Family planning decision-making among young males in Southern Africa

Afr J Reprod Health. 2023 Oct 31;27(10):16-35. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2023/v27i10.2.ABSTRACTMale partners play a crucial role in reproductive health matters and seem to be identified as the main contributors responsible for the large proportion of poor reproductive health suffered by their female partners. Limited evidence exists, however, on effective strategies to increase male involvement in family planning. Therefore, this study aims to examine the prevalence and factors associated with male involvement in family planning decisions. Using recent data from Demographic and Health Surveys of seven countries in Southern Africa (Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe), age, education, wealth index, religion, occupation, exposure to media, contraceptive knowledge, and sex of household head showed significant associations of male involvement in family planning, and these associations differed by country. By country, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) showed that education (Malawi (primary) AOR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.91-1.38; South Africa (secondary/ higher) AOR: 1.44; 95% CI: 0.95-2.19), religion (Lesotho (Muslim) AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 0.54-8.12; Zambia (Muslim) AOR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.69-1.49; Zambia (Traditional) AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.77-1.47), marital status (Malawi (widowed) AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.55- 2.05; Lesotho (divorced/separated) AOR: 1.18; 95% CI: 0.84-1.66; Mozambique (divorced/separated) AOR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.80- 1.33), and sex of household head (South Afric...
Source: African Journal of Reproductive Health - Category: African Health Authors: Source Type: research