Evaluation of the nutritional knowledge levels of women receiving infertility treatment

This study aims to evaluate the nutritional knowledge levels of women receiving infertility treatment. Conducted between September and November 2024, the research involved face-to-face surveys with women aged 19–45 who applied to the IVF Center at Hitit University Training and Research Hospital. A total of 195 participants voluntarily completed the Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults (YETBİD), which assesses sociodemographic characteristics, basic nutrition and food-health knowledge, and food preferences. The participants had an average age of 30.14±5.09 years, with a mean height of 162.04±6.35 cm, weight of 68.04±12.31 kg, and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated as 25.91±4.43 kg/m². According to the YETBİD scale, only 3 individuals demonstrated a "very good" level of nutritional knowledge, while 44 participants were categorized as having "very good" food preferences. Regarding the Basic Nutrition and Food-Health Knowledge Scale, 11.28% of the respondents exhibited a "poor" knowledge level. On the Food Preference Scale, 3.5% of the participants were determined to have "poor" food preference levels. The findings indicate that the majority of infertile women lack sufficient nutritional knowledge. Most participants were found to have a "moderate" level of nutritional knowledge. Enhancing the nutritional knowledge of women undergoing infertility treatment and increasing awareness about the role of nutrition is essential for treatment success. Furthermore, the results revealed that the majority of participants had not received adequate education regarding nutrition.