A study about perceptions, attitude, and knowledge among men toward vasectomy in Bangalore rural population

Abstract

Background: The National Family Welfare Program was launched in India in the year 1952. Although a range of contraceptive measures are provided by the Government at free of cost, women-oriented contraceptive measures only took the center stage and gained acceptance over the male contraceptive methods. Vasectomy (nonscalpel vasectomy) technique was introduced in India in 1992 to increase male participation in family planning. However, it has failed to get adequate momentum and to achieve its goal, despite being a simple and safe method. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3, the current acceptance of nonscalpel vasectomy in India has decreased from 1.9% to 1% in NFHS-2. Objective: To understand the perceptions and attitude in the rural men population. Methods: This study is a community-based, cross-sectional study carried out in Nandagudi, where the Rural Health Training Center of MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital is located. The study was carried out from July 2014 to November 2014. The study population comprised all the men who were aged older than 20 years to 60 years. The study was done by interview technique using pretested and predesigned questionnaire. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: Totally, 215 men were included in our study. Half (52%) of the study population belonged to 31 to 40 years age group while majority were Hindu (62%)and from socioeconomic statuses II and III. Of the married men, only one man had undergone vasectomy although 82% had heard about vasectomy; 17% men were willing to accept vasectomy as a choice of contraception after repeated counseling sessions. The reasons for nonacceptance were very much similar to other studies done previously. Conclusion: The myths and the attitude of men toward vasectomy can only be changed by intensive IEC Information Education and Communication and health education. It should be enforced and reinforced.

Study on knowledge and practice regarding no scalpel vasectomy (NSV) among male members of eligible couples in a rural community of West Bengal, India

“…Among 197 participants who have heard of NSV, 57.8% knew of NSV to be method of permanent male contraception. This is lower than 82% reported by a study [16] in rural Bangalore in 2014. This is also less than 70.2% as reported by another study in urban setting in Navi Mumbai in 2016-17.…”

“…Another study in the same setting reported that 12% were aware of provision of insurance. 16 This difference may be attributed to the fact that the referred study was conducted in 2015 and with passage of time improved communication means have led to increased awareness which eventually resulted in better performance of the knowledge parameters as reflected by the current study. Only 25.9% agreed that NSV was better than female sterilization.…”

Contraceptive use and preferences of young married women in Kerala, India

“… 6 Common misbeliefs such as “vasectomy reduces sexual desire” and “it makes a man physically weak” lead to people’s disapproval of vasectomy as a contraceptive method. 7 , 8 Even the health workers in India are not well informed about vasectomy, which makes them unable to provide appropriate information regarding vasectomy to motivate people, and therefore, they mainly provide information on female-oriented methods. 9 One qualitative study among women in low-income communities in Mumbai reported that from the perspective of poor women, the decision to undergo sterilization makes them effectively control their fertility, and hence it leads to improved sexual relationships and emotional health following sterilization.…”

Awareness and actual knowledge regarding contraceptive methods among young women in Trivandrum district, Kerala, India.

“…In a cross-sectional study conducted in Bengaluru rural population in 2015, only 7.4% of the participated men had heard about vasectomy. [10] Another crosssectional study in 2014, among community health workers in Jharkhand, revealed that community health workers are less informed about vasectomy and because they cannot provide proper information regarding vasectomy they mainly target women and provide information on contraceptive methods for women. [11] The extent of knowledge regarding maleoriented methods among young women in the present study also reflects the general trend of knowledge regarding maleoriented methods in the community.…”