Men's Perception Toward Family Planning

Abstract

Family planning allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods (WHO, 2014). While family planning services have traditionally targeted women, there is growing recognition that reproductive health is the joint responsibility of men and women. Given that men often have significant influences on a couple’s contraceptive use (Shahjahan et al., 2013). Men's perceptions of family planning are manifold. Their knowledge about contraception is poor and sometimes misconceived. Preferences regarding a child's gender are strong, thus attitudes and cultural beliefs that might hinder family planning have to be considered. A policy on male contraception and contraceptive services is seen as necessary. Men have rarely been involved in either receiving or providing information on reproductive health, or birth spacing. They have also been ignored or excluded in one way or the other from participating in many family planning programs as family planning is viewed as a woman's affair. Men are the heads of households and decision makers in all issues in their respective households (Wambui & Alehagen 2009). Aim of the study The aim of the study was to assess men's perception toward family planning through: (1) Assessing men's knowledge about family planning method. (2) Assessing men's practice toward family planning method. (3) Assessing men's attitudes toward family planning method. Research questions 1- Is there relation between men's socio-demographic characteristics and their attitudes regarding family planning methods? 2- Is there relation between men level of knowledge and their Socio-demographic characteristics? 3- Is there relation between men level of knowledge and their attitudes toward family planning method? 4- Are the community provided health services to the men's regarding family planning method?