1. Attitudes and Family Planning Practices among Men in Uganda
Esther B. Kaggwa, Barbara Katende, Robert Nangai, Christine Galukande, Cheryl Lettenmaier , Simon Ndizeye
Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University

2. Background and Study Rationale
Men’s real or perceived attitudes influence both theirs and women’s adoption of family planning.
Involvement of men in family planning has shown increases in women’s adoption of a method
Influence of perceptions of the benefits and side effects of family planning on method use among men in Uganda not very well established

3. JHU.CCP/HCP Role
JHU/CCP supports the Ugandan ministry of health to increase awareness on family planning
Between 2006 and 2009, HCP worked with the Uganda Ministry of Health to implement a national fp communication campaign
Campaign goal
Having “smaller, healthier, and more prosperous families in Uganda
Campaign primary audience
Sexually active men aged 18–35 years of age

4. Materials Developed
Posters in 6 languages
FP calendars
Placards at health facilities
T-shits and hats

5. Research Questions
This study assessed attitudes and family planning practices of men in Uganda following the national campaign
Research questions
What are the attitudes towards family planning among men in Uganda?
What factors influence discussion of family planning with a spouse/partner among men in Uganda
Do the perceptions of the benefits and side effects of family planning influence use of a modern method ?

6. Study Design and Methodology
Used a cross sectional survey design
Sampling approach
Multi-stage sampling used
Study Population
Individuals years
31 districts in Uganda
360 parishes included
Analysis includes 1379 men aged 15 to 54 years

7. Data Collection Data was collected between November and December, 2010
Used a pen and pencil interviewer questionnaire
Questionnaires translated in languages
One person was selected in each household
4 young people interviewed per school
Gender matching of interviewer and interviewee

8. Respondent Characteristics(n=1379)

9. Knowledge and Practices Related to Family Planning

10. Attitudes towards Family Planning
69.1% of men believed that a large family reduces a woman’s quality of life
76.4% believed family planning improves a woman’s health
43.0% thought that the side effects associated with family planning outweighed any benefits resulting from its use.
41.8% believed that peers would lose respect for them if they decided to have a small family

11. Factors Associated with Men’s Discussion of Family Planning with a Partner*
*p <0.05

12. Adjusted Results of Factors Associated with Use of a Modern Method
Variable
Odds Ratio
P- value
Believe most residents in their community want to have less than 5 children
No(ref)
1.0
Yes
2.0
0.018
Education
Primary or Less
At least a secondary
1.9
0.028
Marital Status
Single/Divorced/Widowed(ref)
Married/cohabiting
0.38
0.003
Believe that family planning improves women’s health
0.50
0.065

13. Adjusted Results of Factors Associated with Use of a Modern Method - Cont
Variable
Odds Ratio
P-value
Believe that having a small family improves overall quality of life No
1.0
Yes(ref)
1.4
0.324
Knowledge of a place to obtain a method
No(ref)
Yes
4.4
0.023
Believe FP side effects outweigh benefits
0.70
0.256
Talked to partner abt fp in past 12 months
0.043

14. Conclusions and Recommendations
Men’s understanding of the benefits of family planning may not necessarily increase adoption of a method
Men’s perceived community norms may play a bigger role in adoption of a method
Study underscores the need to develop peer-to-peer communication campaigns and programs targeting male networks