 37.9% (n=390) were male students. Sexual activity (50.5%) and contraceptive use (79.2%) rates were higher among males compared to females (14.2% and 52.7%, respectively). Knowledge about fertile ages, fertile period and father's role in determining the sex of a child was poor. Parenthood was considered “important/very important” by both genders. Two-child family was the most desired family size and desired age to become a parent was between 25 and 30 years. The main factor that positively affected the women’s decision to have children was their “partners’ desire” whereas “continuing generation” had a greater influence on men’s decision. University students had limited knowledge of fertility awareness although they generally had positive attitudes towards being parents.
Keywords
Fertility, Parenting, Students
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