Abstract
Introduction: Men often have higher decision making power in matters such as sexual relations, family size, and seeking health care than women. On the contrary, women carry a disproportionate amount of responsibility for reproductive health matters including family planning. Even though women receive the bulk of reproductive health services, gender dynamics makes women powerless. Reproductive health matters in its broader sense should be a concern for all not for just that of women; and it needs the attention of men, entire family and the society at large. Despite this, men involvement in family planning utilization is low in Ethiopia. Objective: The main aim of this study is to assess the role of male involvement in family planning utilization and associated factors in Arba minch-town, Gamo Gofa zone, Ethiopia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Arba-minch town among 406 married men. The data was collected by face-to-face interview using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Sampling units (households that fulfill the inclusion criteria) were selected by using simple random sampling method. Verbal consent was obtained from respondents by explaining the objective of the study. The questioner was developed in English then translated to local language for actual data collection. Data was cleaned, coded and entered into computer and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done at 95% CI and variables with p-value of < 0.05 at multivariable logistic regression were considered as significant predictors of the outcome variable. The findings of the study were presented in text, tables and charts. Result: The result of this study shows that male involvement in modern contraceptive utilization is 68%. Respondents who were knowledgeable on modern family planning methods were 2 times more likely to involve in family planning utilization compared to those who have no knowledge (AOR [95% CI] = 2.0 [1.397, 3.992]). Respondents whose desired number of children is less than or equal to three were five times more likely involve in modern family planning utilization (AOR [95% CI] = 5.0 [0.192, 0.957]). In addition, respondents who are illiterate were 85% less likely to involve in modern family planning utilization compared to those with educational status of diploma and above (AOR [95% CI] = 0.15 [2.299, 17.738]). Conclusion and recommendation: In this study, male involvement in modern contraceptive utilization is slightly high compared to other studies conducted in the country. Male involvement on modern contraceptive utilization is largely influenced by men knowledge on modern contraceptive methods, level of education and desired number of children. Family planning Information, Education and communication should be given for men to increase their involvement in modern contraceptive utilization.
Highlights
Men often have higher decision making power in matters such as sexual relations, family size, and seeking health care than women
In multi-variable logistic regression, Knowledge on modern family planning was significantly associated with male involvement in family planning utilization, in that, respondents who were knowledgeable on modern family planning methods were 2 times more likely to involve in family planning utilization compared to those who have no knowledge on modern family planning methods (AOR [95% CI] = 2.0 [1.397, 3.992])
Desired number of children there was significantly associated with the out-come variable, in that, respondents whose desired number of children is less than or equal to three were five times more likely involve in modern family planning utilization (AOR [95% CI] = 5.0 [0.192, 0.957])
Summary
Men often have higher decision making power in matters such as sexual relations, family size, and seeking health care than women. Family-planning programs have focused attention primarily on women, because of the need to free women from excessive child-bearing, and to reduce maternal and infant mortality through the use of modern methods of contraception despite child bearing is the outcome of both partners in a conjugal union and men together with women play key roles in reproductive health decision making. This focus on women has reinforced the belief that family planning is largely a woman’s business, with the man playing a very peripheral role [3]
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