FERTILITY INTENTION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN CANCER PATIENTS IN HIWOT FANA COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, EASTERN ETHIOPIA, 2023

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.