Presenter: Lauren Ott
Mentor: Kristin Yarris, International Studies
Oral Presentation
Major: International Studies
In rural Tanzania, accessing resources and educating citizens about family planning (FP) options is often a challenge, especially for men. Therefore, the aim of this research is to examine men’s perceptions of FP and the resources available to them. To further examine this issue, 25 surveys were disseminated and 25 men took part in 4 focus group discussions in the Igoda village in the Mufindi region of Tanzania during October 2014. Findings reveal that in rural Igoda the majority of men feel FP is not a women’s issue alone but a shared responsibility. Still, men need to be included further in the conversation to better meet community needs. One in four men surveyed demonstrated an unmet need for FP, stating that they wanted to delay pregnancy but were not currently using any FP. Access to government clinics and hospitals is still significantly limited; thus the lack of availability has limited FP practices in the community. Recommendations based on these findings include that the government do more to better educate men and reduce barriers to access to FP so they can participate to the same extent as their wives. Tanzania has a fertility rate of 5.4 children per woman, significantly higher than the global 2.6 child average. Therefore, understanding FP practices provides powerful insight into the health and development of Tanzania and similar nations.