Male Involvement In Family Planning Research Articles

Male involvement in family planning use and associated factors among currently married men in rural Eastern Ethiopia.

Introduction/Objectives:Male involvement in family planning refers to all organizational actions focused on men as a distinct group to increase the acceptability and uptake of family planning among either sex. Despite the growing evidence of male involvement in increasing family planning uptake among couples, a little success has been achieved in Ethiopia, especially in rural areas. Hence, this study aimed to assess male involvement in family planning and its associated factors among currently married men in selected rural areas of Eastern Ethiopia.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 577 randomly selected currently married men, using a simple random sampling method in randomly selected rural districts of Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into a computer using Epi-Data Version 3.1. The analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the social sciences software version 21. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between the dependent and independent variables. Finally, adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals at P-value < 0.05 was considered to be significantly associated with the outcome variable.Results:Out of 577, a total of, 555 married men were included in the study, resulting in a response rate of 96.2%. The magnitude of male involvement in family planning use was 59.3% (95% confidence interval: 47.1, 68. 2). Ever use of family planning by a spouse (adjusted odds ratio: 2.37; 95% confidence interval: 1.59, 3.52), ever discussion of spouse on sexual and reproductive health/family planning issues (adjusted odds ratio: 2.05; 95% confidence interval: 1.40, 3.02), and the husband’s approval of family planning (adjusted odds ratio: 2.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.34, 4.96) were significantly associated with higher odds of male involvement in family planning use than their counterparts.Conclusion:The number of men involved in the family planning was low. Ever use of family planning methods by a spouse, ever discussion of spouse on sexual and reproductive health/family planning issues, and husband approval on family planning use were found to be important predictors of male involvement in family planning use. To improve modern family planning uptake among men and women, it is imperative to include men in family planning programs, such as family planning messaging, sensitizations, and services.

Prevalence and determinants of the involvement of married men in family planning services in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Male involvement in family planning includes not only using contraceptives but also encouraging and supporting their partners’ contraception needs and choices, encouraging peers to use family planning, and influencing policy to make male-related programs more conducive. In Ethiopia, the prevalence and associated factors of male involvement in family planning were highly inconsistent across studies. As a result, the goal of this study was to use a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence of male involvement in family planning and its associated factors in Ethiopia.Methods:Electronic literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, HINAR, Scopus, and Web of Sciences were performed without time restriction to identify the primary studies. Data were extracted using a pretested standardized data extraction format and analyzed using STATA 14 statistical software. A random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of male involvement.Results:A total of 17 studies were included to give the pooled prevalence of male involvement in family planning in Ethiopia, which was 39.66% (95% confidence interval = 29.86, 49.45). Educational status (adjusted odds ratio = 1.99, 95% confidence interval = 1.26, 3.14), discussion of family planning with wife (adjusted odds ratio = 4.15, 95% confidence interval = 2.21, 7.80), knowledge (adjusted odds ratio = 1.83, 95% confidence interval = 1.26, 2.64), positive attitude about family planning (adjusted odds ratio = 2.57, 95% confidence interval = 1.70, 3.90), and approval of contraceptive use (adjusted odds ratio = 2.57, 95% confidence interval = 1.70, 3.90) were found to be significantly associated with involvement of men in family planning service.Conclusion:The overall prevalence of male involvement in family planning in Ethiopia was significantly low. Male involvement in family planning should be made available, accessible, and advocated for by government and non-governmental organizations, service providers, program planners, and stakeholders. In addition, to increase the role of men in the use of family planning services, a conducive environment for education, behavioral change, and open discussion about reproductive health issues is required.

Missing men in family planning: understanding the socio-spatial differentials in male sterilization and male spacing methods of contraception in India.

Male involvement in family planning results in improved reproductive health and gender outcomes for women. In India, the use of family planning methods remains largely female-dominated. Recent media reports have indicated a rapid decline in male sterilization use in the past few years. This study aimed to assess the trends in, patterns of and factors associated with the use of male sterilization and male spacing methods in India using data from four rounds of the National Family Health Survey, conducted from 1992 to 2016. Bivariate analysis was done to see the trends in, and patterns of, male sterilization and spacing methods, while multinomial logistic regression was used to understand the factors associated with male spacing methods and sterilization. The results show a marked decline in the prevalence of male sterilization from 1992-93 (3.5%) to 2015-16 (0.3%) in India. Of the 640 districts, only 21 had a more than 2% prevalence of male sterilization. Scheduled tribe couples were two times more likely to use male sterilization than other (upper/no caste) groups. Couples from the northern region were significantly more likely to use male sterilization (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.43-1.97) compared with those from the south. There was a regional disparity in male condom use, with a very small proportion of couples in the southern (1.1%), north-eastern (2.4%) and eastern (3.3%) regions using the method compared with couples from the northern region (9.7%). Couples from the northern (aOR: 8.89, 95% CI: 8.44-9.38), north-eastern (aOR: 11.37, 95% CI: 10.62-12.18), eastern (aOR: 6.96, 95% CI: 6.60-7.34), western (aOR: 4.65, 95% CI: 4.40-4.92) and central (aOR: 10.89, 95% CI: 10.35-11.46) regions were also significantly more likely to use male spacing methods than those from southern India. Therefore, a greater focus on increasing the use of male sterilization and condoms is required in India to reduce the gender disparity in the use of family planning methods.

Male Involvement in Family Planning: A Qualitative Survey of the Barriers and Facilitators amongst Married Men in Sokoto metropolis

Background: Although large families are desired in Nigeria, women tend to want fewer children than men but are often unable to limit or space childbirth due to gender dynamics within relationships. Studies have identified men as a significant barrier to the use of contraceptives by their wives. The study explored married men’s knowledge and perception on family planning (FP), involvement in FP, barriers and facilitators of male involvement (MI) in FP in Sokoto Metropolis.Methods: A qualitative study was done among married men in Sokoto Metropolis in November 2017. Four focus group discussions were conducted among thirty-two men grouped based on educational status and age. Data was transcribed verbatim and a content analysis on emerging themes was done.Results: All the participants were aware of FP and most of them said that it is beneficial to everyone in the community. Most of the participants perceived that FP is an issue for both men and women. All the participants said that men should be involved in FP. The barriers to MI in FP mentioned were lack of knowledge on FP and poverty while increasing awareness on FP, religious leaders and traditional rulers championing FP, and making FP free were the facilitators suggested.Conclusion: The participants said that FP is beneficial to everyone in the community and men should be involved in FP. Traditional and religious leaders should be made the champions of FP in their various communities to improve acceptance and utilisation.

Use of community-based interventions to promote family planning use among pastoralist women in Ethiopia: cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAfar region is one of the pastoralist dominated regions in Ethiopia. The region is characterized by a low contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 5.4%. Lack of awareness of contraceptive use, husband objection and religious barriers are attributed to low CPR in the region. This study assessed the effect of community-based interventions for promoting family planning (FP) use among pastoralist communities in Ethiopia.MethodsThe study design was a three-arm, parallel, clustered randomized controlled trial (CRT). The three study arms were: (1) male involvement in family planning (FP) education; (2) women’s education on FP; and (3) control. A total of 33 clusters were randomized and allocated with a one-to-one ratio. Intervention components included (1) health education on FP to married women and men by faema leaders (a traditional community-based structure that serves as a social support group); (2) video-assisted message on FP; and (3) assisting the faema leader using health workers and health extension workers (HEWs). The intervention was given for a total of nine months. FP use and intentions were measured as outcome variables. In addition, a cluster-level summary considering a cluster effect analysis was performed. The result was presented with t.test, adjusted risks and its 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsThe proportion of FP use among the arms was 34% in the male involvement in FP education, 17.5% in women’s education on FP and 4.3% in the control. There was a positive change in the proportion of FP use in the male involvement in FP education and women’s education on FP arms with absolute risk (AR) of 0.29 (95% CI, 0.23,0.34) and 0.13 (95% CI,0.08,0.17), respectively, as compared to the control arm. Similarly, married women in the male involvement in FP education and women’s education on FP arms had 3.4 (2.48, 4.91) and 2.1 (1.50, 2.95) higher intention to use FP, respectively, as compared with the control arm.ConclusionThe present study suggests that in such male-dominated pastoralist communities with more considerable religious barriers, the community-based health education mainly targeting males appears to be a promising strategy for improving FP use and intention to use FP.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03450564, March, 2018.

PROTOCOL: Involving men and boys in family planning: A systematic review of the effective components and characteristics of complex interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

PROTOCOL: Involving men and boys in family planning: A systematic review of the effective components and characteristics of complex interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

Involvement in family planning service utilization and associated factors among married men at Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017.

Introductionmen´s involvement in family planning (FP) can be either as a user of male contraceptive methods and/or support of the male partners. In some developing countries, levels of communication on this issue is low for decision-making. Unmet need for FP suggested that unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion are the main causes of maternal mortality in Ethiopia. Men’s involvement in family planning is very important to improve women´s health in particular and reproductive health in general.Methodsthe community based cross-sectional study design was conducted to assess men´s involvement in family planning service and associated factors among married men at Debre Tabor town. A simple random sampling method was used to include 382 married males. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi Info 7 and were analyzed using SPSS version 21 statistical software package.Resultsfrom three hundred and eighty-two participants, 373 participated yielding a 97.6% response rate. The age range of the participants’ was from 20 to 65 years, the mean age was 38.6 with the standard deviation of ±7.8. The majority of the participants were Orthodox followers 358 (96%). About 33.2% of them were greater than secondary education level. The magnitude of male involvement in family planning was 254 (68.1%), 370 (99.2%) of the participants had information on different family planning methods. Adjusting all other factors for the final model, educational status AOR = 2.39 [1.084, 5.260], source of information AOR [95%CI] = 1.88 [1.016, 3.485], men’s approval AOR [95%CI] = 0.07 [0.036, 0.134], ever used contraceptive AOR [95%CI] = 0.21 [0.064, 0.705] were found to be associated with men’s involvement.Conclusionthe level of male involvement was moderate, but their actual utilization is low.

Determinants of Male Involvement in Family Planning Services in Tarime District, Tanzania

This paper examines the determinants of male involvement in family planning services by investigating the relationship between knowledge and male involvement in family planning, and between the involvements of both sexes in family planning services. The study adapted a mixed research design whereby quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed to generate primary data, complemented by other methods like in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and documentary review. The main tool of data collection was a questionnaire, and data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, logistic regression; while qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. The unit of analysis was the individual at household level, and questionnaires were served to 312 households, while in-depth interviews involved 12 key informants. The major findings indicated that many people were currently not practicing family planning methods (73.1% for females and 47.2% for males) although the knowledge about family planning was high (94.6% for females, and 96.0% for males). Some of the reasons for not using family planning were fear of side-effects like having deformed children, fear of cancer, heavy pain during delivery and wives being unfaithful for they have protections. The ANOVA findings showed that there is statistically significant relationship between knowledge of males and use of family planning in future, at p=0.013. The study recommends an improvement in the awareness of family planning services, and allowing more innovative strategies like SMS communication especially in rural areas. Equally, more qualified staff at all levels should be employed to bridge the gap between service providers and clients, which is a major concern.

Pattern of spousal support and communication among family planning clients in a tertiary care centre in north western Nigeria

Background: Globally, there has been the recognition of the importance of male involvement in family planning and providers sees their support as an effective way of reducing barrier to accessing Family Planning services. Aim: Assess the pattern of spousal support and communication for family planning. Methodology: This was a mixed study design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information from Family Planning client, attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital’s Reproductive Health clinic and Ahmadu Bello University Medical Centre. An in-dept. interview (with FP providers) and FGDs (with clients) were also conducted. Result: A total of 280 clients that were served with questionnaire across the two facilities within three months. Of the 280 respondents only 65% had tertiary level of education. Prior discussion of family planning with spouse was found in 82.5% of respondents and in 80.3% of the respondents said their spouses were aware of the chosen method. However, it was only in 39.5% of clients that, the chosen method was influenced by their spouses. Financial support by spouse was found in 69% of respondents. In 90% of respondents, there was the influence of the spouse on the intended duration of the chosen method. However, it was only in 33.5% of the respondents that the spouse influenced the discontinuation of previous method. Conclusion: Couple communication and spousal support were present in over two-third of family planning clients in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Targeting men in behavioral change communication will improve the uptake of family planning services and improve the continuation of use of long-term contraceptives.

Time to Use Modern Contraceptives and Associated Factors among Women in Extended Postpartum Period in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

Introduction: Delayed in the use of contraceptives following childbirth pose women at risk of pregnancy, which can lead to unintended pregnancy and short birth intervals. There are little evidences on timetouse modern contraceptives following childbirth. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the time to use modern contraceptive and associated factors among women in extended postpartum period in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from November, 2017 to October, 2018 in eight health institutions among postpartum women who came for infant measles immunization in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 427 study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to describe the time-to-use contraceptive. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine factors associated with time-to-contraceptive use. Results: A total of 421 women were participated in this study. The median time to use modern contraceptive among women during the extended postpartum period was 6 (IQR: 5, 7) months. History of abortion (AHR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.79), sexual resumption (AHR=3.29, (95% CI: 1.35, 8.03), menses resumption (AHR=1.46, 95% CI: (1.11, 1.92), getting family planning counseling during antenatal care (AHR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.78) and husband approval (AHR=1.89, 95% CI:1.21, 2.96) were factors associated with time to contraceptive use in the extended postpartum period. Conclusion: The time to modern contraceptive use during the extended postpartum period was delayed. Sexual and reproductive characteristics of postpartum women and male involvement in family planning were statistically significant predictors for timely use of modern contraceptive use. It is good to initiate contraceptive use before the return of menses.

Determinants of Male Involvement in Family Planning Services: A Case Study in the Tema Metropolis, Ghana

Background: Usage of family planning services in developing countries has been found to avert unintended pregnancies, and drastically reduce maternal and child mortality. Men as the main decision-makers in most of African families have an important role to play towards acceptance of family planning methods; however, its usage still remains low. The primary ob-jective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence male in-volvement in family planning. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted within the Tema Metropolis in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The chosen research approach provided an oppor-tunity to interact with adult male respondents to access their perceived factors that contribute to their level of involvement in family planning programs. A stratified sampling technique was used to recruit 227 partici-pants aged (19 - 58) years using a well-structured questionnaire. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were respectively conducted to estimate frequencies, measure the level of associations and predict outcomes on selected variables outputs. Results: The study revealed that a little over two-thirds (68.72%) of the respondents disagreed that total family planning is an issue for only women. The majority (83.26%) of the respondents, said their communities accept the act of men accompanying their wives or partners for family planning services, though 36.12% of them reported that their family and friends see it strange for men to attend family planning with their wives/partners. Among the 34.4% of respondents who reported ever attending any such family planning clinic, 56.41% have attended just once. Marital status, employment status and knowledge about family planning of respondents were positively associated with male involvement in family planning (p-value

Knowledge, attitude and preferred method of family planning among men living in an Urban Slum in Kano, Nigeria

Context: Male involvement in family planning (FP) has a direct influence on their spouse's attitude towards the use of modern contraceptives. Aims: The aim was to determine the knowledge, attitude and preferred methods of FP among men living in an urban slum of Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to study 110 married men living in Dorayi Quarters in Kano. Data were obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe categorical variables. P

Male Perception and Participation in Family Planning Among Tribal Communities of Maharashtra, India: A Mixed-Method Study.

This study examined male perceptions and awareness about family planning. The study also investigated male involvement in family planning and contraceptive use decision-making. Furthermore, in this study, we assessed men’s awareness, attitude, and practice of modern contraceptive methods and determined the level of spousal communication. In this study, a field survey was conducted among the tribal population of Maharashtra. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection. A sample of 385 men whose wives had given birth in the last 2 years were interviewed. Almost two thirds of the surveyed men (64%) had heard about modern family planning. The main source of information for family planning was the multipurpose worker in the village for 48% of men, followed by friends 16% and the auxiliary nurse midwife and accredited social health activist for 11% and 10%, respectively. Results show that the current use of any modern family planning method, including male and female methods, was 18.4%. Among the currently used modern methods, the major modern family planning method was male sterilization (67%), followed by oral pills (11%) and male condom use (10%). This study indicated that the acceptance of male modern family planning methods is very high.

Male involvement in family planning; an often neglected determinant of contraceptive prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;For more than two decades, there have been efforts to include men in family planning programmes. Male involvement was first echoed on a global scale at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) plan of action, Cairo 1994.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;This article is aimed at highlighting the importance of male involvement in increasing contraceptive prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;A literature search using Google, Google scholar, PubMed, Hinary, Medical textbooks and related journals. Relevant articles were extracted and used for this review.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;Majority of the literature assessed showed alienation of men in family planning and other reproductive health services despite the declaration made at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, 1994. Findings also showed significant level of awareness of modern family planning methods amongst men but very low support for its use by themselves and/or their spouses or partners. Some of the reasons for such apathy include fears of side effects, non-availability, high cost and ignorance. The importance of involving men in family planning services cannot be over stressed. There are overwhelming evidence that with male support, there would be greater uptake and sustained use of family planning. This will lead to improved maternal and child health indices especially in our setting where the burden of the morbidity and mortality of maternal and child health is greatest.&lt;/p&gt;

Knowledge and Use of Birth Control Methods for Family Planning by Married People in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State

OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the knowledge level and use of birth control methods by married people for family planning in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu state. &#x0D; &#x0D; MATERIALS &amp;amp; METHODS: The population of this study comprised 4450 married people who registered for marriage from 2010 to 2017 in Nsukka Education Zone of Enugu State. The sample was 445 respondents (210 married males and 235 married females). The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled: Knowledge and use of birth control methods for family planning questionnaire (KUBCM). The study was guided by four research questions and four hypotheses. The (KUBCM) research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. &#x0D; &#x0D; RESULTS: The results obtained showed that married people in Nsukka Education zone have knowledge of birth control methods; that they make use of birth control methods to a great extent; and that there is a significant difference in the mean responses of male and female married people on the extent to which married people make use of birth control methods for family planning. &#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSION: Both male and female married people have knowledge of common birth control methods of family planning, therefore, couples should discuss together which birth control method of family planning they want to adopt. It should not be a one-man affair. We recommend among others, the full integration of the male population in the family planning programmes, and provision of sensitization programmes aimed at improving male involvement in family planning by government and non-governmental

'Men Too': Masculinities and Contraceptive Politics in Late Twentieth Century Britain

ABSTRACTIn 1984, the Family Planning Association (FPA) launched its year-long ‘Men Too’ campaign to encourage greater male involvement in family planning and personal relationships. The campaign represented a wider shift towards promoting ‘male involvement’ in contraception by the 1980s. Taking ‘Men Too’ as it’s starting point, this article explores the interrelationship between contraceptive politics and wider debates about masculinity, heterosexual relations and emotion in late twentieth century Britain. Popular uptake of the oral contraceptive pill had transformed contraceptive responsibility, shifting it from men to women from the 1970s, particularly amongst the young. The result was a new sexual subject in sharp contrast to the early twentieth century: the uninvolved male contraceptor. Thus, ‘Men Too’ was tackling a generationally-specific problem that became visible in the 1980s, produced by the conjectural forces of technology (the Pill) and ideology (‘second-wave’ feminism). The campaign reimagined masculinity by idealising emotional expression and a new contraceptive politics framed around the buzzword of ‘shared responsibility’. In turn, ‘Men Too’ exemplified the emergence of new emotional intimacies that framed a larger shift in the character of heterosexual relationships. In addition, ‘Men Too’ is considered as part of the wider emotional culture of late twentieth century Britain.

Male involvement in family planning in Northern Nigeria: A review of literature

Background: Demand and utilization of family planning (FP) in Northern Nigeria has been consistently low. Evidence from literature has demonstrated that male involvement in FP programming can be successful in increasing demand for FP services. Materials and Methods: A search of peer-reviewed and gray literature was carried out to explore the status of male awareness and utilization of FP methods, and the barriers to male involvement in FP, in Northern Nigeria. Results: Males in the region generally have a good awareness of FP. However, they had negative perceptions, low levels of usage of FP, and poor spousal communication about FP. Sociocultural and religious barriers played major roles in hindering male involvement in FP. Misconceptions about FP, such as that FP is a woman’s activity and that it also encourages promiscuity among women, were factors limiting its acceptance. Conclusion: There is a need to address the misconceptions and equip men with complete and correct information about FP. There is also a need for research on effective strategies to address the sociocultural and religious barriers to male involvement in FP in Northern Nigeria and the development of effective culturally sensitive male-involvement FP initiatives.

Male Involvement in Family Planning: An Integrative Review

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to identify evidence about determinants of male engagement in family planning. Methods: An integrative review was used to assess the determinants of male engagement in family planning. Data search was between 2014 and 2019 using Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Pub Med, Medline, CINAHL, EBSCO, Cochrane, and EBSCO host. A total of 14 articles met the eligibility criteria. Results: The fourteen reviewed articles were adopted with mixed method designs, randomized controlled trial, quazi-experimental, and survey. Themes were: determinant of male engagement in family planning, women perception of male enrolment in family planning, and methods to enhance male use of family planning. Conclusion: Religion, large family size, culture, fear of side effect, access and exposure to information, attitudes, norms and self-efficacy and interaction with a health care provider are determinants of male involvement in family planning use. Interventional programs by health care providers and intensive education to men will positively increase prevalence of family planning use. It’s recommended to involve religious leaders in education. Implication: More attention is needed at community and governmental level to identify strategies to promote gender equity, shared decision making, shared responsibility and positive participation of men, empowering women, and to increase effectiveness of male participation.

Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda

BackgroundUnmet need for family planning exceeds 33% in Uganda. One approach to decreasing unmet need is promoting male involvement in family planning. Male disapproval of use of family planning by their female partners and misconceptions about side effects are barriers to family planning globally and in Uganda in particular. Researchers have conducted a number of qualitative studies in recent years to examine different aspects of family planning among Ugandan men. The present study aimed to quantify men’s knowledge of family planning in rural Uganda to understand how better to involve men in couples’ contraceptive decision-making, particularly in low-resource settings.MethodsData were derived from in-person, researcher-administered surveys of men in a rural agrarian district in Uganda (N = 178). Participant demographics and knowledge of family planning methods, side effects, and use were queried. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.ResultsMen were 34 years of age on average (range 18–71) and about half (56%) had a primary school education or less. Ninety-eight percent reported any knowledge of family planning, with 73% of men reporting obtaining information via radio and only 43% from health workers. The most common method known by men was the male condom (72%), but more than half also knew of injections (54%) and pills (52%). Relatively few men reported knowing about the most effective reversible contraceptive methods, intrauterine devices and implants (both 16%). Men identified many common contraceptive side-effects, such as vaginal bleeding (31%), and misconceptions about side effects, such as increased risk of infertility and birth defects, were relatively uncommon (both < 10%). About half of all men reported ever using a family planning method (53%), and 40% reported current use.ConclusionsThis study’s quantitative results build on those of recent qualitative studies and provide information about the types of family planning information men are lacking and avenues for getting this information to them.

Partner Support for Family Planning and Modern Contraceptive Use in Luanda, Angola.

Husband's/partner's support for family planning may influence a women's modern contraceptive use. Socio-demographic factors, couple communication about family planning, and fertility preferences are known to play a role in contraceptive use. We conducted logistic regression analysis to investigate the relationship between perceived husband's/partner's approval and husband's/partner's encouragement of modern contraceptive use, adjusting for socio-demographic factors and recent couple communication about family planning. We also examined mediating roles potentially played by perceived contraceptive accessibility and contraceptive self-efficacy (using index created by principal component analysis). Perceived husband's/partner's approval was associated with triple the odds of women's modern contraceptive use and remained significantly associated with 1.6 times the odds, after controlling for contraceptive accessibility and contraceptive self-efficacy. Husband's/partner's encouragement, while initially significantly associated with contraceptive use, became non-significant after adjustments for socio-demographic factors and couple communication. Perceived husband's/partner's approval, separate from a woman's sense of self-efficacy and perceived accessibility of contraceptives, appears strongly and positively associated with current modern contraceptive use. Increased couple communication may help women identify their husband's/partner's approval. Difference between the meaning of approval and encouragement should be explored. Interventions involving information education and communication campaigns geared to men and promoting male involvement in family planning could increase contraceptive prevalence.