Iranian Biomedical Journal

Iranian Biomedical Journal

Attitude of Healthcare Workers at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences toward Fertility

Authors
Sahebjan Torkian
Atefeh Khoshkchali
Mostafa Majidnia
Samaneh Torkian
10.61186/ibj.25th-11th-IACRTIMSS
Abstract
Introduction: Population and its associated issues are among the multidimensional and complex issues of human societies that are influenced by multiple factors. Iran is among the countries that have faced a significant decline in fertility rates. Considering that the attitudes of healthcare workers are an essential factor in shaping individuals' fertility intentions, this study was conducted to determine the attitudes of healthcare workers at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences towards fertility.

Methods and Materials: This research is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study conducted in 1401 (2022-2023) on 2830 healthcare workers affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The study utilized simple random sampling and employed a standard online questionnaire to assess attitudes toward fertility and childbearing. All married healthcare workers at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who voluntarily consented to participate were included in the study, while those who were unwilling to continue cooperation were excluded. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) were used to describe the data, and independent t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression analysis were employed to compare scores between groups. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 17, with a significance level of less than 5% considered statistically significant.

Results: In this study, 2830 individuals participated, among whom 2248 (79.43%) were female and 582 (20.57%) were male. The average age of participants was 31.38 ± 7.96 years. Of all participants, 2358 (83.32%) were married, and the mean attitude score was 81.55 ± 85.7. Regression analysis results indicated a significant positive relationship between attitude score, female gender, and higher education level. However, there was a significant negative relationship with the number of children (p = 0.001).

Conclusion and Discussion: The study findings showed that women had higher attitude scores than men, although this increase was not statistically significant with increasing duration of married life. Therefore, to enhance couples' attitudes, especially healthcare workers', towards fertility during their marital life, it is recommended that effective educational, supportive, and intervention programs be implemented. Improving the attitudes of healthcare workers towards childbearing can motivate people and contribute to increasing fertility rates effectively.



Keywords
Attitude
Fertility
Health Personnel