Male support for family planning and contraceptive use by their partners during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected states in Nigeria: a qualitative explorative study

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected all facets of life, including access to health and other social services. The World Health Organization conducted a multi-country mixed methods study in India, Nigeria and Tanzania to assess the impact of the pandemic on family planning (FP) access, and the health system's capacity to provide FP and contraceptive services. In this paper, we share results of the qualitative aspect of the study that explored men's support for FP and contraceptive use by their partners during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in rural and urban communities in Kano, Kwara, and Oyo states of Nigeria among women of reproductive age and their male partners. One hundred and forty-seven women and 95 male partners were purposively selected, and they participated in 68 in-depth interviews and 21 focus group discussions. The interviews and discussions were digitally recorded and subsequently transcribed. Data were organized using ATLAS.ti and analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 34.4 ± 10.9 years, 90% were married, and 74% had at least secondary education. In Kano, decisions regarding FP and contraceptive use were majorly made by men alone, whereas in Kwara and Oyo states, decisions were often made jointly by the couple. The other forms of male support reported were largely comparable in the three study states. For example, communicating with their female partners about FP, providing practical support such as financial assistance and transportation, accompanying their partners to health facilities or drug stores to procure contraception, offering physical support during the procedure and emotional support. Use of contraceptive methods by men, which is a direct form of support was not frequently reported. CONCLUSIONS: Males played notable roles in supporting their partners to obtain FP and contraception during the pandemic. We recommend implementing interventions that encourage greater male involvement in FP, as well as interventions that promote joint decision-making between couples in settings where decisions are mostly taken by men alone.