Awareness, Knowledge, and Attitudes of Married Male towards Family Planning Uptake by Wives: Implications for Behavioural Counselling

Abstract

The study analyzed the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of married male towards family planning uptake by wives in Ibadan North East Local Government area of Oyo State. Three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the research. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design of the ex-post facto type. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 400 respondents. A self-developed questionnaire with four sub-sections was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using regression analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results showed convergent relationships between married male family planning uptake and awareness level (r = .237; p <.05); knowledge (r = .210; p <.05); and attitude (r = .315; p <.05). Also, positive relationship was found between awareness: and knowledge (r = .201; p <.05); attitude (r = .581; p <.05); as well as knowledge and attitude (r = .286; p <.05). 25.3% of the variance of wife’s family planning uptake was accounted for by the spouse awareness, knowledge and attitude to family planning. It was further revealed that age and socio-economic factors of married males are very much important to the usage, adoption, and support for male spouse involvement in family planning procedures of their wives. It is therefore concluded that any failure of male spouse to support the family planning procedures of their wives is a matter of choice and mere attitude/negative misconception and/or perceptions towards family planning.

Keywords: Awareness, knowledge, and attitudes, male spouses, support, family planning (FP) uptake