Sahel Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2016  |  Volume : 19  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 201--205

Knowledge and attitude toward vasectomy among antenatal clinic attendees in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria


Nyengidiki Kennedy Tamunomie, Oriji Vademene, Olaka Ebienju Walter 
 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Nyengidiki Kennedy Tamunomie
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Nigeria

Background: Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and has a high fertility rate and low contraceptive prevalence. Various strategies have been developed to reduce the fertility rates, all aimed toward increasing contraceptive prevalence. Male sterilization is a safe, cheap, and effective method of contraception, but female perception and awareness of vasectomy may greatly affect its utilization. Objective: To determine the knowledge and attitude of antenatal patients in a Nigerian tertiary health facility toward vasectomy. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among antenatal clinic attendees. The participants were selected via systematic random sampling technique and a structured pretested questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge and attitude toward vasectomy. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 17 statistical software for windows XP and results were expressed in percentages. Results: One hundred and fifty respondents participated in the study, 83 (55.3%) were aware of vasectomy, 59 (71.08%) accepted it as a method of male contraception, and only 23 (38.98%) approved its use for their spouse. The main source of information on vasectomy was from health workers 53 (63.86%). Almost half of the women (47.8%) who accepted vasectomy did so because they felt men should also participate in family planning. Most of the women who disapproved of vasectomy cited it as an unpopular method. Conclusion: The approval of use of vasectomy by female partners is poor. Majority of these patients would not recommend it to their spouse as they have wrong perception of the procedure. Re-education of medical workers and wider public education through mass media may improve the approval of vasectomy by women for their spouses.


How to cite this article:
Tamunomie NK, Vademene O, Walter OE. Knowledge and attitude toward vasectomy among antenatal clinic attendees in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.Sahel Med J 2016;19:201-205


How to cite this URL:
Tamunomie NK, Vademene O, Walter OE. Knowledge and attitude toward vasectomy among antenatal clinic attendees in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Sahel Med J [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];19:201-205
Available from: https://www.smjonline.org/article.asp?issn=1118-8561;year=2016;volume=19;issue=4;spage=201;epage=205;aulast=Tamunomie;type=0