Factor’s Influencing Men’s Participation in Their Wive’s Adoption of Family Planning Methods: a Case of Komarock Ward in Embakasi Central Constituency in Nairobi County

Abstract

Family planning is concerned with spacing the birth of children and controlling the number of children a couple desires to have. This study aimed at highlighting factors that influence men‟s participation in their wives‟ adoption of family planning methods. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: To find out men‟s knowledge about women family planning methods. To find out men‟s perception towards family planning methods. To find out the influence of social stigma on men‟s participation in their wives‟ adoption of family planning methods. To identify factors influencing men‟s participation in their wives adoption of family planning methods. This study applied two theories: Feminism theory and Modernization theory. The study used a survey design and targeted a population of married men. The researcher used a two-stage cluster sampling method to come up with a sample of 70 respondents. The instruments of data collection included semi – structured questionnaires and key informant interview guide. The data was processed, analyzed and presented in form of tables, frequencies and percentages. The study found that: the respondents displayed a high level of knowledge about women family planning methods and a positive attitude towards women FP methods; a high number of respondents believed that society had a negative attitude towards men‟s participation in their wives‟ adoption of FP and it does influence men‟s participation in their wives adoption of FP methods. The study concluded that: married men are knowledgeable about women‟s FP methods and men‟s attitude towards women‟s FP methods has greatly changed from negative to positive. Social stigma plays a significant role in men‟s participation in their wives‟ adoption of FP methods and certain factors do influence men‟s participation in their wives‟ adoption of FP methods. The study recommended that: there was need to include men as active participants when promoting FP messages and organize workshops to pass appropriate FP information to men. Health workers should encourage women to bring their spouses along during FP check – ups and meetings. The government should encourage more men to train as health workers in the field of family planning.