Factors Influencing Male Involvement in the Utilization of Family Planning in Chato District, Geita Region Tanzania

Authors

  • Francis Fedrick Chato District Council, P.O BOX 116, Chato - Geita, Tanzania
  • Leonia Mkingule Chato Hospital, P.O BOX 50, Chato - Geita, Tanzania
  • Harieth Mtae The Open University of Tanzania, PO BOX 23409, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • Prof Emmanuel Kigadye The Open University of Tanzania, PO BOX 23409, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Keywords:

Family planning utilization, Service-related factors, Male involvement, Family planning methods, Cultural factors

Abstract

Tanzania has one of the highest Total Fertility Rate in Africa of 5.2 and a 32% level of Family planning utilization. Low involvement of men in family planning is one of the factors influencing its utilization in many African societies due to male dominance in decision making including Family planning issues . Family planning is known to prevent maternal deaths, but some cultural norms, and service delivery factors makes this difficult to achieve. The study was conducted to document current level of Family planning (FP) utilization and identify  possible underlying factors influencing male involvement in utilization of family planning in Chato District, Geita Tanzania. Descriptive cross-sectional study was employed using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Questionnaires were administered to 496 participants in 4 wards of Chato District. Focused Group Discussions and Key Informant interviews were conducted from each of these areas. Data analysis was done using SPSS. Using chi-square, bivariable analysis was done to assess the effect of individual factors on FP utilization. Multiple Logistic regression was then run to assess for the effect of potential confounding variables. The proportion of men utilizing FP was found to be 17.5%, which suggest that, there is low support from men on utilization of family planning in Chato District due to many factors. The most influential factors to male involvement in utilization of family planning was revealed to be distance to family planning clinics, men’s approval on spouse use of family planning services and side effects after family planning methods use.

Due to the fact that men disapprove the use of family planning, the study recommends the need for FP programs to adopt approaches that integrate men into existing family planning services in order to improve FP use and its sustainability. Distance to FP service delivery points and side effects were services related factors influencing FP use, this means reproductive health barriers cannot be addressed in the absence of accessible health services and medical knowledge and skills across all Service Delivery Point.

References

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Published

2020-06-11

How to Cite

Fedrick, F. ., Mkingule, L. ., Mtae, H. ., & Kigadye, P. E. . (2020). Factors Influencing Male Involvement in the Utilization of Family Planning in Chato District, Geita Region Tanzania. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 69(1), 121–139. Retrieved from https://www.asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/5945

Issue

Vol. 69 No. 1 (2020)

Section

Articles

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