Male Participation in Family Planning: Results From a Qualitative Study in Mpigi District, Uganda

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine men’s perceptions about family planning and how they participate or wish to participate in family planning activities in Mpigi District, central Uganda. Four focus group discussions were conducted with married men and with family planning providers from both the government and private sector. In addition, seven key informants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The results indicate that men have limited knowledge about family planning, that family planning services do not adequately meet the needs of men, and that spousal communication about family planning issues is generally poor. However, almost all men approved of modern family planning and expressed great interest in participating. The positive change of the beliefs and attitudes of men towards family planning in the past years has not been recognized by family planning programme managers, since available services are not in line with current public attitudes. A more couple-oriented approach to family planning is needed. Measures could include, for example, recruiting males as family planning providers, offering more family planning counselling for couples, and promoting female-oriented methods with men and vice versa.

Provider perspectives on barriers to family planning quality in Uganda: a qualitative study

“…Indeed, a recent qualitative study from Uganda confirms that men want to be involved in family planning discussions, but they sometimes lack the knowledge. 27 Managers did not always agree with providers. This suggests a need to facilitate a greater level of interaction between the managers and providers.…”

Creating a whole institution approach to in-service training in sexual and reproductive health in Uganda

“…Course participants felt less confident in their family planning discussions with men, yet it is clear that in sub-Saharan Africa men play a central role in decisions on family size,18 and there are many cultural beliefs, misconceptions and suspicions which make husbands sceptical about family planning 5. Suggestions to address this included taking services and health promotion to places where men gather, and encouraging men to attend healthcare consultations with their partners so that they can be involved in discussions about contraception.…”

“…There is high unmet need for family planning, and 34% of married women who do not want a child report they are not using contraception 2. Despite this, demand for family planning is limited by widespread fears of side effects,3 over-reliance on breast feeding beyond 6 months for contraception, male attitudes and the social unacceptability of unmarried women using contraception 4 5…”

Multivariate Analysis of Household Decision Making, Contraceptive Use and Fertility Behaviour among Ever-Married Men in Nigeria

“…This is because until recently, male involvement in reproductive health matters remains very limited and as such, has not been seen relevant in fertility-related issues (Caldwell and Caldwell, 1987;Oyediran et al, 2002;Akindele and Adebimpe, 2013). Similarly, majority of studies carried out on factors associated with contraceptive use and childbearing have overlooked men's crucial role and decision (Kaida et al, 2005;Ditekemena et al, 2012;Streefland et al, 2013), thereby making the idea of fertility performance a woman's sole concern (Mahmood and Ringheim, 1996;Wortham, 2002;Magadi and Curtis, 2003). Additionally, because it is generally seen that it is the woman that bear children, many studies conducted in past and even recently were presented as if men and women have similar fertility desires but which is not true in most cases.…”