Males’ Awareness of Female and Male Contraception Methods, Information, Outreach, and Acquisition Locations in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Nairobi, Kenya, and Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe modern female and male method awareness, information sources, outreach exposures, and acquisition source awareness among young men aged 15-24 by sexual behavior status in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted with unmarried, young men aged 15-24 recruited via respondent-driven sampling in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (n ¼ 1,028), Nairobi, Kenya (n ¼ 691), and Lagos, Nigeria (n ¼ 706). Descriptive statistics characterized contraception awareness of male and female methods and information sources, outreach exposures, acquisition source awareness, and preferred contraception source. Multivariate regressions characterized factors associated with awareness of each method. Results: Majority of respondents were aged 15-20 (59%), sexually active (65%), and had secondary or more education (89%). Awareness was low for all methods (short-acting reversible contraception, 47%; emergency contraception, 35%; long-acting reversible contraception, 32%; withdrawal, 18%), except condoms (85%). Respondents reported low levels of contraception information sources, recent outreach exposures, and acquisition location awareness that varied by sexual behavior (higher among sexually active than non sexually active respondents). Multivariate analyses demonstrated common factors associated across awareness of all methods included information sources (teacher, friend, Internet, social media for all respondents; pharmacist for sexually active respondents) and acquisition locations (private healthcare, pharmacy, market/store for all respondents; public healthcare, mobile clinic, faith-based organizations for sexually active respondents). Sexually active respondents’ rank order for preferred contraception source was doctors/ nurses followed by teachers, friends, mothers, and fathers; and for non sexually active respondents’ rank order was teachers followed by friends, mothers, doctors/nurses, and health centers. Discussion: Findings have implications for increasing young men’s method awareness, specific sources, and settings to target contraceptive outreach.