The Factor(s) Influencing Male Involvement in Family Planning– Findings from a Rural Community in South West, Nigeria

Abstract

The drive to include men in family planning programming in one part can increase contraceptive prevalence and also reduce the unmet need for family planning especially in Africa especially sub-Saharan Africa, where 2015 millennium development goals in reproductive health were not achieved, however concerted efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals is ongoing. The contraceptive prevalence in Nigeria reported to be 17% in 2018 is less than the average of 55% in sub-Saharan Africa and global average of 76%. This low adoption of contraceptive has been linked to increased maternal mortality in the region. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study which examined the role of 464 married men, in family planning in Gambari, a rural settlement in Oyo state, South-West Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and use of modern contraceptive methods by respondents and their spouses and to identify factors which influence the adoption of family planning methods by men. The mean age of respondents was 42 years, with their age ranging from 20 to 85 years. The Contraceptive method most respondents were aware of, was the injectable (62.5%) followed by the condom (44.8%). A total 80.8% (375) of men had overall poor knowledge of contraceptive methods, while 19.2% (89) had good knowledge. There was a statistically significant relationship between couples’ discussion of family planning and spousal contraceptive use (χ2=123, p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that men with at least secondary education had a better knowledge, attitude and were more likely to have used modern contraception than those with only primary or no education. The study concluded that with better knowledge about contraceptives, men can enhance adoption of family planning, increase contraception uptake and match their attitudes with corresponding action.