BACKGROUND Considerable gap exists between awareness and contraceptive use, which is more conspicuous in vasectomy. In a Government Hospital, tertiary health care centre where 6000 deliveries per year are taking place, the number of vasectomies are only 20 per year when compared to tubectomies which are 600 per year. Studies have found that there is an association between attitude towards family planning methods and use among men. The aim of this study is to find the degree of awareness of modern family planning methods among men and to analyse the factors influencing their awareness and practice of vasectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was carried out in the month of August 2017; 470 randomly selected married men who accompanied their wives, sisters, female friends or relatives to the department of family planning, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, AP were interviewed based on a pre-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited information regarding their age, educational status, income, knowledge and practice of the modern contraceptive methods. As two of the 470 men belonged to the state of Odisha, they were excluded from the study. Results were analysed. RESULTS Nearly 100% of the study participants reported having heard of at least one method and about 90% reported awareness of at least five different methods of contraception. Analyses showed that educated men are more likely to have reported a high degree of awareness. Educated men though more informed (54%-30%) are equal to men with low educational status when it comes to practice (20.6%-21% IUCD above and below secondary school). Most commonly used male method is male condom (42.3%). Some men are reluctant to use condom and often use it due to the fear of sexually transmitted diseases; 71.4% are unwilling to undergo vasectomy, as they believe that it may affect their sexual performance. CONCLUSION Men are the deciding authority in determining the size of the family in 99% of Indian families. There is need to sensitise the men in the community about the different modern FP methods to increase the acceptance and also help to correct the misconceptions regarding vasectomy. It is high time to concentrate on men, to practice family planning methods and to develop more male based family planning methods.
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