Male fertility regulation: a study on acceptance among men in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Both traditional and modem methods of family planning widely practiced currently in most countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, focus solely on the woman. There is hardly data on male directed methods of fertility regulation, or indeed whether, or not, such contraceptive options are acceptable. Contraception, whether for spacing, avoiding unintended pregnancy or limiting family size, is almost always a female prerogative. This, in certain circumstances, is despite the available female method being contraindicated. Acceptance of male sterilisation (vasectomy), condom use and male contraceptive pill were investigated in a representative sample of 711 Zimbabwean men. Only 14 pc of men considered vasectomy an acceptable method of contraception and none of the men had current or previous use of this method. Seventeen17 percent of the men had prompted knowledge of this method, compared to 53 pc who had prompted knowledge of female sterilisation.