THE STUDY OF FERTILITY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIO- DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG MARRIED FEMALES

Abstract

 Fertility rate in the world population is currently decreasing as compared to previous decades. There are many factors that can lead to the declining fertility rate especially the change in lifestyle and advancement of technology in the modern civilization. The association of fertility and physical activity of an individual in the occupational setting had frequently been highlighted in overall health and function of reproductive organs which can lead to successful pregnancy. This research was aimed to find the association of different socio-demographic characteristics and physical activity towards fertility among married female staff of various professions in IIUM Kuantan. Methods: A total of 92 respondents were involved in the survey based on the questionnaire with regard to socio-demographic information, fertility experiences, and physical activity routine. The respondents were selected from four different occupations in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan Campus namely administrators, nurses, academics and cleaning and maintenance staff. Results: The results indicate that there were significant (P<0.05, 0.01, and 0.01) associations between occupation, educational level, and physical activity with fertility of the females. There was no association between the fertility age, income, and body mass index.  Conclusion: This study demonstrated that occupation, education, and physical activity are significant factors that could be associated with female fertility. The practice of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity may be important factors contributing to increased chances of successful pregnancy.

Keywords: fertility, socio-demographic, physical activity, female, occupation, children.