Barriers to Male Involvement in Family Planning and Contraceptive Use

Abstract

Male involvement in family planning is not limited to contraceptive use. It includes all activities male engage in such as, male support, encouragement, and approval and also spousal communication on contraceptive use. Males are engendered species to family planning and contraceptive usage. Male involvement in family planning and contraceptive use is important; this include promotion of gender equality, eradication of extreme poverty, prevention of sexual violence, improved maternal health and reduced child mortality. This paper reviews barriers to male involvement in family planning and contraceptive use. Demographic factors such as age, educational level, cultural and religious beliefs, misinformation, etc, have been identified to inhibit male involvement in family planning and contraceptive use. The high fertility rate and population increase has been attributed to low FP and contraceptive usage by men in Nigeria and other developing countries. This paper recommends that health education campaign is needed to improve believes and attitudes of males towards family planning and contraceptive use.