The Role of Male Partner on Current Utilization of Long Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods in Boditi Town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Male partner’s lack of access to services has been barrier to the use of family planning in low income countries; which resulted in lack of shared responsibility on reproductive health between spouses. This study aimed to assess the role of male partner in current utilization of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods in Boditi town, Southern Ethiopia.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Boditi town, Southern Ethiopia, October 2015. Male partners (n꞊ 371) of women’s of reproductive age were the study population.Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data was entered into EPI info version 3.5.4 and exported into SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable, and finally multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of the outcome, with statistical significance set at p<0.050 (95% Confidence interval (CI)).Results: Eighty seven percent of male partners studied had poor practice of using long acting and permanent contraceptive methods. Out of the total male partners studied, 34% (131) did not use long acting and permanent contraceptive methods due to fear of side effects. Attitude composites (AOR = 5.32; 95% CI: 2.08 - 13.58) and spouse discussed on the use of family planning (AOR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.13 - 6.25) were factors significantly associated with the use of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods currently.Conclusion: Male partner had colossal role in the current utilization of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods. Policy makers and program planners should give emphasis on raising awareness through spousal discussion regarding the active utilization of family planning services.

Keywords: Long acting and permanent contraceptive methods, Southern Ethiopia