Family planning decision-making among young males in Southern Africa

Godswill N. Osuafor, Monica E. Akokuwebe, Erhabor S. Idemudia

Abstract

Male partners play a crucial role in reproductive health matters and seem to be identified as the main contributors responsible for the large proportion of poor reproductive health suffered by their female partners. Limited evidence exists, however, on effective strategies to increase male involvement in family planning. Therefore, this study aims to examine the prevalence and factors associated with male involvement in family planning decisions. Using recent data from Demographic and Health Surveys of seven countries in Southern Africa (Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), age, education, wealth index, religion, occupation, exposure to media, contraceptive knowledge, and sex of household head showed significant associations of male involvement in family planning, and these associations differed by country. By country, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) showed that education (Malawi (primary) AOR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.91–1.38; South Africa (secondary/ higher) AOR: 1.44; 95% CI: 0.95–2.19), religion (Lesotho (Muslim) AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 0.54–8.12; Zambia (Muslim) AOR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.69–1.49; Zambia (Traditional) AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.77–1.47), marital status (Malawi (widowed) AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.55– 2.05; Lesotho (divorced/separated) AOR: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.84–1.66; Mozambique (divorced/separated) AOR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.80– 1.33), and sex of household head (South Africa (female) AOR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.96–1.27) were significant predictors of male involvement in family planning decision-making in Southern African countries. Certain socio-economic factors such as wealth status (Malawi (middle) AOR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.91–1.19, ρ< 0.05; South Africa (Rich) AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.91–1.23), and occupational status (Mozambique (working) AOR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.97–1.29) were found to be positively associated with males’ participation in family planning decision-making in Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique. Suggested strategies include programmes targeting couples jointly and family planning education for men provided by male outreach workers, especially in communities at the grassroots level. Therefore, to encourage men’s involvement and approval of family planning, communitybased intervention programmes that openly target men are required to reduce stigma and misconceptions and boost consciousness of the advantages of family planning utilization. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27 [10]: 16-35).

Full Text:

PDF

References

Adedemiji AA, Akokuwebe ME and Omololu OO. Use of

lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) as

contraception among women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Journal of Environment and Culture, 2013; 10 (1 &

: 39–61.

Omololu OG and Akokuwebe ME. Knowledge and practice

of exclusive breastfeeding as a contraceptive form

among childbearing women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social

Issues, 2014; 17 (1): 3–15.

Akokuwebe ME. Breastfeeding as a form of contraceptive

among nursing mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria. African

Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues,

; 17 (3): 39–57.

Adebowale A.S. Ethnic disparities in fertility and its

determinants in Nigeria. Fertility Research and

Practices, 2019; 5 (3): 1–16.

Sait M, Ajarbou A, Almannie R and Binsaleh S. Knowledge,

attitudes, and perception patterns of contraception

methods. Urology Annals, 2021; 13 (3): 243–253.

Ntoimo LFC and Akokuwebe ME. Prevalence and patterns

of marital dissolution in Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 2014; 12 (2):

–15.

Akokuwebe ME and Okafor EE. Maternal health and the

implications for sustainable transformation in

Nigeria. Res Humanit Soc Sci, 2015; 5 (6): 1–13.

Safieh J, Schuster T, McKinnon B, Booth A and Bergevin Y.

Reported evidence on the effectiveness of mass media

interventions in increasing knowledge and use of

mass media interventions in increasing knowledge

and use of family planning in low and middle-income

countries: a systematic mixed methods review. J Glob

Health, 2019; 9 (2): 020420.

Akokuwebe ME and Okunola RA. Demographic transition

and rural development in Nigeria. Developing

Country Studies, 2015; 5 (6): 90–102.

Odusina EK, Ayotunde T, Kunnuji M, Ononokpono DN,

Bishwajit G and Yaya S. Fertility preferences among

couples in Nigeria: a cross sectional study.

Reproductive Health, 2020; 17 (92): 1–9.

Montoya A, Calvert C and Filippi V. Explaining differences

in maternal mortality levels in sub-Saharan African

hospitals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int

Health, 2014; 6: 12–22.

Adedini SA, Babalola S, Ibeawuchi C, Omotoso O, Akiode

A and Odeku M. Role of religious leaders in

promoting contraceptive use in Nigeria: evidence

from the Nigerian urban reproductive health

initiative. Global Health: Science and Practice 2018;

(3): 500–514.

Solanke BL, Oyinlola FF, Oyeleye OJ and Ilesanmi BB.

Maternal and community factors associated with

unmet contraceptive need among childbearing

women in Northern Nigeria. Contraception and

Reproductive Medicine, 2019; 4 (11): 1–12.

Akokuwebe ME and Idemudia ES. Factors associated with

choice of home birth as place of delivery among

women of reproductive age in South Africa. AJRH,

; 27 (1): 22–40.

Stephenson R, Baschieri A, Clement S, Hennink M and

Madise N. Contextual influences on modern

contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa. Am J Public

Health, 2007; 97: 1233–1240.

Nair PS and Navaneetham K. Patterns and determinants of

modern contraceptive use in Southern Africa.

Demography India, 2015; 44 (1 & 2): 40–49.

Ahinkorah BO, Budu E, Aboagye RG, Agbaglo E, ArthurHolmes F, Adu C, Archer AG, Gyasi Aderoju YB and

Seidu A-A. Factors associated with modern

contraceptive use among women with no fertility

intention in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from crosssectional surveys of 29 countries. Contraception and

Reproductive Medicine, 2021; 6 (22): 1–13.

Adamchak DJ and Mbizvo MT. Family planning

information sources and media exposure among

Zimbabwean men. Studies in Family Planning, 1991;

(5): 326–331.

Orji E, Ojofeitimi EO and Olanrewaju BA. The role of men

in family planning decision-making in rural and urban

Nigeria. The European Journal of Contraception and

Reproductive Health Care, 2007; 12 (1): 70–75.

Nkwonta CA and Messias De Anne KH. Male participation

in reproductive health interventions in sub-Saharan

Africa: A scoping review. International Perspectives

on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2019; 45: 71–85.

Osuafor GN, Akokuwebe ME and Idemudia ES. Male

Involvement in Family Planning Decisions in Malawi

and Tanzania: What Are the Determinants? IJERPH,

; 20(6):5053.

Anbesu EW, Aychiluhm SB and Kahsay ZH. Maleinvolvement in family planning use and its

determinants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and

meta-analysis protocol. Systematic Reviews, 2022;

(9): 1–5.

Ndinda C, Ndhlovu T and Khalema NE. Conceptions of

contraceptive use in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South

Africa: Lessons for programming. Int. J. Environ.

Res. Public Health 2017; 14 (4): 353.

Kriel Y, Milford C, Cordero J, Suleman F, Beksinska M,

Steyn P and Smit JA. Male partner influence on

family planning and contraceptive use: perspectives

from community members and healthcare providers

in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Reproductive

Health, 2019; 16 (89): 1–15.

Bagcchi S. Men’s involvement in family planning improves

contraceptive use, study finds. BMJ, 2016; 353:

Manortey S and Missah K. Determinants of maleinvolvement in family planning services: a case study

in the Tema Metropolis, Ghana. Open Access Library

Journal, 2020; 7 (e6043): 1‒21.

Akokuwebe ME, Idemudia ES. A comparative crosssectional study of the prevalence and determinants of

health insurance coverage in Nigeria and South

Africa: a multi-country analysis of Demographic

Health Surveys. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health,

; 19 (3): 1766.

Obasohan P.E. Religion, ethnicity and contraceptive use

among reproductive age women in Nigeria.

International Journal of MCH and AIDS, (2015) 3 (1):

–73.

Koffi T.B., Weidert K., Bitasse E.O., Mensah Marthe A.E.,

Emina J., Mensah S., Bongiovanni A.and Prata N.

Engaging men in family planning: perspectives from

married men in Lomé Togo. Glob Health Sci Pract. .

(2018)6 (2): 316–327.

Wondim G., Degu G., Teka Y. and Diress G. Male

involvement in family planning utilization and

associated factors in Womberma District, Northern

Ethiopia: community-based cross-sectional study.

Open Access Journal of Contraception, (2020)11:

–207.

Kwawukume S.A.K., Laar A.S. and Abdulai T. Assessment

of men involvement in family planning services use

and associated factors in rural Ghana. Arch Public

Health, (2022)80 (63): 1–8.

Akokuwebe, M.E.and Oluwawole, A.O. Factors influencing

acceptability of family planning among women in

rural communities in Ife central local government

area, Osun State. Ibadan J. Soc. Sci. 2016; 14, 250–

Okigbo C.C., Speizer I.S., 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.

Reproductive Health, (2015)12 (63): 1–11.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.