Trends in Male Contraceptive Use in Ghana: An Analysis of Self-Reported Contraceptive Use from GDHS 2003, 2008 and 2014

Background: Male participation in contraception is proven to have positive outcomes on reproductive health and remains a critical issue of public health importance. However, there is a dearth of evidence on men’s share of the contraceptive burden among couples in Ghana. Knowledge of the trends and trajectories of men’s contraceptive practice could inform male focused programmatic interventions to boost contraceptive use for effective fertility regulation. This study examined the trends in contraceptive use as reported by men. Methods: : This paper examines trends in self-reported contraceptive use among sexually active Ghanaian males, using data from the three most recent national Demographic and Health Surveys (2003, 2008 and 2014). Frequency distributions of socio-demographic and background characteristics were used to describe the sample by each survey year. The Z test of proportions was used to identify significant differences in the estimated proportions and subgroups of men using contraceptives by survey year. The Combined data from the three nationally representative surveys were analyzed, accruing a sample of 9,008, comprising (GDHS 2003=3,104; GDHS 2008=3,007; and GDHS 2014=2,897) male respondents who met the inclusion criteria. Results: : Men’s contraceptive use appears to have declined over the last three demographic surveys despite an increase in the proportion of sexually active males. However, a significant proportion of men who used contraception (44.5% - 41.5%) still relied on the male condom as their primary choice of contraception. Place of residence, educational attainment, occupation, region of residence and religious affiliation were all found to be significantly associated with contraceptive use consistency. Conclusion: There has been a significant decrease in contraceptive use by Ghanaian men between 2003 and 2014. Although the male condom appears to be the most popular modern male contraceptive method, especially during adolescence, along the life course the phenomenon changes, with a shift towards modern female methods. There is therefore, the need for family planning service providers, policymakers and all relevant stakeholders to consciously target men with contraceptive products and services and community engagement to improve FP uptake