DETERMINANTS OF MALE INVOLVEMENT IN FAMILY PLANNING AMONG MARRIED MEN IN AGBURA COMMUNITY, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
Aim/Objective: Male involvement in family planning is not limited to contraceptive use but includes all activities male engage upon such as male support, encouragement, and approval and spousal communication on contraceptive use. This study aims to assess the determinants of male involvement in family planning in Agbura, Bayelsa State. Methods: Descriptive study design was adopted for this study. The sample size was determined using the Cochran formula to select all 290 adult male participants for this study. Results: Result from this study shows that 235.17% are within the age bracket of 25-34 years, while 80.00% were married, 35.17% had tertiary education, 60.00% were traders, 65.17% were of Christian religion, 65.17% were of a monogamous family structure and 50.00% had 1-3 living children. 34.83% discussed family planning with their spouse, 20.00% visited family planning clinic with their spouse; only 30.00% makes decisions about family planning jointly with spouse, and a handful of men 20.00% used male-centered family planning method while only 17.59% allow their spouse to use contraceptive pills. However 24.83% of men accompanied their partner to a family planning clinic, 55.17% of men personally bought condoms for family planning purposes, 52.41% of men had ever used a modern contraceptive method, 57.59% of men feels that family planning services are easily accessible to men, while most worrisome is that only 34.83% men homes were far from the family planning clinics. Furthermore, 32.31% of men believe that having many children is a sign of wealth or prestige, 22.41% of men said their religious or cultural beliefs forbid the use of family planning, 37.59% feels embarrassed or stigmatized to be seen visiting a family planning clinic, while 34.83% of men believe that men who are involved in family planning are seen as weak or submissive to their wives. Also 57.59% of men prefer to have a large family to ensure inheritance or security. Conclusion: Most the married Christian men are not involved in family planning due to their religion or culture and the belief that family planning is for the weak. Hence men should take action to be responsible husbands and active family planners themselves to reduce the high burden of family expenses that will enable them provide good education for their children.
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