The Role of Men in Family Planning: An Examination of Men's Knowledge and Attitude to Contraceptive Use among the Yorubas

This study examines the role of men in family planning with particular emphasis on men's sexuality, knowledge and attitude to contraceptive use among the Yorubas. Data for the study were obtained from a survey conducted in three states of South Western region of Nigeria in 1998. The study shows (i) that men play important roles in decisions pertaining to reproductive matters among the Yorubas; (ii) that knowledge of contraceptive use is high among men in the areas, however, usage is generally low. The study has some policy implications. The first is the need for health education programmes to bring to the consciousness of men the impact of small family size. The second policy implication brings about the need to design effective information, education and communication strategies to reach men in every part of the federation on the need to actively participate and allow their wives to use contraceptives