Determinants of Natural Family Planning Use Among Men in the Lawra Municipality

ABSTRACT

 Family planning is a useful strategy to improve quality of life and help people to alleviate poverty. The need for partners to agree on the type of method to use, is critical in achieving this goal. A simple, cost-effective, low risk and easy to use method is the Standard Days Method (SDM) of Natural Family Planning. However, this method is least practised in the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. This study examined the determinants of the use of the Standard Days Method (SDM) of natural family planning by married men and their partners in the Lawra Municipality. The study used the cross-sectional design; four hundred and thirty-three (433) respondents were recruited and interviewed. This was followed by the collection of some qualitative data using three Focus Group Discussions from a sub-group of men and their wives. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Binary logistic regression tests were performed. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. The findings of the study indicated that, the majority of the men (74%, n = 294) had intentions to participate in SDM use and almost every man (98%, n = 374) who had coitus with his partner within the three months preceding data collection participated in the use of SDM. The study further revealed that, men‟s intentions to participate in SDM use with their partners, had significant positive relationship with their attitudes (r =0.55, p < 0.001), significant positive relationship with their subjective norms (r = 0.18, p < 0.001) and significant positive relationship with their perceived behavioural control (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). Factors that significantly predicted men‟s intentions to participate in SDM use with their partners included attitudes (OR = 1.07, 95%CI = 1.05 – 1.09, p < 0.001) and perceived Men’s use of natural family planning method xi behavioural control (OR= 1.02, 95%CI = 1.01 – 1.03, p = 0.006). Cultural beliefs and partners‟ role were found to influence men‟s intentions and participation. However, no factor had had a significant relationship with men‟s participation in SDM use with their partners. Not even the intention to participate in SDM use that was high among the respondents had any significant relationship. Family planning service providers should render appropriate SDM counselling services and make available, the requisite resources to men and their partners to choose and practise the method. Family planning policy framework proposal on including family planning services and supplies in the health insurance benefit package should be broadened to include SDM to make it available to clients who need them.