EXTENT AND SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF MALES’ INVOLVEMENT IN FAMILY PLANNING PRACTICES IN OHAFIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ABIA STATE
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to investigate the extent and socio-demographic determinants of males’ involvement in family planning practices in Ohafia Local Government Area, Abia State. Seven research questions and five null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The design of the study was descriptive survey. The sample consisted of 864 currently married males from four wards in Ohafia Local Government Area. The instruments used for the study were Questionnaire on Extent and Socio-demographic Determinants of Males’ Involvement in FPPs and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide which were validated by experts and used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Pearson product moment correlation co-efficient, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and t-test statistic. Content analysis was employed to analyse the focus group discussions (FGDs). The major findings of the study were: males’ involvement in the use of abstinence and withdrawal was to a small extent (1.61 & 1.53) while their use of condom and vasectomy was to no extent (1.07 & 1.46); males were involved in supporting their wife’s use of natural planning method to a small extent (1.78) while their support for wife’s use of artificial family planning methods was to no extent (1.14, 1.07, 1.25, 1.26 & 1.24); level of education was a determinant of the extent of males’ involvement in family planning practices; occupation was a determinant of extent of male’s involvement in family planning practices; religious affiliation was not a determinant of the extent of males’ involvement in family planning practices; age was not a determinant of the extent of males’ involvement in family planning practices; geographical location was a determinant of the extent of male’s involvement in family planning practices. Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were made: sensitization campaigns should be conducted by health agencies on the importance of males’ involvement in family planning practices; policy makers should formulate policies that will subsidize the cost of family planning services and ensure its availability to men in low-income occupations.