Abstract:
Introduction: Ethiopia, like most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is characterized by
high fertility and rapid population growth. It is the second populous country in Africa.
The EDHS 2016 report noted that the contraceptive prevalence rate among married
reproductive age women were 36%. Despite its improvement, there is high unmet need
for contraceptives yet. One of the interventional areas to further increase its demand is
through involving men in family planning. However, there is limited information about the
level of male involvement in family planning in the study area.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the proportion of male involvement in
family planning utilization and associated factors among married men in Chagni town.
Methods: Cross sectional community based survey was conducted from February to
March 2016 having a total sample size of 362 married men in Chagni town. Simple
systematic random sampling technique was used to get eligible participants. The
completeness of data were checked and entered to EPI info version 7 and transported
to SPSS version 16 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression employed to see the
association between dependent and independent variables. P-value less than 0.05 and
OR with 95% CI considered to determine the presence and degree of association.
Result: About 213(64%) respondents were involving in the use of family planning
services. The reasons for not participation in FP were the desire to have more children,
wife refusal, and fear of side effects and religious prohibition about FP. Knowledge,
discussed about FP with wife and attitude were the factors positively associated with
male involvement in the service utilization.
Conclusion: Male involvement among married men in family planning service utilization
was higher. Knowledge, discussed about FP with wife and attitude were the factors
associated with male involvement in the services utilization.
The health professionals should provide health education at community level in addition
to health facilities to improve male involvement in family FP service utilization.
Governmental, non-governmental organizations, donors and relevant stakeholders
should work on attitude, knowledge and discussion about FP.
Further study should be conducted in order to investigate insight gaps with strong
evidence to improve male involvement in family planning service utilization.
