Perceptions of family planning and sexually transmitted infections among low-income men in Western Kenya

Sammanfattning: Family planning has long been practiced in Kenya. Despite this, however, the country has had a high yearly increase rate of inhabitants. Family planning and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are stressed in the Millennium Development Goals by WHO, and are challenging issues worldwide. Many interventions and studies concerning reproductive and sexual health have traditionally focused on women. Therefore, there is an increasing request for a focus on men in studies of these issues. Men in Kenya have rarely been involved in either receiving or providing information on sexuality, reproductive health, birth spacing or prevention of STIs.The aims in these studies were to describe perceptions/cognizance of family planning and STIs among low-income men in western Kenya. It is important to gain more understanding of men’s perceptions in these issues, as they are often the decision-makers in countries where poverty and gender inequities are barriers to promoting sexual health. A qualitative method was used, and was carried out by means of focus groups interviews. Sixty four men (15-54 years of age, 8 in each group) were interviewed. The data were analyzed by means of manifest content analysis. The findings were presented according to major themes and categories regarding family planning and STIs, respectively. The themes regarding family planning were: Family planning views and reasons; Methods of contraception; Children out of wedlock; Views on family planning programmes; and Policy on male contraception. The categories regarding STIs were: Consciousness of STIs; Risk of and prevention of STIs; and Marital relationship and STIs.The studies demonstrated that men in western Kenya had poor, and sometimes misguided, knowledge of family planning and STIs. Attitudes and cultural beliefs were strongly connected to practice. The findings stress that preventive sexual and reproductive health care should provide services that meet men’s need for information and participation, aiming to increase awareness of sexual health and reduce the gap between knowing and practicing.