COMPARISON OF MALE AND FEMALE PARTNERS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF FAMILY PLANNING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Male participation in family planning is encouraged to promote its acceptability and practice by their partners. We aimed to compare the knowledge, perception and practice of family planning among male and female partners. It was a cross-sectional study carriedMethodology: out among married men and women in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Following ethical approval, interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain needed information. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20. The mean median, mode and standard deviation were calculated for the responses. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered signicant. The critical mean score for responses entered on the 5-point Likert scale was 3.0. Mean scores of 3 and above were considered good while those less than 3 were considered poor. There were responses from 62 married men and 65 married women. Awareness about familyResults: planning was good among both men and women (P=0.085). However, the sources of their awareness on family planning differ signicantly with 32 hearing about it over the radio and 45 women hearing about it in the hospital (P=0.000). The perception that family planning is the responsibility of both husband and wife was similar among the men and women (P>0.927). They both agreed that traditional family planning is acceptable (P=0.447). They both agreed the use of family planning is good for a healthy family (P=0.344). They both agreed that men should use family planning (P=0.625). Most men and women have never used any family planning method (0.934). Couples rarely discuss family planning (0.675). Also, couples rarely attend family planning clinics together (0.811). Majority of both men and women did not use any method (P=0.870) and when they use, they most commonly used method is the condom (P=0.944). Also, majority of both men and women did not discuss the methods with their spouses (P=0.944) Both men and women have good knowledge of family planning. Sources of information however differConclusion: signicantly, being radio jingles for men and hospital visits for women. Both show poor uptake with majority not using any method. Spousal communication among couples and male involvement are poor. The male condom is the commonest method used by both men and women. We recommend policies that target the couple in family planning programs to encourage male participation as well as increase the uptake by both men and women.