Family planning in Santiageo, Chile: the male viewpoint

Stud Fam Plann. 1971 Jul;2(7):143-7.

Abstract

PIP: To obtain the male viewpoint toward family planning in the Chilean population, 561 men (aged 18-54) in Santiago from upper, middle, and lower socioeconomic levels were interviewed on their birth control attitudes and practices and compared with a random probability sample of 240 men from a nearby rural village. Tabulation of the interviews showed that a majority of both unmarried and married men identified themselves as active participants in birth control discussions. Younger husbands tended to have had more experience with contraception than older husbands, and respondents in higher socioeconomic levels showed a greater use of contraception (75%) than men in the lower class or village sample (35%). 23% of those in the village sample who did not use contraception cited reasons such as lack of knowledge and money or fear of harmful effects, while only 2% of the upper class in the urban sample cited such reasons. Approval of abortion for their wives was expressed by around 40% of all respondents. Approval of abortion in general ranged from 81% in cases of probable fetal deformity to 31% in single girls. Questions on sexual relations revealed that the median age for the first sexual intercourse was 16 years. 91% of the unmarried men were sexually active at a median frequence of once every 2 weeks, and contraception, if used, was most frequently oral or male devices. Among married men, sexual relations occurred at a median frequency of once every 4 days, with contraception, if used, most likely being an intrauterine device. All of the respondents tended to favor dissemination of contraceptive information more readily to men than women. Approval of providing this information to single girls was directly related to economic status. The schools were readily accepted as a forum for contraceptive discussion. The father was by far the preferred principal source of information for a son (44%) rather than friends (6%), but the respondents themselves got their information from friends (41%) rather than their fathers (2%). Including single and married men in family planning counseling programs may increase contraceptive use and lower the abortion rate.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Attitude*
  • Chile
  • Coitus
  • Contraception
  • Decision Making
  • Family Characteristics
  • Family Planning Services*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marriage
  • Methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Parents
  • Pregnancy
  • Role
  • Rural Population
  • Sex Education
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Urban Population