The Relationship Between Gender Perception, Fertility Awareness, and Reproductive Coercion in Fertile Women

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between gender perception, fertility awareness, and reproductive pressure in women of reproductive age. Method: This cross-sectional study included women of reproductive age in Turkey. There are 22 million women between the ages of 18 and 49 living in Turkey. According to the sampling method with a known universe, 385 samples were obtained. The research was completed in 412 women. The data were collected with the descriptive information form, perception gender scale (PGS), fertility awareness scale (FAS), reproductive coercion scale (RCS). Results: Women's PGS mean score is 104.40 +/- 14.64, their FAS mean score is 64.67 +/- 12.83, and their RCS mean score is 0.08 +/- 0.36. Between PGS and FAS, highly significant, positive, weak (r=0.206, p=0.000); between PGS and RCS, highly significant, negative, very weak (r=-0.193, p=0.000); and between FAS and RCS, a significant, negative, very weak (r=-0.082, p=0.048) relationship was found. Conclusion: Women's gender perceptions were high, fertility awareness was moderate, and reproductive pressures were low. It was determined that as gender perception increased, fertility awareness increased, and reproductive pressure decreased.