“If you do vasectomy and come back here weak, I will divorce you”: a qualitative study of community perceptions about vasectomy in Southern Ghana

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Research Article

Patricia Akweongo¹  James F Phillips²  Allison Stone²  Philip Baba Adongo³  Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong³  Emmanuel Kuffour⁴  Selina F Esantsi⁴  Placide Tapsoba⁴ 

[1]Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana

[2]Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, B-2, 10032, New York, NY, USA

[3]Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 13, Accra, Ghana

[4]Population Council, 14B Ridge Road, Roman Ridge, Accra, Ghana

关键词: Vasectomy;    Pregnancy;    Family Planning;    Male involvement;    Southern Ghana;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-698X-14-16

 received in 2013-05-17, accepted in 2014-05-02,  发布年份 2014

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMale involvement in contraceptive use is increasingly becoming a global reproductive health issue. Vasectomy is one of the two male modern contraceptive methods espoused by the National Family Planning Policy in Ghana. Despite these advocacies, there are reports of low patronage of this method in Ghana. This study adhering to RATS guidelines on qualitative research therefore explored the social and cultural factors that may be affecting the low vasectomy uptake in Southern Ghana.MethodsThe study was conducted in Sefwi Bibiani-Ahwiaso Bekwai (SBAB) District and Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal area in the Western and Central regions of Ghana respectively. Twelve Focus Group Discussions were held with both male and female community members. In-depth interviews were also carried out with Community Health Officers (CHOs), Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and health managers at both the district and regional levels. The discussions and interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Nvivo 10.ResultsThe study revealed that vasectomy was perceived as an act against God, which was punishable either by death or answerable on judgement day. Vasectomy was also perceived to be a form of castration, which can make men weak and incapable, thereby unable to satisfy their wives sexually, leading to marital conflicts. Women were more concerned about the negative effects of vasectomy on men. Cafalgin and panacin which are locally manufactured analgesics were perceived to have contraceptive abilities and therefore used by men as an alternative to modern contraceptive methods.ConclusionsStigma and the misconceptions in the community may be accounting for the low vasectomy uptake in Ghana despite several advocacy strategies. Women were highly influential in a man's decision on vasectomy. This calls for the need to increase health education to demystify the misconceptions about vasectomy. Vasectomy-related campaign messages should target both men and women.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Adongo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014