title: Male partner involvement in female contraceptive choices in Nigeria.
abstract: Opposition by male partners is one of the barriers to contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed at determining the extent of male partner involvement in female contraceptive (FP) choices in Enugu, south-east Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 243 consecutive women attendee of family planning clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu from January to June, 2012. A total of 137 women made contraceptive decisions jointly with their partners, which gave a male involvement rate of 56.4%. Only respondents' higher age (≥ 35 years) had significant association with male partner involvement in FP choices (odds ratio (OR) = 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.22, 3.51; p = 0.008). Covert contraceptive use rate was 4.9% (12/243). A majority of women attending the FP clinic of UNTH, Enugu involved their partners when making contraceptive choices. Male-partner-targeted family planning programme has the potential to increase uptake of contraception in our environment.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu , Nigeria.
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Ajah
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu , Nigeria.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu , Nigeria.
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Ezegwui
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu , Nigeria.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Iyoke
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu , Nigeria.
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ugwu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nigeria; covert contraceptive use; family planning; male involvement