Article ID: JJAM-2024-0036
Purpose
To develop a “Fertility Literacy Scale” in male and female reproductive generations, and to examine its reliability and validity.
Methods
Based on data obtained from previous research and a literature review of existing measures of fertility knowledge and factors affecting fertility, a 60-item draft questionnaire was developed to measure fertility literacy. A web-based survey was administered to 648 men and women of reproductive age to test the scale's reliability and validity.
Results
In an exploratory factor analysis, 7 factors and 31 items were selected for the [knowledge of age and health conditions affecting female fertility], [knowledge of physical risks affecting male fertility], [knowledge of lifestyle affecting male fertility], and [knowledge of male sexual function and fertility], [ability to judge the risk of one's own situation based on obtained information], [ability to make decisions and take action for the future], and [ability to seek support and communicate]. Discriminative and convergent validity were ensured, and the scaling success rate was 100%. The known group validity of the “Fertility Literacy Scale” was significantly higher in the group with infertility treatment than in the group without infertility treatment (p<.001~.039). A moderately significant correlation was also found between general health literacy and the factors of Self-care Behaviors Ability and its total score (r=.420–.596, p<.01). The reliability coefficients was .911 for the overall scale and .794–.881 for the subscales.
Conclusion
The validity and reliability of the Fertility Literacy Scale for men and women of reproductive age were confirmed. The scale is expected to be applied to interventions that promote reproductive life planning in the future.
