Relationships between income levels, lifestyles, occupational factors, and male fertility in peninsular Malaysia Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Objective: To explore the associations between income levels, employment risk, lifestyles, occupational stress, and male fertility. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 294 men seeking fertility treatment at fertility clinics in Terengganu, Pahang, and Kuala Lumpur from November 2021 to June 2023. Data were collected through structured questionnaires covering income levels, lifestyles, employment risks, occupational stress, and semen quality. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess predictors of semen quality, with crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) reported. Results: The lower-income group exhibited higher odds of having abnormal semen quality compared to normal semen quality. Specifically, these participants were more likely to experience azoospermia [crude OR 6.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84– 52.63; adjusted OR 6.26, 95% CI 1.76–51.38], indicating a link between low income and infertility issues. Lifestyle factors did not show significant associations with semen abnormalities after adjustment. High employment risks had significant associations with oligozoospermia after adjustment (crude OR 5.50, 95% CI 2.14–14.11; adjusted OR 5.15, 95% CI 1.93–13.71), while high occupational stress was linked to asthenozoospermia (crude OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.09–4.68; adjusted OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.07–4.69). Conclusions: The findings underscore the influence of socioeconomic and occupational factors on male fertility, showing associations between lower income levels, high-risk occupations, and semen abnormalities. In contrast, lifestyle factors did not show significant associations with semen abnormalities after adjustment. Nevertheless, the current findings should be further confirmed through more extensive studies focusing on abnormal semen and lifestyle factors.

authors

  • Majid, Nur Fatma Hasni
  • Muhamad, Suriyani
  • Kusairi, Suhal
  • Nawawi, Mohd Nasir
  • Zakaria, Noor Salihah
  • Ramli, Roszaman

publication date

  • 2025

number of pages

  • 7

start page

  • 69

end page

  • 76

volume

  • 14

issue

  • 2