title: A study on the knowledge and practice of contraception among men in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the knowledge and practice of contraception among United Arab Emirates (UAE) men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred UAE monogamously married men with children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were randomly selected from the community and interviewed about knowledge and practice of contraception using a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 348 men (87%) gave consent to participate in the study. Two hundred and ninety-four participants (84.5%) were aware of the availability of male contraceptive methods but only 94 (27%) were currently using these methods; 39 (41.5%) used condoms, 30 (31.9%) practised coitus interruptus, 24 (25.5%) practised the rhythm method and only one (1.1%) had been sterilised. Male contraception was accepted by 116 (33.3%) subjects of the total study population. The reasons for the objections were: religious 133 (57.3%), cultural barriers 47 (20.3%), personal beliefs 29 (12.5%), medical disorders 18 (7.8%) and economical factors five (2.2%). Of 54 users of condoms and coitus interruptus, 16 (29.6%) reported to have experienced adverse effects that included testicular pain in six (37.5%), decreased libido in six (37.5%) and diminished orgasm in four (25%). There were significant associations between using male contraception and levels of education of the partners (male p < 0.007, female p < 0.01), low family size (p = 0.0001) and family income (p < 0.05). Fifty-seven subjects (19.4%) thought that a 'male contraceptive pill' is available and 44 (15.0%) believed that a monthly injection is available for men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of awareness of contraception among men attending primary care in UAE is moderate. Two-thirds of the study subjects objected to the use of contraception by their wives and less than 20% practise contraception themselves. This is partly due to sociocultural traditions, religious beliefs and poor knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al-Ain, UAE. saad.ghazal-Aswad@uaeu.ac.ae
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghazal-Aswad
authors.forename: Syeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaib-Un-Nisa
authors.forename: Diaa E E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Badrinath
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: Nawal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014479:United Arab Emirates
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male