Abstract:
Background: Women’s future fertility intentions is influenced by numerous factors including
their perceived health status, reaching their family size, partner’s desire for more children, and
suitable time interval before a pregnancy and understandings around the safety of childbearing
post cancer treatment. In the field of reproductive health, fertility intention is a key concept.
However, there is limited evidence on the fertility intention among reproductive age women with
cancer in Ethiopia and in Hiwot Fana comprehensive specialized Hospital in particular.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess fertility intention and associated factors among
reproductive age women cancer patients in Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital,
Eastern Ethiopia from April 25 to July 25, 2023.
Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among female patients with
cancer and attended the oncology unit of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University
Hospital. A total of 298 patients were selected by a simple random sampling technique from 811
total female patients. The 15 items and four domains containing Fertility Intension Scale was
used to measure the fertility intention of female patients with cancer. Data was cleaned, coded
and entered to Epi Info V7.2.5.0 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. We used One way ANOVA
to enumerate the difference in score of fertility intention among different categorical variables.
Variables associated with scale of intention were identified using linear regression. In linear
regression analysis, stepwise selection backward elimination (variables with p-value<0.2 in
simple linear regression) method was used to identify the most important factors for final
multivariable linear regression. For Multivariable linear regression all assumptions were checked
using graphs and statistical analysis. Association at p-value < 0.05 declared as significant.
Result: A total of 298 respondent data (100%response rate) were collected. The mean (±SD)
score of fertility intention was 8.3 (4.4) and 162 (54.36%) were scored above mean. Age of
women at their first pregnancy (β= 0.08), number of live births (β= -0.35), discussion about
fertility with health professionals (β= 1.94), and advanced stage of cancer were significantly
associated with fertility intention of the reproductive age.
Conclusion: More than half of the women scores more than mean of fertility intention scale and
the happiness scale was the least scored domain of fertility intention. Pregnancy intention score
was increased with age at 1st pregnancy and having discussion with health professions while
number of live births, and advanced cancer stage decreases the fertility intention.
