Factors Influencing Male Involvement and Participation in Family Planning in Kenya"
Abstract
Men play a critical role in family planning as heads of households. African men are
often key figures in domestic decision making, particularly about fertility behaviour
and preferences and that authority is supported by tradition. The men are also the
main link between the family and the prevailing culture and also the major players in
bringing development to the home. Given the importance of family planning
programmes in improving the health of women and children and in reducing
population growth rates, men's support and involvement are essential for family
planning to become widespread. Unfortunately, studies to investigate the fertility
behaviour of African men for a better understanding of their reproductive intentions
have been limited.
This study looks at the information about background characteristics of Kenyan men
and how these promote or inhibit their knowledge and use of contraceptives. These
factors have been used to explain why despite the high knowledge about
contraceptives, use has remained very low. The paper gives recommendations or
suggestions for action by policy makers, programmers and researchers for family
planning programmes to succeed in Kenya.
The study has utilized secondary data from the Kenya Demographic and Health
Survey (KDHS) 1998 which was conducted by the National Council for Population
and Development (NCPD) in collaboration with the Central Bureau of Statistics
(CBS). The Survey covered all areas of Kenya except the North Eastern Province
and districts of Marsabit, Isiolo, Samburu and Turkana. The analysis in this paper is
based on all 3407 men aged 15-54 years who responded to the survey.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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