Role of Men in Family Planning in the Akatsi District

Abstract

The rationale for this study is to provide a baseline information for male involvement in family planning programmes for the District Health Administration and NGO’s the opportunity to redirect or improve upon their programmes in the Akatsi district. The study was cross - sectional study employing the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to study the characteristics and the extent of the role of men in family planning in the district. Data were collected using a simple structured questionnaire for a total of 252 -respondents, besides 3 FGD’S and in - depth interviews. This was to sought out men’s knowledge of family planning, current use, couple communication and family planning decision - making in the district. Data analysis showed that the level of knowledge about family planning in the Akatsi district was about 92.5% and the level of education, religion .age and residence were the most significant as far as knowledge level was concerned. For specific methods of family planning the one most known was the male condom and the least known methods were IUD. Diaphragm and male sterilization. Approval and use of family planning methods were influenced by education, residence, number of living children and age, but education and place of residence were the most significant factors. There was big gap between knowledge of family planning. 92.5% compared to 49.2% to the men who were using contraceptives at the time of the study; with condoms, pill and injection being the methods commonly used. Norplant and herbs were the least; Norplant is not available in the Akatsi district. 62.1% of men who wanted to delay having children for two years were using contraceptive, the rest 37.9% were not using contraceptives, showing the level of unmet need in the district. Some of the causes of unmet need for contraception were lack of knowledge, fear of side effects, socio - cultural, familial disapproval and fear of vasectomy. This study had showed that partner communication has a positive impact on the use of contraceptives with 62.4% of men who had talked to their partners using contraceptives. The qualitative study however showed a negative attitude of both men and women towards partner communication. While men in the district will divorce their wives for want of more children, the women after reaching their desired family size will go in for the injectables without informing their husbands. The in - depths interviews with health workers showed that men are not interested in family planning, but beat and force the women for sex. Some of the reasons given for the low level of male involvement are as follows; fear of vasectomy, polygamy, unsuitable opening hours of family planning clinics, shyness, side effects and lack of information about family planning methods. In view of the wide gap between knowledge and use of family planning among men in the district, lapses in spousal communication, misconception about family planning methods and lack of information, there is the need for male involvement programmes to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate in the district.