Abstract
This research investigated the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and male contraceptive uptake in Kenya. A survey of 572 randomly selected male respondents participated in the study. The study assessed the respondents’ socioeconomic profiles such as the location of residence, age, marital status, polygyny, family size, education attainment, working status and income level. The age of the respondents ranged from 18 to 60 years. Chi-square results indicated significant relationships between male contraceptive uptake and socioeconomic characteristics such as location of residence (p = 0.005), age (p = 0.005), marital status (p = 0.005), family size (p = 0.021), education attainment (p = 0.005) and income level (p = 0.032). The study concluded that men’s area of residence, age, marital status, desired number of children, level of education and level of income had a significant influence on male contraceptive uptake. It is recommended that there is a need to develop male-friendly and acceptable contraceptive options for men besides condoms and vasectomy, with the view of increasing contraceptive uptake among males in Kenya.
Highlights
Contraception is a birth control method that can be used for family planning either in males or females to prevent conception
The study investigated whether there existed a significant relationship between male contraceptive uptake and socioeconomic characteristics, namely location of residence, age, marital status, polygyny, family size, education attainment, employment status and income level
Of the contraceptive users (n=325), 32.5% reported that they used condoms consistently, while 67.5% indicated that they used natural family planning methods and none had opted for vasectomy (0.0%)
Summary
Contraception is a birth control method that can be used for family planning either in males or females to prevent conception. Contraceptives are useful in preventing unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. Some contraception such as condoms may be used to protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV), gonorrhoea and syphilis (Matlala & Mpolokeng, 2010). Planning improves the health and socioeconomic conditions of families who adopt the practice. Contraceptives help empower women and men to have control over their ability to have the desired number of children they are able to take care of.
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