Assessment of male participation and the effectiveness of male-focused, occupational-based intervention in promoting male participation in selected areas of reproductive health, in the Kalutara educational zone

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the current level of knowledge, favourable opinions, and participation among married, employed males in the areas of household chores (HHC), contraception and child bearing. The study revealed that the knowledge, opinion and participation mean scores are low in the area of contraception while it is high in the area of child rearing. In HHC, opinion and participation mean scores are low, though they have a satisfactory level of knowledge. This study further assessed how certain sociodemographic characteristics of men, influence male participation. It was revealed that the extent of male participation in the area of HHC significantly vary according to the proportion of financial contribution to the family (P 05) and the wife's employment status (P 05). In the area of contraception the extent of male participation significantly vary only according to the duration of marriage (P 05), whereas male participation in child bearing significantly differ with the education of the husband (p. 01), proportion of financial contribution by the husband (p 01), family type (P 05) and with the wife's employment status (P 01). There was a significant correlation between knowledge and opinions in all three areas (P. 001) . Opinions and participation also showed a significant correlation in the areas of HHC (P.00l) and contraception (P.05), however it is not found with child bearing . Knowledge and participation also showed a significant correlation only in the area of FP (P.05). The educational intervention was carried out in all three areas namely l-IHC, contraception and child rearing using mainly lecture discussions. It can be concluded, that the IEC package used in this study is effective in improving knowledge, opinions in all three areas and participation in the area of HHC among the working class of Sinhalese men, with an educational level above the primary school and below the degree qualification, when it is delivered by PHII after an intensive training and proper monitoring of the program