Male involvement in family planning in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana

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2005-11-10
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The study was undertaken in the Acera Metropolitan Area of Ghana. The survey sample composed of a multistage cluster sample of the Metropolis. Within the Metropolis, a random sample of the six sub-metros namely Kpeshie, Ayawaso, Osu Clottey, Ashiedu Keteke Ablekuma and Okai Koi sub-metro (administrative units in Accra) was selected. Within each sub-metro, a sample of 40 households was then selected using a random start and a sampling interval. To assess male involvement in family planning, all eligible men aged 1 8-59 years were interviewed within each sampled household. In all, 388 males were interviewed. Of those interviewed, nearly half were married. In 88 cases of the married men, their partners were also interviewed. The two sets of data provided an opportunity to compare the responses of males and females on selected issues related to family planning. The primary purpose of the study was to generate recent information on the proportion of males who actually participate in family planning services, and the level of support being offered to their partners. This will afford the opportunity to determine what informed policy decisions to incorporate into men’s reproductive health services in particular and in evaluating programmes on men’s health in general. The salient findings are as follows: The result indicated that gap between knowledge of FP (98 %) and use of contraceptives (65%) persists. Although respondents’ knowledge of FP on at least one method is high, their choice and use of any modem contraceptive is shrouded in fear of becoming “impotent” particularly with male sterilization (vasectomy), and their partners becoming promiscuous when allowed to have female sterilization or any modern contraceptives for that matter. The study also revealed a major lack of communication between husbands and their partners on acceptance of contraception. More than three-quarters of the married men reported that there was no communication or discussion with their partners on their reproductive goals or contraceptive use. Wherever it occurred, the wife upon persistence to use it initiated it. This has resulted in inadequate support, as more men do not support women using l-P. However, only about 42% of the unmarried males were adopting non-terminal methods, mainly use of condoms to avoid STIs including HIV/AIDS and not to limit childbearing. Seven percent of the men have four or more children. Among the reasons identified for low use of contraceptives among men, for example condom use, are dislike of the method, loss of sexual enjoyment and infidelity on the part on their spouses. This underlines the need to offer a wide range of reproductive health services including intense health education for men so that they can have a chance as well as the option of changing their perception as well as their behaviour to improve their reproductive goals in particular and contraceptive use in general.
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A thesis presented to the Department of Community Health, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of MSc.degree in Health Services Planning and Management, 2005
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