INTRODUCTION:

The very desire for parenthood is step in the direction of creating a family. Fertility or ability to produce children has positive social value whereas; the infertility has a negative social value in Indian culture. Family and society look down couple who is not able to bear children within a reasonable period of time following marriage. Another reason for much importance being attach to the social aspect of the fertility behavior is that family name will not be carried forward without a child.¹

According to WHO,” Infertility is the inability to conceive the child. A women may be considered infertile after two year of regular intercourse without contraception, the women has not become pregnant. Primary infertility is inability in a woman who has never had a child. Secondary infertility is failure to conceive following a previous pregnancy. According to United States, “A women under 35 has not conceived after 12 month of contraceptive free intercourse. 12 months is the lower reference limit for time to pregnancy” “A women over 35 has not conceived after 6 months of contraceptive free sexual intercourse”.²

Currently in the United States about 20 % of the couple struggle with in infertility at any given time. Infertility has increased as problems over the last 30 years. Approximately 40 % of reported cases of infertility as due to problem of males, another 40% problem in the female and remaining 20% are of the unknown causes or due to problem in the both male and female. Some studies pin the blame for these increases on social phenomenon, including the tendency for marriage to occur at a later age, which means that couples are trying to start families at a later age. It is well known that fertility in women decreases with increasing age, as illustrated by the following statistics; Infertility in a married women ages 16- 20years - 4.5% , Infertility in a married women ages 35- 40years – 31.80 and Infertility in a married women ages over the 40years – 70%³

As per report of American societies for reproductive medicine, female infertility is said to affect about 5.3 million Americans 1 or at least 9% of the reproductive age group of the women⁴. Female infertility comes from many sources such as age, stress, poor diet, athletic training, being over and underweight, tobacco, smoking, alcohol, sexual transmitted diseases, health problems that cause hormonal changes. \It can even be unexplained in about 20% cases⁵.

Female infertility comes from many sources such as age, stress, poor diet, athletic training, being over and underweight, tobacco, smoking, alcohol, sexual transmitted diseases, health problems that cause hormonal changes. It can even be unexplained in about 20% cases⁵. There are certain factors which lead to a higher risk of a being infertile in women such some such factor may be a history of STD like Gonorrhea and Chlamydia may cause damage to the fallopian tubes. Older women run a major risk when it comes to issue of conceiving. Once a woman has crossed age of 32 the quality and quantity of eggs begin to deteriorate. Women who smoke are on a higher risk of female infertility. Smoking results in aging the ovaries and depletion of eggs in the premature manner. This leads to reducing the chances of women conceiving. Excessive weight may be a hindrance for women to conceive being over weight limit the chance of normal ovulation which intern may lead to female infertility. Intake of excessive alcohol on a regular basis investigates and increases chance of contracting endometriosis and ovulation disorders. Women who are prone to having more than 6 cup of coffee in a day may run a risk of female infertility⁵.

After the year, trying to conceive with no success expert advice women to see an infertility specialist to undergo a series of infertility test once a root of the problem is discovered their many treatment solutions available to help women become pregnancy such as microsurgery, hormonal therapy, intrauterine insemination, egg donation surrogacy are all effective female infertility treatment option⁶.

Infertility is one of the most common disorders to afflict the young man and women. The evaluation of infertility is a initiated typically after one year of failure to conceive. Infertility is the global phenomenon. The incidence of infertility is increasing day by day. It may be due to many reasons, as sexually transmitted infections, coping with stress, the way of living, job pressure, postponing parenthood, galloping urbanization, obesity etc. Infertility is not merely the health problem; it is also a matter of social in justice and inequality. It is also complicated marital dynamics, some time leading to marital inability and occasionally divorce, polygamy or remarriage because motherhood is considered a mandatory status, infertile women may be harassed and tormented. Women for often blamed for the infertility and men engaged in polygamy in an attempt to have children⁷.

A Experimental study was conducted on knowledge of infertile women about fertility, causes of infertility, their treatment seeking behavior and expectations of an infertility clinics at urban community of South Africa. The data were collected from 150 infertile women by using structural interview schedule. The result of this study was that the women who participated had little knowledge about human reproduction, modern treatment and assessed both Tradition and modern health care than none participants women. The conclusion of the study was that to introduction of clinical guidelines is recommended in order to overcome treatment barrier and improve the delivery of health services.⁸

So the investigators have come to the conclusion that in developing countries like India, The women are having inadequate knowledge regarding female infertility in both rural and urban community. That is why researcher is planning to conduct a descriptive study to assess the knowledge of female regarding female infertility in selected area of Jandiala Guru Amritsar.

OBJECTIVES:

· To assess the level of knowledge of females regarding female infertility.

· To find out association between selected socio-demographic variables with their knowledge scores regarding female infertility.

· To develop informational guidelines regarding female infertility based on learning needs of the females.

HYPOTHESIS:

H_0:There will not be significant association between the knowledge of females with regard to female infertility and their socio-demographic variables.

H₁: There will be significant association between the knowledge of females with regards to female infertility and their socio-demographic variables.

Assumptions:

· Females who are illiterate/ primary educated have less knowledge as compare to well educated females.

· Informational Guideline will improve the knowledge of females regarding female infertility.

Delimitations:

· This study is restricted to limited area in community at Jandiala Guru Amritsar.

· Only females are valued in this study.

· There was no standardized tool to assess the knowledge of females regarding female infertility.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research design:

The research design selected for the study was Descriptive research design.

Research setting:

The study was conducted in the selected areas of Jyotisar colony, Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, Punjab.

Target population:

The target population includes females of age group 20-35 in selected areas of Jyotisar colony, Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, Punjab.

Sample:

The sample for the study comprised of 40 females in the age group of 20-35 years.

Sample size:

A total of 40 females of age group 20-35 at selected areas of Jyotisar colony, Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, Punjab.

Sampling technique:

Non-probability, Convenience sampling was used to collect the data.

Development and description of tool:

The self constructed tool was used through semi- structured interview schedule. The tool is divided in two sections. Section-A: Socio-demographic data. Section-B: Tool was prepared which has 30 questions.

Ethical considerations:

Written permission from Principal, College Ethical Committee, G.T.B College of Nursing, Jandiala Guru (Amritsar), Medical officer, Jandiala Guru (Amritsar) and written informed consent was taken from research participants.

Data collection procedure:

Study was conducted at selected areas of Jyotisar colony, Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, Punjab. The data collection was carried out in the month of February, 2013. In this study, investigators selected self-structured questioning method through interview schedule for data collection. After administration of interview, pamphlets on the information guidelines regarding infertility were provided to research participants.

RESULTS:

Table-1 Frequency and Percentage distribution of socio- demographic Variables among Experimental and Control group N=40

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

1.AGE ( IN YEARS)

20-23

15.00

24-27

17.05

28-31

37.05

32-35

30.00

2.RELIGION

Hindu

25.00

Muslim

Christian

Sikh

07.05

10.00

57.05

3.EDUCATIONAL STATUS

Illiterate

40.00

Primary Education

Secondary Education

Graduate/ Post graduate

22.05

15.00

4.OCCUPATION

Housewife

Laborers

47.05

27.05

Private Job

17.05

Government Job

07.05

5.INCOME/ MONTH

< 1000/-

02.05

1000-3000/-

32.05

3001-5000

Above 5000

40.00

25.00

6. TYPE OF FAMILY

Joint

60.00

Nuclear

40.00

7. PLACE OF RESIDENCE

Rural

00.00

Urban

8. HEALTH STATUS

Healthy

Sick

Malnourished

Obese

9.SOURCE OF INFORMATION

Family members

Print material

Electronic Media

Health personnel

100.0

57.05

10.00

12.05

20.00

40.00

20.00

25.00

15.00

Above table depicts that majority of sample were in age group of 28-31 years, most were Hindu, majority were illiterate, high number were housewives, more were having income of 3001-5000/-, a bit higher no. belongs to joint family and all were having urban place of residence, highest number of females were healthy and majority told that they obtained information about infertily from their family members.

Table-2 Frequency and percentage of existing level of knowledge of females regarding female infertility. N = 40

S.NO.	Knowledge status	n	%
1.	Inadequate	26	65%
2.	Moderate adequate	11	27.5%
3.	Adequate	3	7.5%
	Total	40	100%

Figure -1 Percentage distribution of knowledge of females regarding females infertility.

The above diagramme depicts frequencies and percentage distribution of females according to their level of knowledge regarding female infertility. The majority 26 (65%) females were having inadequate knowledge, 11 (27.5%) females were having Moderate knowledge about female infertility and 3 (7.5%) were have adequate knowledge.

Table-3 Data on association between mean, median, standard deviation, Range & scores regarding Knowledge of females about the female infertility.

S.NO.	Max. Scores	Mean	Median	Range	Standard deviation
1	25	11.7	11	19-7	3.37

Table -3 depicts the data among the Jyotisar Colony, Jandiala Guru Females Maximum scores were 25, Mean was 11.7, Median scores was 11, range was 12 and the S.D. was 3.37.

In association, there was no significant association of knowledge score with selected socio-demographic variables.

DISCUSSION:

The First Objective was to assess the level of Knowledge of Females regarding Female Infertility: Assessment of existing level of Knowledge of females regarding female infertility reveals that among the majority 26 (65%) females were having inadequate knowledge, 11 (27.5%) females were having Moderate knowledge about female infertility and 3 (7.5%) were have adequate knowledge.

The second objective was to find out association between selected socio-demographic variables with their knowledge score regarding Female Infertility: This objective was achieved by completing Chi-square value to find association between selected socio-demographic variables of females with their Knowledge scores regarding female infertility among females in Jyotisar Colony, Jandiala Guru. There was no significance association between educational status, occupation status, source of information and place of residence with their knowledge score regarding female infertility. The calculated Chi-square value of Educational Status was x²= 2.71, Occupational Status was x²= 2.77, Source of information was x²= 2.89 and Place of information x²= 0 these values less than Chi-square table value 12.59 with degree of freedom at 5% at the level of significance. Hence the Null hypothesis was accepted.

The Third Objective is to develop informational guidelines regarding female infertility based on learning needs of the females: This objective was achieved by developing informational guidelines based on learning needs of females regarding female infertility

CONCLUSION:

Assessment of existing level of Knowledge of females regarding female infertility reveals that among the majority 26 (65%) females were having inadequate knowledge, 11 (27.5%) females were having Moderate knowledge about female infertility and 3 (7.5%) were have adequate knowledge. Therefore, informational guidelines were provided based on learning needs of females regarding female infertility. There was no significant association of knowledge score with selected socio-demographic variables. , thus null hypothesis was accepted. Therefore there is need to organize awareness camps at community level.

REFERENCES:

1. Fluer Heyliger, realities in child bearing, clinical obstruct and Gynae col 2001 March, 42(1) 164-168.

2. http/en. Wikipedia.org/wiki. Female infertility.

3. http/www. Wikipedia. Com/wiki. Female Infertility.

4. www. Pregnancy and children. com

5. www. Where is my doctor . com.

6. www. Patient medical . com.

7. Humrep .oxford journals . org/ content/1745/1651.full. S.J Dyer, N. Abraham, M. Huffman and Z.M Vander spuy

Received on 28.04.2016 Modified on 16.05.2016

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management. 2016; 4(3): 249-253.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2016.00055.X