Effectiveness of a video-based education on fertility awareness: a randomized controlled trial with partnered women

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Juliana Pedro (Author) FPCEUP; Joana Fernandes (Author) Other; Alberto Barros (Author) FMUP; Pedro Xavier (Author) Other; Vasco Almeida (Author) Other; Maria Emília Costa (Author) FPCEUP; Lone Schmidt (Author) Other; Mariana Martins (Author) FPCEUP

Journal

Title: Human Fertility

Vol. 25 No. 3

Pages: 522-533

ISSN: 1464-7273

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 4 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-764

DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2020.1854482

Abstract (EN): Fertility awareness (FA) among young people is low. Fertility awareness interventions have been found to contribute to increase FA in the short-term. The long-term effectiveness of FA interventions on childless and presumed fertile people, committed in a heterosexual relationship and wishing to have children in the near future is not known. In a double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial conducted between 2016 and 2018, 652 childless partnered women were randomized to either watch a 5-min video about fertility (IG: 'Intervention Group') or to not receive any intervention (CG: 'Control Group'). Participants filled out an online questionnaire at the start of the study (and in the IG group immediately before intervention). They then completed the questionnaire after 1 month, 6 months and 1 year. The questionnaire assessed FA and intentions to adopt fertility-protective behaviours. In the IG, FA levels were found to increase at 1 month post-intervention. However, significant interaction effects between group and time were only found for four out of the seven FA variables at the 6-month and 1-year follow-up. No effects were found for: (i) intentions to adopt fertility-protective behaviours; or (ii) desired timing of pregnancy. These results suggest that the fertility video intervention seems to partially increase FA in the long term. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of different intervention formats with a focus on overcoming high attrition rates.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12