Abstract:

Background: Reproductive health issues are an inclusive concern for both men and women, in order to improve maternal health, strengthening male participation in family planning is an important public health initiative. Yet men are still the main decision makers in the family in Tanzania especially in the Lake zone community. Limited choice and access of methods, attitude the men towards family planning, perceived fear of side effect, poor quality of available services, cultural and gender-based barriers are some reasons for low utilization of family planning.

Objective: To asses’ men knowledge, attitude and involvement in decision of modern family planning in Magu District, Mwanza.

Methods: It was cross sectional study design, a total of 174 men were interviewed, the subjects were selected using convenient sampling technique, the data was collected using interviewer administered structured questionnaire, data was analysed and cleaning using SPSS version 20.

Results: All of the selected participant 174 (100%) have heard of family planning before, most participants 110(63.2%) mention radio as their source of information followed by newspaper and television. 137(78.7%) were able to mention more than three methods to modern family planning they know while only 35(20.1%) mention less than three methods. 132(75.9%) agree family planning to be a good thing to practice and have no problem their partner to utilize it, only 2(1.1%) do not think family planning is good thing due to side effect and 40(23%) they are not sure. 141(81%) believes both men and women have the same responsibilities on planning for future pregnancy hence mutual understanding for utilization of health services should be maintained, only 28(16.1%) think those are famine issues and women should be responsible more because they are one which responsibility of child bearing.

Conclusion and Recommendation: Based on the findings, the study shows knowledge on methods and source of family planning among men is encouragingly high, all subjects have heard of family planning and they were able to mention them, although at the family level the extent of practice is low among men as they rely on their partner methods and ability of them to practice most men denied if ever they will be able for vasectomy, this goes along with the involvement on decision to use family planning. Policy makers, family planning programmes and researches should intensify its efforts to influence men on participation and involvement on decision on the use of family planning.