Identifying determinants of Mozambican men's willingness to use a male contraceptive pill

Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2019 Aug;24(4):266-273. doi: 10.1080/13625187.2019.1630816. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Abstract

Objective: Given the possibility of a male contraceptive pill in the near future, understanding men's attitudes towards this contraceptive method is crucial, especially in high-risk populations with limited access to education. This research was conducted to identify the determinants of Mozambican men's willingness to use a contraceptive pill when it is made available. Methods: A sample of 412 Mozambican men was presented with 36 vignettes comprising four within-subject factors (cost of pills, pill efficacy, side effects and context). Each vignette presented a scenario in which a man is asked by his partner to use the contraceptive pill, and participants indicated their own willingness to use the pill under each circumstance. Results: Cluster analysis revealed that participants took one of four different positions regarding their willingness to use a contraceptive pill: never (11%); depends on side effects alone (25%); depends on side effects and costs (11%); depends on side effects and context (46%). These positions were associated with participants' sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: Among the Mozambican men in this study, a minority appeared to believe that the responsibility for contraception should be shared between sexual partners. Men's willingness to use a contraceptive pill was, however, more pronounced in the case of serious medical risk to their partner. Overall, only about one-fifth of participants were either reluctant or unwilling to consider using a male contraceptive pill.

Keywords: African context; contraception; male contraceptive pill.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Contraception / methods*
  • Contraception / psychology*
  • Contraception Behavior / psychology*
  • Contraceptive Agents, Male / therapeutic use*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Men's Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Mozambique
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents, Male