Gender perception as a predictor of women's attitudes towards infertility: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Infertility is not only a medical condition but also a reproductive health issue with significant psychological, social, and cultural consequences for women. Gender perception may influence women's attitudes toward infertility; however, evidence regarding this relationship remains limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between gender perception and attitudes toward infertility among women and to determine whether gender perception predicts attitudes toward infertility.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 346 women aged 18-60 years who were registered at the Çerkeş Family Health Center. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Infertility Attitude Scale, and the Gender Perception Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine the association between gender perception and attitudes toward infertility while accounting for relevant sociodemographic and pregnancy-related characteristics.

RESULTS

The mean Infertility Attitude Scale score was 48.23 ± 7.55, and the mean Gender Perception Scale score was 97.45 ± 18.22. A moderate positive correlation was found between attitudes toward infertility and gender perception (r = 0.634, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that gender perception was positively associated with attitudes toward infertility (B = 0.262, β = 0.621, 95% CI: 0.218-0.306, p < 0.001), with the model explaining 46.8% of the variance (R² = 0.468; adjusted R² = 0.440). Employment status, marital status, and pregnancy history were also significantly associated with infertility attitudes (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Gender perception was positively associated with women's attitudes toward infertility. These findings highlight the potential value of gender-sensitive approaches in reproductive health education and counselling.