Factors related to early interest in vasectomy as a family planning method in Kenya: instrument design, validation, and causal modeling

Abstract

<p>The purposes of the study were to: (1) describe male students awareness of family planning methods, (2) describe their sources of family planning information, (3) describe their knowledge of, attitude towards, and interest in vasectomy, and (4) use factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test a statistical model of factors that influence interest in vasectomy as a family planning method. The study was based on the theory of diffusion of innovations in which awareness and knowledge of an innovation influence attitude towards the innovation, and attitude influences intentions to use the innovation;A random sample of 430 undergraduate students from three universities in Kenya completed a survey in group settings. The average age of the respondents, most of whom were single, was 22.69 years. Students were predominantly Catholics, Protestants, or Muslims;Newspapers, radio, and peers were students leading sources of family planning information. Respondents contraceptive awareness was high, but their knowledge of and interest in vasectomy as a family planning method were low. Students had neither strong feelings about the method (emotional attitude) nor strong rationales for using it in the future (intellectual attitude);Interest in vasectomy had two dimensions: surface interest and deep interest. Both surface and deep interest in vasectomy increased as students emotional attitude toward vasectomy decreased. Low emotional attitude towards vasectomy was associated with the tendency to be Protestant, rather than Catholic or Muslim; with the desire to have fewer children; with low masculine identity; and with increased family planning information and knowledge about vasectomy. Knowledge of vasectomy increased as age decreased, as masculine identity decreased, and as family planning information increased;Surface and deep interest increased as intellectual attitude towards vasectomy increased. High intellectual attitude towards vasectomy was associated with the desire to have fewer children and with increased family planning information and knowledge about vasectomy. The desire to have fewer children was associated with the tendency to be Protestant, rather than Catholic or Muslim; with low masculine identity; and with more family planning information.</p>