Factors associated with men’s participation in postpartum family planning: a study of Kiswa Health Centre III, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Low uptake of family planning among women is predominantly attributed to low participation of men in postpartum family planning. In order to improve maternal health, strengthening male participation in family planning is an important public health initiative. This study aimed to assess factors associated with participation of men in postpartum care at Kiswa Health Centre III, Nakawa division, Kampala. An analytical cross-sectional study design involving collection of quantitative data was used. Systematic

random sampling was used to select study participants. Data was collected using semi-structured ques- tionnaires. Data entry and cleaning was performed using EpiData version 12 and analysed using Stata

version 14. 80.0% of respondents participated in postpartum family planning. Approval of family plan- ning use, knowledge on family planning and information source were significantly associated with

male involvement in postpartum family planning. Respondents who approved family planning use at home were 15.5 times more likely to get involved in family planning services as compared to those who didn’t approve family planning. Conclusively, there was a generally high level of male involvement in postpartum family planning in comparison with the national levels. Approval of family planning at home increased the likelihood of men’s participation in family planning.