ABSTRACT
This study investigated the correlates of lifestyle factors and fertility rate among women of reproductive age in Egor local government area of Edo State. The study sought to investigate the extent and levels of correlation between lifestyle factors and fertility rate in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. Six research questions were raised and no hypothesis formulated this is because there were mainly one group of respondents (Infertile women). Related literature were reviewed under the following headings: Theoretical framework, conceptual framework, concept of fertility, lifestyle factors and the women of reproductive age, correlates of lifestyle factors and fertility in women of reproductive age, correlates of lifestyle factors and fertility in women of reproductive age: Implication for Health Education.
The study adopted the descriptive survey research design and the complete enumeration survey (census method) sampling technique was used to select 131 respondents for the study. The research instrument used for the collection of data was a self-structured questionnaire titled “Correlates of lifestyle factors and fertility rate among women of reproductive “(CLFRA)”. The research instrument was content validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts from the Department of Health, Safety and Environmental Education and a coefficient of 0.73 was obtained after subjecting the instrument to pearson product moment correlation. Data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23.
The findings from the study revealed among others that a significant proportion of the respondents displayed a positive dietary pattern, characterized by regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, and multivitamins. This dietary behaviour, along with limited consumption of sugary beverages and preferences for whole grains over refined grains, suggest that dietary habits are not a strong indicator of infertility in this group of women. Interestingly, a notable portion of the infertile women reported engaging in regular physical exercises, contradicting the assumption that regular exercise is a prevailing lifestyle choice among this group. On the other hand, a substantial number of infertile women admitted to smoking and occasional alcohol consumption, which could potentially influence their fertility status. Regarding the age of starting a family, the majority of the respondents chose to start a family between ages of 27 to 32 years. This age bracket was the most prevalent followed by the 21-26 years age group.
Furthermore, while dietary patterns do not seem to correlate strongly with infertility, the study underscores the need for further investigation into the impact of smoking and alcohol consumption on fertility rates. Additionally, it highlights the importance of promoting healthy lifestyle choices, including regular physical exercise, to potentially enhance fertility outcomes among women of reproductive age.
