Barriers to vasectomy acceptance and uptake in Nigeria: A review of the literature

Mary Ndu, Elysee Nouvet, Gertrude Odezugo, Amina Dorayi, Ifeanyi Okekearu, Lauren J. Wallace

Abstract

There is growing support of male involvement in reproductive health and the integration of voluntary vasectomy services into national family planning programs in lower resource contexts; yet, the prevalence of women of reproductive age who rely on vasectomy in African countries such as Nigeria, is less than 1 percent. This review was conducted to gain a broader understanding of current sociocultural and health systems’ conditions that need to be addressed to expand the integration and acceptability of vasectomy as an option for family planning in Nigeria. To explore this, a scoping of existing literature on vasectomy in Nigeria between 2009 to 2021 was conducted. The review focused on qualitative studies and grey literatures. The findings reveal that there is a strong awareness of vasectomy among men in Nigeria. Yet, several factors such as fear and religious and cultural beliefs prevent men from having the same confidence in vasectomy as they have in female biomedical methods. These findings have implications for future family planning policies, strategies and programmes in the country. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[3]: 37-45).

Full Text:

PDF

References

United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division. Contraceptive use by method 2019: Data Booklet. 2019.

United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division. Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015. 2016 DOI: 10.18356/f52491f9-en.

Trussell J, Lalla AM, Doan QV, Reyes E, Pinto L and Gricar J. Cost effectiveness of contraceptives in the United States. Contraception 2009. DOI:10.1016/j.contraception.2008.08.003.

White K, Campbell A, Hopkins K, Grossman D and Potter JE. Barriers to Offering Vasectomy at Publicly Funded Family Planning Organizations in Texas. Am J Men’s Health 2017; 11: 757–66.

Jacobstein R. The kindest cut: Global need to increase vasectomy availability. Lancet Glob Heal 2015; 3: e733–4.

Shih G, Turok DK and Parker WJ. Vasectomy: The other (better) form of sterilization. Contraception. 2011. DOI:10.1016/j.contraception.2010.08.019.

Tsuruta JK, Dayton PA., Gallippi CM, O’Rand MG, Streicker MA, Gessner RC, Gregory TS, Silva EJR, Hamil KG, Moser GJ and Sokal DC. Therapeutic ultrasound as a potential male contraceptive: Power, frequency and temperature required to deplete rat testes of meiotic cells and epididymis of sperm determined using a commercially available system. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2012; 10: 7.

United Nations. World Population Prospects 2019: Data Booklet. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division 2019: 1–25.

Hardee K, Croce-Galis M and Gay J. Population Council Knowledge Commons Men as contraceptive users: Programs, outcomes and recommendations. 2016 https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/ (accessed Oct 7, 2020).

Eisenberg ML and Lipshultz LI. Estimating the Number of Vasectomies Performed Annually in the United States: Data from the National Survey of Family Growth. J Urol 2010; 184: 2068–72.

National Population Commission. Nigeria Demographic Health Survey 2018. https://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-fr359-dhs-final-reports.cfm.

Shattuck D, Perry B, Packer C and Quee DC. A review of 10 years of vasectomy programming and research in low-resource settings. Global Health Science Practice. 2016; 4: 647–60.

Srivastava P and Hopwood NA Practical Iterative Framework for Qualitative Data Analysis. Int J Qual Methods 2009; 8: 76–84.

Barnett-Page E and Thomas J. Methods for the synthesis of qualitative research: a critical review. BMC Med Res Methodol 2009; 9: 59.

Akpamu U, Nwoke EO, Osifo UC, Igbinovia ENS and Adisa AW. Knowledge and acceptance of ‘vasectomy as a method of contraception’ amongst literate married men in Ekpoma, Nigeria. African J Biomed Res 2010; 13: 153–6.

Ebeigbe PN, Igberase GO and Eigbefoh J. Vasectomy: A survey of attitudes, counselling patterns and acceptance among NIgerian residents Gynaecologists. Ghana Med J 2011; 45: 101–4.

Otovwe A and Okandeji-Barry O. Knowledge and perception of vasectomy among male staffs of Novena University Ogume Delta State Nigeria. IOSR J Nurs Heal Sci 2018; 7: 2320–1940.

Onasoga OA Edoni EER, Ekanem J and Ekiokenigha ER. Knowledge and attitude of men towards vasectomy as a family planning method in Edo State, Nigeria. J Res Nurs Midwifery (JRNM 2013; 2: 13–21.

Tamunomie N and Vademene O, Journal OW-SM, 2016 U. Knowledge and attitude toward vasectomy among antenatal clinic attendees in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Sahel Med J Online 2016; 19: 201–5.

Ezegwui HU and Enwereji JO. Attitude of men in Nigeria to vasectomy. Int Health 2009; 1: 169–72.

Utoo B and Utoo P. Awareness and attitude of women towards their spouse’s use of vasectomy as a fertility control method in Jos, North-Central Nigeria. Jos J Med 2010; 5. DOI:10.4314/jjm.v5i1.62019.

Ogunlaja OA, Ogunlaja SE, Aworinde OO, Ogunlaja IP and Bojuwoye MO. A survey on the knowledge, attitude and acceptance of male sterilization among men in Ogbomosho, South West Nigeria. Res J Heal Sci 2018; 5: 204.

Desmennu AT, Arulogun OS, Ajuwon AJ, Adeyimika TD, Oyedunni SA and Ademola JA. Antecedent factors relating to the adoption of vasectomy among married men in peri-urban communities of Ibadan, Nigeria. Int J Nurs Midwifery 2016; 8: 47–54.

Owopetu C, Chukwuma S and Nwozichi C. Knowledge and attitude of men about vasectomy as a method of family planning among married men in Babcock University Ogun State Nigeria. Int J Nurs Midwifery 2014; 7: 30–5.

Tijani KH, Ojewola RW, Yahya GL, Oluwole AA and Odusanya B. Attitudes and acceptance of Nigerians towards vasectomy- A comparison of married men and women in Lagos. East Afr Med J 2013; 90: 89–94.

Babaloba S and John N. Factors underlying the use of long-acting and permanent family planning methods in Nigeria: A qualitative study. New York, 2012 http://www.respond-project.org/pages/files/6_pubs/research-reports/Study5-Use-Dynamics-Study-Nigeria-August2012-FINAL.pdf.

Babalola S, Oyenubi O, Speizer IS, Cobb L, Akiode A and Odeku M. Factors affecting the achievement of fertility intentions in urban Nigeria: Analysis of longitudinal data. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):1–8.

Madukasi FC. Ozo Title: An Indigenous Institution in Traditional Religion That Upholds Patriarchy in Igbo Land South-Eastern Nigeria. Int J Soc Sci Humanit Invent 2018; 5: 4640–52.

Nweke IO. Ozo title institution in Igbo land in relation to politics in Nigeria: A comparative analysis. OGIRISI a New J African Stud 2019; 15: 96–108.

Solanke BL. Factors influencing contraceptive use and non-use among women of advanced reproductive age in Nigeria. J Heal Popul Nutr 2017; 36: 1–14.

Solanke BL, Oyinlola FF, Oyeleye OJ and Ilesanmi BB. Maternal and community factors associated with unmet contraceptive need among childbearing women in Northern Nigeria. Contracept Reprod Med 2019; 4: 1–12.

Solanke BL, Banjo OO, Oyinloye BO and Asa SS. Maternal grand multiparity and intention to use modern contraceptives in Nigeria. BMC Public Health 2018; 18: 1–15.

Okigbo CC, Speizer IS, Corroon M and Gueye A. Exposure to family planning messages and modern contraceptive use among men in urban Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal: A cross-sectional study. Reprod Health 2015; 12: 1–11.

Bishwajit G, Tang S, Yaya S, Seydou I, Fu H, Wang M, He Z, Da F and Feng Z. Factors associated with male involvement in reproductive care in Bangladesh. BMC Public Health 2017; 17: 1–8.

Adelekan A, Omoregie P and Edoni E. Male Involvement in Family Planning: Challenges and Way Forward. Int J Popul Res 2014; 1–9.

Adeleye OA, Aldoory L and Parakoyi DB. Using local culture and gender roles to improve male involvement in maternal health in southern Nigeria. J Health Commun 2011; 16: 1122–35.

Sinai I, Nyenwa J and Oguntunde O. Programmatic implications of unmet need for contraception among men and young married women in northern Nigeria. Open Access J Contracept 2018; 9: 81–90.

Olugbenga-Bello AI, Adeyemi A, Adeoye O, Salawu M, Aderinoye A and Agbaje M. Contraceptive prevalence and determinants among women of reproductive age group in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Open Access J Contracept 2016; 33.

Sihlabela -Shongwe PV. The perceptions and acceptability of vasectomy as a family planning option by adult Swazi men in Swaziland. 2019 https://repository.smu.ac.za/handle/20.500.12308/616

Bunce A, Guest G, Searing H, Frajzyngier V, Riwa P, Kanama J and Achwal I. Factors Affecting Vasectomy Acceptability in Tanzania. Int Fam Plan Perspect 2007; 33:13–21.

Nesro J, Sendo EG, Yesuf NT and Sintayehu Y. Intention to use vasectomy and associated factors among married men in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1–8.

Ntakirutimana C, Umuziga P, Nikuze B, White R, Meharry P and Adejumo O. Vasectomy is family planning: factors affecting uptake among men in eastern province of Rwanda. Rwanda J Med Heal Sci 2019; 2: 126.

Haws JM, McKenzie M, Mehta M and Pollack AE. Increasing the Availability of Vasectomy in Public-Sector Clinics. Fam Plann Perspect 1997; 29: 185.

Davis J, Hurley L and Stratton S. Successful No-scalpel Vasectomy Pilot Program in Rwanda. 2010 https://www.intrahealth.org/sites/ihweb/files/files/media/rwandas-commitment-to-making-family-planning-services-available-to-all/Tech_Brief_No_Scalpel_Vasectomy_web.pdf.

Labrecque M, Kagabo L, Shattuck D, Wesson J, Rushanika C, Tshibanbe D, Nsengiyumva T and Sokal DC. Strengthening vasectomy services in Rwanda: introduction of thermal cautery with fascial interposition. Contraception 2013; 87: 375–9.

Barone MA, Hutchinson PL, Johnson CH, Hsia J and Wheeler J. Vasectomy in the United States, 2002. J Urol 2006; 176: 232–6.

Labrecque M, Pile J, Sokal D, Kaza RCM, Rahman M, Bodh SS, Bhattarai J, Bhatt GD and Vaidya TM. Vasectomy surgical techniques in South and South East Asia. BMC Urol 2005; 5: 10.

The ACQUIRE Project. ‘Get a Permanent Smile’— Increasing Awareness of, Access to, and Utilization of Vasectomy Services in Ghana. Acquir. Knowl. 2006. https://toolkits.knowledgesuccess.org/sites/default/files/get a permanent smile.pdf.

Tynan A, Vallely A, Kelly A, Kupul M, Law G, Millan J, Siba P, Kaldor J and Hill PS. Health workers, health facilities and penile cutting in Papua New Guinea: implications for male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy. P N G Med J 2011; 54:109–22.

Tynan A, Vallely A, Kelly A, Law G, Millan J, Siba P, Kaldor J and Hill PS. Vasectomy as a proxy: extrapolating health system lessons to male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy in Papua New Guinea. BMC Health Serv Res 2012; 12: 299.

Nian C, Xiaozhang L, Xiaofang P, Qing Y and Minxiang L. Factors Influencing the Declining Trend of Vasectomy in Sichuan, China. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Heal 2010; 41. https://www.tm.mahidol.ac.th/seameo/2010-41-4/28-4783.pdf.

Hardee K, Croce-Galis M and Gay J. Are men well served by family planning programs? Reprod. Health. 2017; 14: 1–12.

Kohan S, Simbar M and Taleghani F. Women’s experience regarding the role of health centers in empowering them for family planning. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2012; 17: S150-6.

Tosa W. Understanding male involvement in vasectomy (case study scenario in Madang Province, PNG). 2019

https://www.vasectomy.org.au/faqs/vasectomy-vs-tubal-ligation/ (accessed Oct 7, 2020).

Sharma S, Bhuvan KC and Khatri A. Factors influencing male participation in reproductive health: a qualitative study. J Multidiscip Healthc 2018; 11: 601–8.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.