Factors influencing male involvement on safe abortion: a case of male involvement on safe abortion program in Kisumu Medical & Education Trust

Abstract

Safe abortion is often treated exclusively as a women’s health issue. Most of the research on the topic deals with the female party involved in an unwanted pregnancy. This is in part because, the women’s perspective is more important, as it’s ultimately her body and her choice, but also because the female party involved in the abortion is the patient seeking medical intervention. The role male partners play in women’s reproductive health takes place directly and indirectly, biologically and socially. This study examined the influence of male involvement programmes on safe abortion a case of MISA. The MISA project is a program that seeks to promote safe abortion access by: educating men on prevention of unsafe abortion, building providers’ capacity on male-friendly RH service provision, and enhancing pro-choice organizations’ capacities to influence provision of safe abortion within the reviewed 2010 constitution. The study looked at the following variables; examined how awareness of safe abortion programs influences male involvement programmes on safe abortion; examined how perceptions of abortion influences male involvement programmes on safe abortion; investigated whether cultural beliefs influences male involvement programmes on safe abortion; examined whether costs influences male involvement programmes on safe abortion. The study reviewed related literature and the theories related to the study and also identified a conceptual framework. The study used a descriptive survey design to yield quantitative and qualitative data. The target population for this study was the male champions of MISA program in Kisumu Medical &Education Trust. A sample of 35 respondents was picked using simple stratified random sampling techniques from 132 male champions of MISA program in Kisumu Medical &Education Trust. The data for this research was collected using a survey questionnaire. The study collected both primary and secondary data. Collected data was sorted and edited for completeness and consistency, checked for errors and omissions and then coded to SPSS and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study found that there was adequate awareness of male involvement in safe abortion and its importance among men in Kisumu County. The program creates awareness through several programs and seminar is the one that is mainly used. The level of community perceptions of Male Involvement in Safe Abortion is low. The study found that cultural beliefs affect men involvement is safe abortion. High costs of procuring a safe abortion has been a barrier for men to be involved in safe abortion.