title: Male involvement in family planning program in Northern Ethiopia: an application of the Transtheoretical model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to use the Transtheoretical behavioral model to assess male involvement in family planning.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Angolela-Tera District of Amhara Region from February 15 to March 14, 2008 on married men. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select the 770 study participants. The relationship of stage of change and decisional balance, self-efficacy and processes of change was assessed by ANOVA tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  225(30.5%) of the men were in the Precontemplation stage, 235(31.8%) were in the contemplation stage, 81(11.0%) were in preparation, 76(10.3%) were in action stage, and, 121(16.4%), were in the maintenance stage. Confidence increased across the stages while experiential and behavioral processes increased in the early stages and then decreased at a transition from action to maintenance stage. The pros were increased across the stages, the cons decreased and a crossover occurred prior to contemplation stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that counselors need to understand that behavior change is a process that occurs in a series of stages and therefore can facilitate behavioral changes with various strategies. Health educators need to develop educational components that match stages of change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our results, programs aimed at promoting contraceptive prevalence for contraception should seek ways and means for increasing the pros and for increasing self-efficacy.
authors: School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Electronic address: adugnawmph@yahoo.com.
authors: Adugnaw
authors: A
authors: Berhane
authors: Independent Public Health Consultants, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Electronic address: sibhatu2005@yahoo.com.
authors: Sibhatu
authors: S
authors: Biadgilign
authors: Gondar University, School of Pharmacy, Gondar University, Gondar, Ethiopia. Electronic address: alemayehuber@yahoo.com.
authors: Alemayehu
authors: A
authors: Berhane
authors: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, USA. Electronic address: pmemiah@yahoo.com.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Memiah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008571:Men / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018454:Spouses; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ethiopia; Family planning; Male involvement; Transtheoretical model