Male Perception and Participation in Family Planning Among Tribal Communities of Maharashtra, India: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

This study examined male perceptions and awareness about family planning. The study also investigated male involvement in family planning and contraceptive use decision-making. Furthermore, in this study, we assessed men’s awareness, attitude, and practice of modern contraceptive methods and determined the level of spousal communication. In this study, a field survey was conducted among the tribal population of Maharashtra. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used for data collection. A sample of 385 men whose wives had given birth in the last 2 years were interviewed. Almost two thirds of the surveyed men (64%) had heard about modern family planning. The main source of information for family planning was the multipurpose worker in the village for 48% of men, followed by friends 16% and the auxiliary nurse midwife and accredited social health activist for 11% and 10%, respectively. Results show that the current use of any modern family planning method, including male and female methods, was 18.4%. Among the currently used modern methods, the major modern family planning method was male sterilization (67%), followed by oral pills (11%) and male condom use (10%). This study indicated that the acceptance of male modern family planning methods is very high.

Male involvement in family planning in a rural area of India

“…[ 8 ] Only seven participants had undergone male sterilization after getting counseled by health care providers. Findings are similar to a study done in Gadchiroli[ 18 ] where vasectomy was encouraged by health care workers. But these seven participants could not motivate other males to undergo male sterilization after sharing their own experiences.…”

Pattern of contraceptive use, determinants and fertility intentions among tribal women in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study

“…The contraceptive use varies in other states among the tribals with higher use reported in Assam (36%)18 and Bengal (40%) 19. In the state of Maharashtra it varied from 18.7%20 to a spacing contraceptive use of 27.7% (10.8% pill, 13.3% condom, 2.0% IUD and 1.6% withdrawal or rhythm) 21. This also underlines the heterogenous character of the tribal groups across the country varying in population size, language and their interaction with the rest of society22 and thus having different contraceptive use rates.…”

Knowledge and attitude towards contraceptive use among Juang men: a particularly vulnerable tribal group in Odisha, India

“…The result conforms to many earlier studies among different tribes in India. [13][14][15][16] Inadequate knowledge decreases the chance of contraceptive acceptance, thus increasing the risk of adverse reproductive health outcomes. Many Juang men have a less favorable attitude toward contraceptive methods.…”

“…information for family planning was the multipurpose worker in the village. 14 Another study in Sikkim also revealed that the main source of information on contraceptive methods for men were the government health staff and the mass media. 15 Contraceptive awareness was further low among the tribal men in central India.…”