Background: Adoption of family planning by men or their spouses many times is influenced by men particularly in developing
countries. This is despite evidence that reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity is tied to family planning use. In order to design
programmes that enhance adoption of family planning methods by men, this study was carried out to identify determinants of family
planning uptake among them.
Methodology: A cross sectional survey of 259 men aged 15-65 years with at least one child less than 3 years of age was conducted
employing a multistage sampling technique. Information was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, perception of
family planning and use. Data were analysed with SPSS version 22 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Level of significance was set at
5%.
Results: Contraceptive awareness was high (93.1%), with use moderate (56.0%). About half (51.4%) believed that the decision to use
family planning methods is for men while 41.7% would communicate with their wives about the need for either partner to use family
planning and 44.0% knew where to obtain commodities. Monogamy, primary education and having three to five children were
associated with use (p 0.05). Education (OR 0.43, 95% C.I 0.20-0.94) and number of children (OR 2.22, 95% C.I 1.09-4.51) were predictors of
use.
Conclusion: Family planning use is not commensurate with knowledge with very little adoption of joint decision
making.Spousal communication is necessary to facilitate method use as well as programmes that highlight communication
strategies and foster joint reproductive health decision making.