Racial and ethnic differences in reproductive knowledge and awareness among women in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if knowledge and awareness of concepts and concerns pertaining to reproductive health and fertility vary by race/ethnicity among reproductive-aged women in the United States. METHODS: A 2013 cross-sectional web-based survey assessed reproductive health-related knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of 1,000 women (18–40 years). Multivariable logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, education, income, marital status, employment, region, and pregnancy history, examined the association between race/ethnicity and subfertility-related risk factor awareness; knowledge of factors that may affect pregnancy susceptibility; and future fertility-related concerns. RESULTS: Knowledge and awareness related to reproductive wellness and fertility differed by race/ethnicity in US women. Compared with Caucasians, Hispanic women were less likely to be aware of smoking-related harm to fertility (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38–0.86); African American women were more aware of the implications of sexually transmitted infections on fertility (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.15–3.94); and Asian women demonstrated greater awareness of a possible relationship between dysmenorrhea and subfertility (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.09–3.86). Asian women consider fertility socially taboo to talk about and a private affair that is difficult to discuss (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.32–5.29 and OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.05–3.75, respectively), were more concerned about their future fertility (OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.24–4.52), and more likely to perceive a need for future fertility treatment (OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.18–4.71). CONCLUSION: Among reproductive-aged women in the United States, knowledge, awareness, and perceptions relating to reproductive health vary by race/ethnicity. Our findings suggest race/ethnicity as potential modulators of population perceptions regarding reproductive health and infertility. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NIH ZIA# HD008985.