# Male support for family planning and contraceptive use by their partners during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected states in Nigeria: a qualitative explorative study

## TL;DR

This study explores how men in Nigeria supported their partners' access to family planning and contraceptives during the pandemic.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into male involvement in family planning decisions and support during the pandemic in rural and urban Nigerian communities.

## Key findings

- In Kano, men primarily made family planning decisions alone, while in Kwara and Oyo, decisions were often joint.
- Men supported their partners by providing financial assistance, transportation, and emotional support during the pandemic.
- Programs promoting male involvement in family planning are recommended to improve contraceptive access during emergencies.

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all facets of life, including access to health and other social services. The World Health Organization conducted a multi-country mixed methods study in India, Nigeria and Tanzania to assess the impact of the pandemic on family planning (FP) access, and the health system's capacity to provide FP and contraceptive services. In this paper, we share results of the qualitative aspect of the study that explored men’s support for FP and contraceptive use by their partners during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in rural and urban communities in Kano, Kwara, and Oyo states of Nigeria among women of reproductive age and their male partners. One hundred and forty-seven women and 95 male partners were purposively selected, and they participated in 68 in-depth interviews and 21 focus group discussions. The interviews and discussions were digitally recorded and subsequently transcribed. Data were organized using ATLAS.ti and analysed using content analysis.

The mean age of the respondents was 34.4 ± 10.9 years, 90% were married, and 74% had at least secondary education. In Kano, decisions regarding FP and contraceptive use were majorly made by men alone, whereas in Kwara and Oyo states, decisions were often made jointly by the couple. The other forms of male support reported were largely comparable in the three study states. For example, communicating with their female partners about FP, providing practical support such as financial assistance and transportation, accompanying their partners to health facilities or drug stores to procure contraception, offering physical support during the procedure and emotional support. Use of contraceptive methods by men, which is a direct form of support was not frequently reported.

Males played notable roles in supporting their partners to obtain FP and contraception during the pandemic. We recommend implementing interventions that encourage greater male involvement in FP, as well as interventions that promote joint decision-making between couples in settings where decisions are mostly taken by men alone.

Family planning (FP) offers numerous benefits for women, families and communities, yet its utilization remains low in Nigeria. Male partners play a significant role in influencing FP and contraceptive uptake among women in Nigeria and other developing countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to control the spread of the virus affected health service provision and access, including FP and contraceptive access. In this paper, we present findings from our study that examined men’s support for FP access and use by their female partners during the pandemic. We carried out interviews and discussions with 147 women aged 18 – 49 years and 95 male spouses and partners in Kano, Kwara and Oyo states. In Kano, decisions regarding FP use were primarily made by men alone, whereas in Kwara and Oyo, decisions were often made jointly by couple or by the women alone. Many men in the study states supported their wives/partners who needed FP during the pandemic by discussing the need for FP with them, seeking information about facilities where FP methods were available, providing funds for FP methods and driving their partners to facilities to obtain FP services. These findings highlight the importance of programmes that promote men’s support for FP use in enabling women to get FP and contraceptives during emergencies.