MALE INVOLVEMENT IN FAMILY PLANNING AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING PUMHS TERTIARY CARE CENTRE.

Main Article Content

Sumera
Sadaf Wahid
Aisha Noor
Nawab Khatoon
Sania siyal
Tosheeba
Raishem

Keywords

Abstract

Objective:
This study aimed to assess the extent of male involvement in family planning and to identify the key male-related factors influencing women’s decisions regarding contraceptive use. The objective was to understand how sociocultural, educational, and interpersonal dynamics shape reproductive choices in a tertiary care hospital setting in Pakistan.


Methodology:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People’s University of Medical and Health Sciences (PUMHS), Nawabshah, over six months. Married women aged 15–40 years attending the outpatient and emergency departments were recruited using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data were collected through a structured proforma capturing demographic details, reproductive history, contraceptive knowledge, and the extent of male partner involvement. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests applied to assess associations between variables.


Results:
Among the participants, a majority reported male partner involvement in family planning conversations (n=87), but fewer women (n=49) were part of the actual decision-making process. Most respondents were aware of contraceptive methods (n=70), and attitudes toward family planning were predominantly positive (n=92). However, higher education levels in women were significantly associated with better knowledge and more active participation in reproductive decisions. Despite this, male dominance and cultural barriers continued to limit effective contraceptive use.


Conclusion:
The study highlights a critical gap between awareness and practice of family planning, driven largely by limited female autonomy and superficial male involvement. These findings underscore the need for health policies that prioritize male-inclusive, culturally sensitive reproductive health strategies. Interventions should promote shared decision-making, integrate male-focused counseling, and challenge prevailing gender norms. Future research should incorporate direct male perspectives and explore long-term behavioral outcomes to develop more targeted family planning programs in Pakistan’s socio-cultural context.

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