Factors influencing contraceptive use among men: a case study of Kaboi location, Nandi district

Abstract

The sample size for the research study was 150 currently married men between the ages of 15 and 55. All the 150 respondents were interviewed between August to September 1993 by four research assistance under the supervision of the Researcher at Kaboi Location, Nandi District. The objectives of this research study were:- i) To find out how family size preferences influence contraceptive use among men in Nandi District. ii) To find out how attitudes towards contraception influence contraceptive use by men in Nandi community iii) To identify the type of relationships that exist between the various Socio--economic and demographic factors that influence contraceptive use by the currently married men in Nandi. This Thesis has been presented in six chapters. Chapters one and two are basically introduction and literature review respectively. Chapter three is devoted to methodology. In chapter three, methods of data collection and analysis are presented. An open ended questionnaire was used to collect the data. These were then analyzed using the Chi-square and Multiple Regression analysis.This is done extensively in chapter five. However, the mean, percentage and correlation analysis are utilized in chapter four and part of chapter five where primary data analysis begins. The general findings, conclusions that can be drawn and implications for policy and future research from this study are here mentioned briefly but the entire discussion is found in chapter six. Men who have achieved their desired/preferred family size are likely to use contraceptives in the Nandi community compared to those who have not. There is now need of focusing men as targets of family planning programme if the high population growth rate is to be curbed. There is also need for more education and motivation on family planning and modern contraceptives like the condom and vasectomy because resistance to these modern methods among men is largely based on rumours and their attitude towards contraceptive use. The aim of Program implementers should be to increase or intensify the Family Planning lnformation-Educationand-Communication (lEC). Further research on contraceptive use by men is still needed in order to determine the nature of their contribution. This kind of study would also enable policy makers to modify the structure of the programmes accordingly. There is also need to establish the link between patriarchal family structure, cultural and psychological reasons and family planning in Kenya. Men's attitudes towards contraceptive use is a very significant factor that determine contraceptive use among them.In order to rectify the attitudes of men to be more favourable, there is need for intensified campaign by programme implementers or promoters on advantages of small families and awareness of contraception. More studies of this kind should be done in different parts of the country with different communities for the purposes of comparison and future policy making. Among the socio-economic factors that influence contraception by men that were considered are: occupation, education, income, size of land and religious and cultural beliefs. Business occupation was the only significant influential socio-economic factor.