Factors influencing vasectomy acceptability in Kabwata Township Lusaka District-Zambia

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying factors affecting vasectomy acceptability among men. It sought to answer the research question: What are the factors that may be associated with vasectomy acceptability among men? This was a cross section study that was conducted in Kabwata Township in Lusaka. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule and a focus group discussion guide. The respondents who were interviewed were selected by a systematic sampling method and those for focus group discussions were purposively selected. A total of 245 respondents were interviewed and the response rate was 100%. In addition, 13 participants took part in the focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0. The Chi-square test and Fisher`s test were used to determine associations between the independent variables with the dependent variable. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents 180 (73.5%) indicated that vasectomy was not culturally right and that men must not undergo vasectomy. The majority of the respondents felt that family planning was a woman’s responsibility and men should only give support to women by allowing them to go for family planning. Most of the respondents 128 (51.8%) stated that men should not be involved in matters concerning women, and 209 (85.4%) indicated that family providers influenced client’s choice of vasectomy as a method of family planning. The findings revealed that 152 (64%) of the respondents had a negative attitude towards vasectomy as they believed that it was not culturally right in the community. In addition, most of the focus group participants were of the view that if a man undergoes vasectomy the man was no longer able to function as a man because sexual activities would be reduced. The study showed that 80.9% of the respondents did not know where vasectomy services were obtained, and 225 (91.8%) said that vasectomy services were not accessible.