The Participation Of Married Men in Decision Making on Households’ Family Planning Methods: the case of Forest ward in Mbeya city

This study was conducted in Mbeya City, Mbeya Region (Tanzania), with the general objective of finding out the extent to which married men were involved in the choice of the use of family planning methods used by couples in Forest Ward. Specifically, it explored the extent to which men participated, advantages and factors hindering participation of men in decision making pertaining to choice of methods of family planning to be used by the couple. A survey research design was adopted and questionnaires, interview and direct field observations were used to collect data from 165 respondents who were randomly sampled in the ward. Findings showed that the extent to which males participated in the decision making about family planning was minimal in Forest ward which was the area of the study, although the heads of households had knowledge on the use and availability of family planning methods. The factors identified to hinder men’s participation in the decision making about family planning methods included; men being busy with a lot of activities, dissatisfaction with sexual intercourse and consideration of family planning as women concern. In the light of these findings, it is recommended that government in collaboration with other stakeholders should establish adults’ family planning clinics to enhance adults’ participation in family planning decisions as well as establishment of mobile family planning clinics for easy accessibility to both.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

The Open University Of Tanzania

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Ngwakwa, Itika A

• 360 Social services; association

Language dc:language

en