Male Involvement in Family Planning: Challenges and Way Forward

Abstract

Public health officials have advocated the involvement of men as a strategy for addressing the dismal performance of family planning (FP) programmes. This study was therefore designed to explore the challenges and determine way forward to male involvement in FP in Olorunda Local Government Area, Osogbo, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study involved the use of a four-stage sampling technique to select 500 married men and interviewed them using semistructured questionnaire. In addition, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted. Mean age of respondents was 28.5 ± 10.3 years. Some (37.9%) of the respondents’ spouse had ever used FP and out of which 19.0% were currently using FP. Only 4.8% of the respondents had ever been involved in FP. Identified barriers to male involvement included the perception that FP is woman’s activity and was not their custom to participate in FP programme. More than half of the FGD discussants were of the view that men should provide their wives with transport fare and other resources they may need for FP. The majority of the respondents had never been involved in family planning with their wives. Community sensitization programmes aimed at improving male involvement in FP should be provided by government and nongovernmental agencies.

Risk Factors and Barriers to Male Involvement in the Choice of Family Planning Methods in the Buea Health District, South West Region, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Semi-Urban Area

“…This picture is similar to findings in Nigeria, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ethiopia. 3,4,20,21 Some modern female FP methods are expensive and therefore tend to dissuade men from being involved. Also, since some men are ignorant or do not have adequate information about FP, their involvement is affected to the same extent.…”

“…Studies in other countries have shown participants reporting that large family sizes are intrinsic to their culture and that their only obligation to women concerning FP is the provision of money. 3,4,6,8,22 Other participants reported that when their partners use FP methods they later have side effects like difficulties to conceive, and unwanted weight gain; and that when they use condoms they do not derive sexual satisfaction. These findings have also been reported in studies conducted in Uganda and Kenya.…”

“…3 In Cameroon in particular, the rate increased from 16.1% in 1991 to 23.4% in 2011. 4 This low uptake has been due to negative perceptions regarding FP among men (a woman's problem, time consuming, meant for prostitutes, lack of enough family planning clinics and expenses to pay for FP activities). Furthermore, FP is not much embedded in their culture.…”

Factors Affecting Unmet Need of Family Planning Among Married Tharu Women of Dang District, Nepal

“…Studies have shown that partners who communicate regarding the number of children they want or the use of family planning are more likely to use a contraceptive than those who do not [9, 10]. Community and opinion leaders need to engage in family planning so that they can advocate for the use of FP methods in their community [11]. Wide gap is seen between total demand of family planning and current users.…”

Men’s reproductive health knowledge in Mankweng District, Limpopo Province

“…Literature on reproductive health indicated that men complained about contraceptives citing that they lead to premature ejaculation and ageing, loss of libido, body aches and premature death among others (Matlala & Mpolokeng 2010:39). In Nigeria, contraceptive discussions are regarded as women’s affairs by men; however, women are prevented from accessing contraceptive services by their husbands who are the sole decisions makers in matters related to sexuality (Adelekan, Omoregie & Edoni 2014). …”