Barriers to the utilization of family planning services among men in Kisarawe district

Abstract

After 40 years of family planning program implementation in Tanzania, the use of modem family planning methods remains low. Studies shows that the low utilization of family planning was partly attributed to the poor involvement of men in the family planning services. The aim of the study was to determine barriers to the utilization of family planning services for men in Kisarawe District. The study was a cross sectional study involving a sample of 299 men aged 20 and older years residing in Kisarawe district. Multistage sampling technique was used to randomly pick eligible men. The barriers of family planning method revealed by the results were spouse discussion regarding family planning issues, discussion on family planning issues with others people, men approval of the partners to use family planning method, traditional permission to control fertility, belief that children provide social security, belief that male status is improved by having many children, visiting of family planning centers, distance to the family planning centers and level of knowledge on family planning services. Multiple regressions indicated that spouse discussion regarding family planning (OR = 2.112, 95%CI = 1.065-4.188) and approval of the family planning use (OR = 2.921, 95%CI = 1.271- 6.711) were most consequential barriers. Therefore, the most consequential barriers of utilization of family planning methods are spouse discussion regarding family planning and approval of the family planning use. Based on the study findings, two recommendations are made. (i) Integration of family planning CBD and HIV - home base care providers programs to increase men access to family planning methods and information (ii) Broadening the scope of family planning programs by including family planning messages directed to men.