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Table 3 Relative percent differences from sensitivity analyses of key components of the infertility definition - contraception, intent, and outcome

From: Measuring infertility in populations: constructing a standard definition for use with demographic and reproductive health surveys

Age group

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

Age-standardized

Primary infertility

Contraceptiona

9.2

5.8

4.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

5.5

(0.0, 31.9)

(0.0, 19.2)

(0.0, 13.2)

(−0.1, 6.8)

(−0.1, 3.5)

(0.0, 0.0)

(2.7, 14.9)

Intentb

0.0

0.0

0.0

2.2

2.1

11.4

4.1

(−0.1, 0.0)

(0.0, 1.5)

(0.0, 3.3)

(0.0, 6.8)

(0.0, 12.7)

(0.0, 20.3)

(1.7, 7.7)

Outcomec

−10.1

−4.6

−1.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

−3.4

(−16.7, 0.0)

(−9.1, 0.0)

(−6.2, 0.0)

(−1.4, 0.0)

(0.0, 0.0)

(0.0, 0.0)

(−5.2, -1.7)

Secondary infertility

Contraceptiona

129.9

102.1

54.1

23.6

12.0

5.3

20.7

(73.1, 331.5)

(57.6, 169.6)

(32.4, 80.3)

(12.4, 39.9)

(6.9, 23.8)

(2.4, 10.3)

(12.6, 26.9)

Intentb

4.5

29.1

41.3

84.4

104.9

37.9

58.2

(0.0, 28.2)

(16.8, 34.8)

(27.0, 60.8)

(59.6, 106.8)

(65.9, 131.7)

(20.8, 53.5)

(44.3, 67.9)

Outcomec

−16.7

−2.8

−0.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

−0.7

(−50.0, 0.0)

(−5.9, 0.0)

(−3.0, 0.0)

(−0.5, 0.0)

(0.0, 0.0)

(0.0, 0.0)

(−1.1, -0.3)

  1. a- Current contraception (alternate) compared to continuous contraception (baseline) over the exposure period.
  2. b- Not using the criteria of “desire for a child” variable (alternate) compared to using it to determine a couple's infertility status (baseline).
  3. c- Assigning infertile woman who are pregnant as fertile (alternate) compared to classifying them as infertile (baseline).
  4. Relative percent differences were calculated as the alternate prevalence less the baseline prevalence, divided by the baseline prevalence. The median and the interquartile range across all surveys are shown.