Male involvement in family planning program in Northern Ethiopia: an application of the Transtheoretical model

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to use the Transtheoretical behavioral model to assess male involvement in family planning.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Angolela-Tera District of Amhara Region from February 15 to March 14, 2008 on married men. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select the 770 study participants. The relationship of stage of change and decisional balance, self-efficacy and processes of change was assessed by ANOVA tests.

Results: 225(30.5%) of the men were in the Precontemplation stage, 235(31.8%) were in the contemplation stage, 81(11.0%) were in preparation, 76(10.3%) were in action stage, and, 121(16.4%), were in the maintenance stage. Confidence increased across the stages while experiential and behavioral processes increased in the early stages and then decreased at a transition from action to maintenance stage. The pros were increased across the stages, the cons decreased and a crossover occurred prior to contemplation stage.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that counselors need to understand that behavior change is a process that occurs in a series of stages and therefore can facilitate behavioral changes with various strategies. Health educators need to develop educational components that match stages of change.

Practical implications: Based on our results, programs aimed at promoting contraceptive prevalence for contraception should seek ways and means for increasing the pros and for increasing self-efficacy.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Family planning; Male involvement; Transtheoretical model.