Association of Effective Spousal Family Planning Communication with Couples’ Modern Contraceptive Use in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Spousal family planning communication plays an important role in making better reproductive health decisions and in increasing the use of modern contraceptive methods. The objective of the current study is to examine the association of spousal family planning communication in its broader context with current modern contraceptive use among couples. Methods A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in twelve kebeles of Harar Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System. A total of 2700 currently married couples of whose wives were in the reproductive age participated in the study. The selection of the study participants was made using simple random sampling and data were collected using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using Stata version 12. Results The level of current modern contraceptive use was 57.1% (95% CI: 0.53, 3.39). Effective spousal family planning communication was significantly associated with current modern contraceptive use even after controlling for socio-economic and demographic variables. Socio-economic and demographic variables such as religion of couples, number of couples’ living children, household monthly income, couples’ family planning approval and women’s counseling about family planning by health workers were significantly associated with current modern contraceptive use. Conclusion Policies and programs aimed at increasing contraceptive prevalence should properly address the importance of spousal communication about family planning and integrate men into family planning programs to facilitate and enhance couples communication skills.

Prevalence of male participation in modern contraceptive use among married men in Durame Town Southern Ethiopia: a community based cross sectional study, 2021

“…The finding of this study revealed about 45% of study participants were discussed with their wives. This result is consistent with the studies conducted in south eastern zone of Tigray [ 27 ], Harar, Eastern Ethiopia [ 30 ], Angolela Tera District [ 31 ], Womberma District, Northern Ethiopia [ 32 ] a rural community of Western Ethiopia [ 33 ] in Bangladesh [ 34 ], in Angecha Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone [ 35 ] and in rural areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria [ 36 ] had showed that those who communicate with their wives were more predisposed towards use of contraceptive methods. In the present study almost 60% of men supported their wives, which is in line with the study conducted Womberma District, Northern Ethiopia [ 32 ], but lower than other study findings in Hossana Town, Southern Ethiopia [ 24 ] and eastern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia [ 27 ].…”

Attitude of reproductive age women towards male involvement in family planning; a community-based cross-sectional study in Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda

“…Previous studies have extensively explored the importance of spousal communication and its' effect on the use of FP services including contraceptives [33,35]. Zelalem et al [35] reported that effective spousal FP communication was significantly associated with current modern contraceptive use. Key predictors for favourable attitude towards male involvement in FP after adjusting for confounders in the multivariate analysis included average monthly income of participants and male involvement of FP.…”

“…Another important assertion made by participants was feeling comfortable to discuss FP services with their male partners. Previous studies have extensively explored the importance of spousal communication and its’ effect on the use of FP services including contraceptives [33, 35]. Zelalem et al [35] reported that effective spousal FP communication was significantly associated with current modern contraceptive use.…”

Misconceptions and Spousal Communication about Family Planning among Women of a Rural Community in Ekiti State, Nigeria

“…These side effects include bleeding, headache, weigh gain, delay in conception etc. [6,7] It has been documented that husband's approval of contraceptive use is crucial to the woman's utilization, and so also is the communication between the spouse about contraception. [7] There is low rate of contraceptive use in the rural communities promoted by social norms such as early marriage and high fertility.…”