Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda
Abstract Background Unmet 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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6173-3 |
| _version_ | 1818460193392951296 |
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| author | Anne Dougherty Alex Kayongo Samantha Deans John Mundaka Faith Nassali James Sewanyana Eric Migadde Ronald Kiyemba Estherloy Katali Sarah Jane Holcombe Sarah H. Heil Robert Kalyesubula |
| author_facet | Anne Dougherty Alex Kayongo Samantha Deans John Mundaka Faith Nassali James Sewanyana Eric Migadde Ronald Kiyemba Estherloy Katali Sarah Jane Holcombe Sarah H. Heil Robert Kalyesubula |
| author_sort | Anne Dougherty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Unmet 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. Methods Data 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. Results Men 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. Conclusions This 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:26:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9e22f4635db4a29ada5194619bcc297 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:26:21Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9e22f4635db4a29ada5194619bcc2972022-12-21T22:43:48ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-11-011811510.1186/s12889-018-6173-3Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural UgandaAnne Dougherty0Alex Kayongo1Samantha Deans2John Mundaka3Faith Nassali4James Sewanyana5Eric Migadde6Ronald Kiyemba7Estherloy Katali8Sarah Jane Holcombe9Sarah H. Heil10Robert Kalyesubula11Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of VermontDepartment of Medicine, Makerere College of Health SciencesDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of VermontAfrican Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)Bixby Center for Population, Health, and Sustainability, University of CaliforniaDepartments of Psychiatry and Psychological Science, University of VermontAfrican Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS)Abstract Background Unmet 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. Methods Data 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. Results Men 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. Conclusions This 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6173-3Family planningContraceptionMenContraceptive knowledgeUgandaLow resource |
| spellingShingle | Anne Dougherty Alex Kayongo Samantha Deans John Mundaka Faith Nassali James Sewanyana Eric Migadde Ronald Kiyemba Estherloy Katali Sarah Jane Holcombe Sarah H. Heil Robert Kalyesubula Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda BMC Public Health Family planning Contraception Men Contraceptive knowledge Uganda Low resource |
| title | Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda |
| title_full | Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda |
| title_short | Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda |
| title_sort | knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural uganda |
| topic | Family planning Contraception Men Contraceptive knowledge Uganda Low resource |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6173-3 |
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