Who makes the decisions? Men and family planning in Ethiopia

How can family planning programmes be made more effective? A study in Ethiopia presents results of a survey aimed at assessing the role of men on fertility and their attitude towards family planning in Tigray region. It argues that men have a dominant role in the decision-making process on family planning, and that it is they that should be targeted in family planning programmes if reproductive behaviour is to change.

For many years, it has been assumed that women are the main decision makers in fertility and reproductive behaviour. This has led to a multitude of family planning programmes aimed at women. As a result, this assumption has ignored the role played by men in this process. Does this have a part to play in the continuous lack of success of a number of family planning programmes in developing countries?

Research carried out in the Tigray region of Ethiopia explored men’s role on fertility and their attitudes towards family planning. It used an open-ended questionnaire to collect information from more than 200 couples on matters related to a demographic profile, fertility intentions and ideal and expected family size. The research found that:

• Tigrian men and women differ in every aspect of the study. For example, men were more likely to be employed and had higher educational levels than their wives.
• Men were also more likely to want a higher number of children than their partners. This desire was directly related to age. Whereas older men preferred a larger family size, the younger generations tended to show less disagreement about family size between the partners.
• However, level of education was inversely correlated to desire for a larger family size. The higher the educational level of men, the lower their desire for more children.
• The study demonstrated the patriarchal nature of Tigrian society. This gives men the power to dominate their partners’ sexual and reproductive behaviour.
• However, the study also showed that social norms on reproductive behaviour are changing as younger couples seem to agree on their desire for smaller family units.

This study has implications for future design and implementation of family planning programmes in Ethiopia. The study found that men’s preferences towards family planning influenced the reproductive behaviour of their wives and their use of contraceptives. As a result, future campaigns on reproductive health should target men at all stages and utilise their social power by:

• targeting men and encouraging them to use their decision-making power in promoting family planning
• recruiting men to serve as peer motivators to encourage other men to use contraceptives
• encouraging men to become joint decision-makers with their partners about family size
• encouraging socially respected men to endorse policies and legislation on marriage age and the right of access to safe and legal abortion.

Source(s):
'The role of men in fertility and family planning program in Tigray Region', Ethiopian Journal of Health Development 16(3), by G. Mesfin, 2002

id21 Research Highlight: 21 May 2003

Further Information:
Gebrekidan Mesfin
Mekelle
Tigray
P.O. Box 7
Ethiopia

Tel: +251 04 402811 / 403329
Fax: +251 04 409757
Contact the contributor: gebrekidanm@hotmail.com

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'Reproducing stereotypes? Involving men in reproductive healthcare programmes'

'Calling the shots: can women take control of their sexual health?'

'Couple negotiation of sex and family planning in Uganda'

'Taking a healthy interest? Male involvement in reproductive health'

'Mixed Messages'

'See id21's collection of links relevant to sexual and reproductive health.'