Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorShea, Jawaya
dc.contributor.advisorAkpabio, Ebong E
dc.contributor.authorAlagba, Alexander Adedotun
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-28T07:37:41Z
dc.date.available2020-02-28T07:37:41Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.date.updated2020-02-27T11:32:03Z
dc.description.abstractIntroduction In sub-Saharan Africa the unmet need for contraception for married couples is estimated to be 24%, with rural, uneducated, poor women generally experiencing a greater risk for unplanned, unwanted pregnancies compared to their urban, educated, well informed counterparts. Recommendations for addressing unmet contraceptive need are inclined to emphasise family planning programmatic efforts. The role of men in contraceptive decisions tends to receive less attention, the perception being that men are often uninvolved and unsupportive of the contraceptive needs of their female partners. This study reviewed the attitudes and perceptions of men about contraceptive services in Engela District of the Ohangwena Region, Namibia. Methods A qualitative study was conducted using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) with men and women aged between 18-60 years residing in the Engela district of the Ohangwena Region. Men and women were purposively selected and participated in four and two focus group discussions respectively to explore the subject. Interviews with six influential and respected key informants, including government officials and community leaders were conducted. Data generated from the interviews were transcribed, coded, and content analysis conducted. Based on the research domain, themes and subthemes were generated. Purposive sampling was done. Many people were contacted to participate as participants in the research, some declined from participating due to lack of interest, and it was only those that were keen on participating that were enlisted by the research assistants. Influential leaders, respected in the community were also selected as KII. Results The findings revealed that specific reproductive health issues are common in the community, with a high level of awareness of family planning and contraceptives among men and women, many women having access to contraceptives Yet men held negative views about women’s decision to use contraceptives without their consideration and approval by them. The results indicated that community-level information was not ideal, and should be improved. Conclusion The study showed that most of the men who participated in the study are well informed about family planning and available contraceptive options for both men and women. It also revealed the attitudes and perceptions of men to FP and contraception use of women. However, there is little male involvement in contraceptive decisions.
dc.identifier.apacitationAlagba, A. A. (2019). <i>Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia</i>. (). ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31370en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAlagba, Alexander Adedotun. <i>"Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia."</i> ., ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31370en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAlagba, A.A. 2019. Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia. . ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31370en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Alagba, Alexander Adedotun AB - Introduction In sub-Saharan Africa the unmet need for contraception for married couples is estimated to be 24%, with rural, uneducated, poor women generally experiencing a greater risk for unplanned, unwanted pregnancies compared to their urban, educated, well informed counterparts. Recommendations for addressing unmet contraceptive need are inclined to emphasise family planning programmatic efforts. The role of men in contraceptive decisions tends to receive less attention, the perception being that men are often uninvolved and unsupportive of the contraceptive needs of their female partners. This study reviewed the attitudes and perceptions of men about contraceptive services in Engela District of the Ohangwena Region, Namibia. Methods A qualitative study was conducted using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) with men and women aged between 18-60 years residing in the Engela district of the Ohangwena Region. Men and women were purposively selected and participated in four and two focus group discussions respectively to explore the subject. Interviews with six influential and respected key informants, including government officials and community leaders were conducted. Data generated from the interviews were transcribed, coded, and content analysis conducted. Based on the research domain, themes and subthemes were generated. Purposive sampling was done. Many people were contacted to participate as participants in the research, some declined from participating due to lack of interest, and it was only those that were keen on participating that were enlisted by the research assistants. Influential leaders, respected in the community were also selected as KII. Results The findings revealed that specific reproductive health issues are common in the community, with a high level of awareness of family planning and contraceptives among men and women, many women having access to contraceptives Yet men held negative views about women’s decision to use contraceptives without their consideration and approval by them. The results indicated that community-level information was not ideal, and should be improved. Conclusion The study showed that most of the men who participated in the study are well informed about family planning and available contraceptive options for both men and women. It also revealed the attitudes and perceptions of men to FP and contraception use of women. However, there is little male involvement in contraceptive decisions. DA - 2019 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Maternal and Child Health LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia TI - Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31370 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/31370
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAlagba AA. Attitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia. []. ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2019 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31370en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.subjectMaternal and Child Health
dc.titleAttitudes and perceptions of males towards contraceptives services in Engela District of Ohangwena Region, Namibia
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhil
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hsf_2019_alagba_alexander_adedotun.pdf
Size:
1.36 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
0 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters