<p>Knowledge of the Ovulatory Period and Associated Factors Among Reproductive Women in Ethiopia: A Population-Based Study Using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey</p>

Abstract

Purpose In the era of increasing health risks, refusals, discontinuations, and with high unmet needs for modern contraception, assessing knowledge of the ovulation period and identifying its associated factors among reproductive women are crucial to recommend natural family planning methods as an option. So, the aim of this Demographic Health Survey analysis was to assess knowledge of the ovulation period and its associated factors among reproductive women in Ethiopia. Methods A secondary data analysis using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey was done by applying the principles of cross-sectional study design. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to interpret associations, and a significant association was declared at a p -value of <0.05. Results A total of 15,683 women aged from 15 to 49 years were included in this analysis. Of them, only 3,699 (23.6%) were found to be knowledgeable about a woman’s ovulation period. Women with age >39 years (AOR=1.77; 95% CI=1.52, 2.06), being urban resident (AOR=1.93; 955 CI=1.76, 2.12), having higher educational status (AOR=4.39; 95% CI=3.77, 5.11), getting family planning counselling within the last 12 months (AOR=1.33; 955 CI=1.20, 1.48), use of family planning (AOR=1.23; 95% CI=1.11, 1.37), being pregnant (AOR=1.22; 95% CI=1.03, 1.46), living with husbands (AOR=1.19; 95% CI=1.08, 1.31), and having menstruation within the last 6 months (AOR=1.30; 95% CI=1.18, 1.42) were factors associated with increased knowledge of the ovulation period among reproductive women. Conclusion Knowledge of the ovulation period among reproductive women in Ethiopia was low. Factors significantly associated with knowledge of the ovulation period were identified, and recommendations were forwarded accordingly.

Individual and community-level determinants of knowledge of ovulatory cycle among women of childbearing age in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis based on 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

“…This is supported by a study in Ghana [ 16 ] and the USA [ 15 ]. A study conducted in Ethiopia using EDHS also supported our finding even though that study used simple logistic regression analysis without adjusting for community-level factors [ 20 ]. The reason for this association could be as age is increased, exposure to different reproductive related issues is increased that lets women gain more knowledge.…”

“…Only one study reported the prevalence of knowledge of the ovulation period (i.e. 23.6%) which used the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2016 [ 20 ]. The previous study did not consider the community-level factors (only the individual-level factors were analyzed; even they did not use multilevel analysis which is appropriate for hierarchical data), there was no weighting to account for survey design, and essential variables were missed such as media exposure that plays a key role for the provision of information.…”

Tobacco Use Among Reproductive Age Women in Ethiopia: Evidence from the National Health Survey

“…The questionnaires were adapted by EDHS from the DHS Program’s standard Demographic and Health Survey questionnaires to reflect the population and health-related issues relevant to Ethiopia. The details about the DHS methodology are published elsewhere, 26 , 27 and also available at http://www.dhsprogram.com/ . In this study to make the article more objective, we had read the STROBE statement-checklist of items that should be included in reports of cross-sectional studies and we have addressed each thing listed on the check list.…”

Reproductive Women’s Knowledge on Possibility of Pregnancy after Birth but before Resumption of Menstruation and Its Associated Factors in Ethiopia: A Population-Based Study Using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey

“…Women who do not know when they ovulate or how long the egg or sperm could live in a woman's body might have a low insight of their risk for pregnancy, and this could negatively influence their sexual behaviors and contraceptive use [36]. On the other hand, this DHS result was in congruent with [38].…”

“…This result signifies that greater than half of women are at risk to be pregnant with in their postpartum period. The possible reason might be due to the women's low awareness on their ovulatory period [38], poor knowledge on their fertile window and fertile period [36,[39][40][41][42], and difference in breastfeeding practices [43][44][45]. Women who do not know when they ovulate or how long the egg or sperm could live in a woman's body might have a low insight of their risk for pregnancy, and this could negatively influence their sexual behaviors and contraceptive use [36].…”