Engaging Men in Family Planning: Perspectives from Married Men in Lomé, Togo
October 30th, 2017 at 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Short Abstract
Although family planning activities have made vast progress in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade, lack of male engagement in many of these interventions has resulted in disappointing outcomes. Few studies have examined attitudes of male involvement in family planning from the perspective of men themselves; this evidence is necessary for development of successful family planning projects that include men. This study explored attitudes of men through six focus groups in urban Lomé, with each focus group including ten to twelve urban, married men. Among the themes that emerged from the focus groups are explanations for positive or negative views on family planning, the role of gender when deciding on family size, the role of men in contraceptive decision making, and perceived barriers to male involvement in family planning. Togolese men’s views can be grouped into three categories: complete acceptance of family planning, acceptance with reservation, and complete rejection. This finding suggests that the level of male engagement in family planning projects will depend on men’s knowledge, understanding, and trust in the information available to them. Future attempts to address these challenges should pay specific attention to men’s concerns, misconceptions, and their roles in family decision making.
Authors
- Paul Blewessi – CERA
- Karen Weidert – University of California, Berkeley
- Kpeglo Kokou
- Ouro Bitasse Erakalaza
- Adjoko Mensah
- Jacques Emina – University of Kinshasa, Department of Population and Development Studies
- Sheila Mensah – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Annette Bonjovani
- Ndola Prata – University of California, Berkeley
For more information: http://ipc2017capetown.iussp.org/