ASSESSMENT OF PRACTICES AND PERCEPTIONS REGARDING VASECTOMY USING HEALTH BELIEF MODEL; A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY IN URBAN JHANG

Abstract

Introduction: Vasectomy procedure was introduced in the past 4-5 decades and this procedure has got the attention in global public health as role of men in reproductive health. It means men can play their role in family planning.

Study Design: A descriptive cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Study was carried in urban sector union councils, District Jhang, from Oct 2016 to Dec 2016.

Material and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried in urban sector union councils, District Jhang. A sample of 237 married male respondents chosen randomly was interviewed using pretested and validated questionnaire based on health belief model (HBM) was used. Data was collected and analysed by SPSS version 20.

Results: Out of 237 respondents, 236 (99.6%) respondents had knowledge about any of the family planning method, and 135 (57%) respondents had knowledge of vasectomy and only 1 (0.4%) respondent had used vasectomy method. Presently 15 (6.3%) people wanted to adopt this procedure while 37 (30.4%) replied they might adopt this procedure in future. Regarding perceptions about vasectomy by using HBM, 207 (87.7%) respondents considered perceived severity (unintended pregnancy) can be harmful to the health of their wives while 200 (84.4%) considered perceived susceptibility i.e. unintended pregnancy can happen to them, 107 (45%) considered perceived benefit as vasectomy a better way of family limitation, 208 (87.7%) considered vasectomy as potentially helpful in health of their wives by preventing repeated pregnancies. In perceived barrier 220 (92.2%) respondents considered vasectomy as social stigma, 104 (43.9%) people considered vasectomy affects their sexual drive. Cues for action in HBM was the views of respondents about how it can be promoted ,191 (80.6%) respondents were of the view that religious leader would play a major role in promotion of vasectomy practices. 196 (82.7%) respondents thought that proper vasectomy services can improve utilization. The association between education of respondents and knowledge of vasectomy was highly significant as the p-value was 0.01.
Conclusions: Most of the population under study was aware of the vasectomy procedure but its practice was poor. The target for adoption of the vasectomy practices can be obtained by modifying the intentions and behaviours of the population.