Fertility Information Quality and Intentions to Seek Hormonal and Reproductive Care among Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Bangladesh

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted reproductive and endocrine disorder that may impact the fertility issues, treatment choices, and prompt access to professional care. In this research, the quality of fertility information was tested to influence the hormonal and reproductive care-seeking intention of PCOS women in Bangladesh, with reproductive autonomy and perceived treatment effectiveness as sequential mediators. A cross-sectional survey provided 610 valid responses among women who were aged 18-49 years and had a professional diagnosis of PCOS diagnosis. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used in the analysis of data. The measurement model exhibited high indicator reliability, internal consistency, convergent validity, discriminant validity as well as acceptable collinearity. The quality of fertility information was associated with a large improvement in reproductive autonomy, perceived treatment effectiveness, and intention to seek care. Reproductive autonomy had also a positive effect on perceived treatment effectiveness and care-seeking intention, with a direct impact on care-seeking intention being the highest in perceived treatment effectiveness. The quality of fertility information to reproductive autonomy and perceived effectiveness of treatment had a significant sequential indirect pathway. The model accounted 45.3% of the variation in care-seeking intention, and showed a positive predictive relevance and good out-of-sample prediction. The results indicate that comprehensible, correct, and personally applicable fertility knowledge can enhance engagement in care by enhancing the sense of ownership of decisions and trust in professionally delivered PCOS treatment. These results provide practical advice.