fertility awareness may be critical in increasing family planning use and improving reproductive...
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USING EVIDENCE TO EXPAND FAMILY PLANNING CHOICES, ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY, AND INVOLVE COMMUNITIES.
Fertility Awareness Across the Life
Course: What people know, what they don’t
know, and how it influences attitudes and behaviors related to sexual and
reproductive healthDr. Victoria Jennings
Director, Institute for Reproductive HealthProfessor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Definition: Fertility Awareness
• Actionable information about fertility throughout the life course
• Ability to apply this knowledge to one’s own circumstances and needs
Systematic Literature Review
• Published (or grey) 1990-2013• Degree of fertility awareness
knowledge
• Link effect of fertility awareness knowledge to attitudes or behavior
• Show effect of fertility awareness intervention on knowledge, attitudes or behavior
Systematic Literature Review (1990-2013)
83 articles…
Systematic Literature Review (1990-2013)
Methodologies of the included studies
Current Situation
• Low levels of fertility awareness globally, over life course
• Scarce evidence of effect of fertility awareness on family planning use
• Impact of interventions is not well known
Adolescents
Puberty
Menstruation
Fear Misunderstanding
Teasing/harassment
Missing schoolEarly sexual debutEarly pregnancy
Lack knowledge of… Results in…
Adults
Fertility return post-partum/post-abortion
Variable fertility during menstrual
cycle
Actual pregnancy risk
Non-use of FP− breastfeeding/
post-abortion− infrequent sex − on fertile days
Closely spaced pregnancies
Unplanned pregnancies
Lack knowledge of… Results in…
Adolescents and Adults
How FP methods work
How they affect health
Non-use of FP
Discontinuation
Incorrect Use
Lack knowledge of… Results in…
Older Adults
Declining fertility
Menopause
Infertility/sub-fecundity issues
Unintended late-life pregnancy
Lack knowledge of… Results in…
People Know Less Than They Think They Do!
• False sense of security• Perpetuation of incorrect information• Mis-timed/unwanted pregnancy
Limited research on effect of interventions including
fertility awareness suggests…
• Increased knowledge• Ability to track cycle, prepare for next menses• Fewer days of missed school• Increased use of FP or abstinence• Increased couple communication, women’s
empowerment• Increased FP method continuation
Research Considerations• Clear definition of fertility
awareness• Focus on specific target groups• Take life course perspective• Define interventions• Consider ecological rather than
individual approach
www.irh.orgFertility Awareness Literature Reviewirh.org/resource-library/a-comprehensive-literature-review-fertility-awareness-across-the-life-course/
Fertility Awareness Consultation Reportirh.org/resource-library/meeting-report-lets-talk-about-fertility-awareness/
INCREASED USE OF
FP
FERTILITY
AWARENESS
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