Author(s)

Olubukola Abimbola Oke

Department of Behavioural Studies, College of Management and Social Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria.

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.

University Students, Fertility Awareness, Reproductive Aging, Intentions, Nigeria

Oke, O. (2019) Fertility Intentions and Awareness of Reproductive Aging among Final-Year Nigerian University Students. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7, 37-52. doi: 10.4236/jss.2019.75003.