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The Use of Birth Control Methods by Adult Males: A Case Study of the Amasaman, Accra, Ghana


 Introduction: Adult males are largely responsible for the production of babies. One healthy male can produce as many as 100 children over a 50-year reproductive lifespan through sex with many women. On the other hand, women are restricted to the production of a limited number of children in their reproductive lifespan due to biological factors related to pregnancy and menopause. Given the propensity of men to produce many children, effective family planning and birth control rests substantially on responsible role of men. Yet, there is little information on use of birth control methods and products by adult males in Ghana. Guided by the reproductive health life cycle theory of human behaviour, this study aimed at analysing the use of birth control methods and products by adult males in Ghana using a case-study of the Amasaman Area Council, in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Methods: A scientific survey based on a random sampling procedure collected information from 300 adult males in all 39 communities of the Amasaman Area Council, Accra over two months from November to December 2019. This survey elicited information on the perceptions and use of birth control methods and acceptance of government reproductive health (RH) policies. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20. The analysis involved simple descriptive summaries of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their perceptions and use of birth control method. A binary logit regression analysis was used to identify the factors that influenced current use of birth control methods by respondents. Results: The nine birth control methods and products indicated by the male respondents were in order of importance as follows: (1) traditional method of planned abstinence from the spouse for a period of time especially after the delivery of a child, (2) male condom, (3) withdrawal before ejaculation, (4) vasectomy (male sterilization), 5) rhythm or calendar method (of the woman’s monthly reproductive cycle), (6) traditional herbs, (7) outercourse (sex without penetration), (8) drinking of local gin before sex, and (9) men taking drugs to prevent pregnancy. Information from peers and friends was the major source of information. Based on the analysis, it was revealed that the likelihood of using birth control methods and products was significantly influenced by the extent of awareness of these methods and products. Conclusions: Adult male respondents largely had no external sources of information with regards to the majority of the identified birth control methods. Peers and friends were the major source of information about birth control methods. Current use of birth control methods was mainly influenced by the overall awareness of these products.