Partner support for family planning and modern contraceptive use in Luanda, Angola

Ndola Prata, University of California, Berkeley
Suzanne Bell, Johns Hopkins University
Ashley Fraser, University of California, Berkeley
Adelaide Carvalho, Ministry of Health, Angola
Isilda Neves, Ministry of Health, Angola
Benjamin Nieto-Andrade, Population Services International (PSI)

Background: Husband’s/partner’s support for family planning may influence a women’s modern contraceptive use. Sociodemographic factors, couple communication about family planning, and fertility preferences have been associated with modern contraceptive use. Methods: We conducted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analysis to investigate the relationship between perceived husband’s/partner’s approval and husband’s/partner’s encouragement of modern contraceptive use. We also examined perceived contraceptive self-efficacy and accessibility as potential mediators. Results: Perceived husband’s/partner’s approval was associated with quadruple the odds of women’s modern contraceptive use and remained significantly associated with double the odds. Husband’s/partner’s encouragement became non-significant in adjusted models. Conclusion: Gender dynamics such as perceived husband’s/partner’s approval appears strongly independently associated with current modern contraceptive use. Contraceptive self-efficacy and perceived contraceptive accessibility were also mediating factors. Interventions promoting male involvement in family planning could lead men to be less likely to oppose family planning and more likely to communicate their approval or voice encouragement.