Male Involvement in the Bangladesh Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program

Abstract

Increasing the involvement of men in family planning and reproductive health program is a challenge which Bangladesh has begun to face. Encouraging their active participation as family planning method users of vasectomy, condoms, as well as their supportive partnership of contracepting women is the major goal of the national program. Evidence for national surveys indicates that male dominated decision making may not be the norm in Bangladesh. Rather, there is high agreement between couples about family size and family planning. Findings suggest that men know about family planning methods and many take an active role in the decision making process. Male attitudes were generally positive about contraceptive methods and also about having a small family. Women rarely mention their husband's disapproval as a reason for contraceptive discontinuation. Unfortunately neither men nor women seem to be sufficiently informed about the relative safety of menstrual regulation (MR) and often opt for traditional abortions. Men's knowledge of obstetric emergencies is minimal, consequently when they are called upon to make an emergency decision they often make an incorrect one.