Abstract:
Background: Males participate in family planning by utilizing the method, having discussions, approving decisions, and supporting their partners and other family members. One of the reasons Ethiopia has a low rate of contraceptive use is the poor participation of men in family planning. So, the finding and the recommendation of the study could help married men and other stakeholders to alleviate the problems related to low involvement.
Objective: To assess males’ involvement in family planning use and associated factors among married men in the pastoralist community of Yabelo district, Borena, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024.
Methods: Community based mixed approach and multistage sampling method for quantitative one and purposive sampling method for qualitative was done. Interviewer administered questionaries from 531 samples for quantitative and from 14 key informants for qualitative were taken. Quantitative data was entered using Epi Info version 7.2.2.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariate associations between dependent and independent variables were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors significantly associated with male involvement. Qualitative data was analyzed using open code 4.03. The study was conducted from January-February 2024.
Results: A total of 531 respondents participated with response rate of 100% for quantitative. The mean age of the study participants was 28 ±2.1 (SD). The prevalence of male involvement in FP use among married males in Yabelo district was 9.6% (9.6%, 95% CI: 7.14%-12.15%). Age 0.18 (0.18, 95% CI: 0.05-0.6), educational status unable read and write 9.4 (9.4, 95%
CI:3.5-25.4), read and write only 7.1 (7.1, 95% CI:2.4-21.4) primary school 2.1 (2.1, 95% CI:
0.6-6.9), knowledge on side effects of FP 2.35 (2.35, 95% CI: 1.09-5.06) were factors associated with male involvement in FP use. A total of 14 informants participated in the interview of qualitative part and culturally perceived FP issues, lack of awareness and desire of more children were among the reasons for low involvement in FP use.
Conclusion: The finding of the study showed that the magnitude of husbands’ involvement in family planning use was low. Therefore, family planning programs need to target men at all levels of the service
