Important but far away: adolescents’ beliefs, awareness and experiences of fertility and preconception health
Ekstrand Ragnar, Maria LU
; Grandahl, Maria
; Stern, Jenny
and Mattebo, Magdalena
(2018)
In European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
23(4).
p.265-273
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Objectives: The aim was to explore adolescents’ beliefs and awareness regarding fertility and preconception health, as well as their views and experiences of information about fertility and preconception health directed at their age group. Methods: We performed seven semi-structured focus group interviews among upper secondary school students (n = 47) aged 16–18 years in two Swedish counties. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: One theme (‘important but far away’) and five categories (‘starting a family far down on the list’; ‘high awareness but patchy knowledge of fertility and preconception health’; ‘gender roles influence beliefs about fertility and preconception health’; ‘wish to preserve fertility and... (More)
- Objectives: The aim was to explore adolescents’ beliefs and awareness regarding fertility and preconception health, as well as their views and experiences of information about fertility and preconception health directed at their age group. Methods: We performed seven semi-structured focus group interviews among upper secondary school students (n = 47) aged 16–18 years in two Swedish counties. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: One theme (‘important but far away’) and five categories (‘starting a family far down on the list’; ‘high awareness but patchy knowledge of fertility and preconception health’; ‘gender roles influence beliefs about fertility and preconception health’; ‘wish to preserve fertility and preconception health in order to keep the door to procreation open’; ‘no panacea–early and continuous education about fertility and preconception health’) emerged from the interviews. Participants recognised the importance of preconception health and were highly aware of the overall importance of a healthy lifestyle. Their knowledge, however, was patchy and they had difficulties relating to fertility and preconception health on a personal and behavioural level. Participants wanted more information but had heterogeneous beliefs about when, where and how this information should be given. Conclusion: The adolescents wanted information on fertility and preconception health to be delivered repeatedly as well as through different sources. © 2018, © 2018 The Authors(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
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- author
- Ekstrand Ragnar, Maria
LU
; Grandahl, Maria
; Stern, Jenny
and Mattebo, Magdalena
- publishing date
- 2018
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- Adolescents, fertility awareness, focus group discussion, preconception health, adolescent, adolescent health, adult, Article, awareness, female, fertility, health belief, healthy lifestyle, high school, human, human experiment, male, personal experience, priority journal, semi structured interview, sex role, adolescent behavior, attitude to health, cultural anthropology, needs assessment, prepregnancy care, procedures, qualitative research, sexual education, sexual health, Sweden, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Culture, Female, Fertility, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Healthy Lifestyle, Humans, Male, Needs Assessment, Preconception Care, Qualitative Research, Sex Education, Sexual Health
- in
- European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
- volume
- 23
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 265 - 273
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85049949711
- ISSN
- 1362-5187
- DOI
- 10.1080/13625187.2018.1481942
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Export Date: 05 December 2025; Cited By: 22
- id
- 8eb95c4a-e603-4388-826d-8832121582e5
- alternative location
- https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049949711&doi=10.1080%2F13625187.2018.1481942&partnerID=40&md5=102eb4fe09a7cf7a534d457c26ee133c
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-05 09:33:29
- date last changed
- 2025-12-06 04:00:37
@article{8eb95c4a-e603-4388-826d-8832121582e5,
abstract = {{Objectives: The aim was to explore adolescents’ beliefs and awareness regarding fertility and preconception health, as well as their views and experiences of information about fertility and preconception health directed at their age group. Methods: We performed seven semi-structured focus group interviews among upper secondary school students (n = 47) aged 16–18 years in two Swedish counties. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: One theme (‘important but far away’) and five categories (‘starting a family far down on the list’; ‘high awareness but patchy knowledge of fertility and preconception health’; ‘gender roles influence beliefs about fertility and preconception health’; ‘wish to preserve fertility and preconception health in order to keep the door to procreation open’; ‘no panacea–early and continuous education about fertility and preconception health’) emerged from the interviews. Participants recognised the importance of preconception health and were highly aware of the overall importance of a healthy lifestyle. Their knowledge, however, was patchy and they had difficulties relating to fertility and preconception health on a personal and behavioural level. Participants wanted more information but had heterogeneous beliefs about when, where and how this information should be given. Conclusion: The adolescents wanted information on fertility and preconception health to be delivered repeatedly as well as through different sources. © 2018, © 2018 The Authors(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.}},
author = {{Ekstrand Ragnar, Maria and Grandahl, Maria and Stern, Jenny and Mattebo, Magdalena}},
issn = {{1362-5187}},
keywords = {{Adolescents; fertility awareness; focus group discussion; preconception health; adolescent; adolescent health; adult; Article; awareness; female; fertility; health belief; healthy lifestyle; high school; human; human experiment; male; personal experience; priority journal; semi structured interview; sex role; adolescent behavior; attitude to health; cultural anthropology; needs assessment; prepregnancy care; procedures; qualitative research; sexual education; sexual health; Sweden; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Culture; Female; Fertility; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Healthy Lifestyle; Humans; Male; Needs Assessment; Preconception Care; Qualitative Research; Sex Education; Sexual Health}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{265--273}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care}},
title = {{Important but far away: adolescents’ beliefs, awareness and experiences of fertility and preconception health}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2018.1481942}},
doi = {{10.1080/13625187.2018.1481942}},
volume = {{23}},
year = {{2018}},
}