Reproductive health addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life [1] . Reproductive health implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so [1] . The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) defines family planning as methods and information that enable persons to make decisions when to have children [2] . Both men and women have the right to be informed about safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning, and they have the right to choose and decide the most affordable methods of family planning [1] . Reproductive health is an essential component of general health; family planning is one of the most basic and essential healthcare services that can promote and ensure reproductive health [3] . This includes a broad spectrum of contraceptive methods including chemical contraceptive methods like spermicide (foam, jelly, or tablet), mechanical contraceptive methods like intrauterine device (IUDs), condoms and diaphragm, and natural methods like fertility awareness [2] . Family planning also includes information about how to become pregnant when it is desirable, as well as treatment of infertility [2] .

Family planning programs were established in most countries between 1950 and 1980, which represented one of the most important social experiments after World War II. In 2007, the World Bank published the global family planning revolution as it recognized rapid population growth as a barrier in achieving development [1] [4] . Family planning programs started to enter the third world countries during the 1960s. Moreover, more attention was given to the issue of family planning after the Cairo conference in 1994 [5] .

In this review, the search was performed by different international databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Pub Med, Med line, CINAHL, EBSCO, Cochrane, and EBSCO host using the keywords of “family planning”, “reproductive health”, “contraception”, “birth control”, “unplanned pregnancy” “unintended pregnancy” and “birth spacing”. Initially, searching for these key words was done in separated for each. Then new search added a new keyword until including all keywords. Later, these words were searched in combination with each other, starting with search process targeted primary resources with no geographical limits. Boolean operators (AND, OR) have been applied to enlarge or exclude key words to narrow the search results. However, the searching process was limited to following inclusion criteria: 1) written in English, 2) published between 2014 and 2019, 3) specifically related to family planning, and 4) no restriction on article type. The intervention is the use of family planning methods by men. The quantitative and qualitative, and descriptive studies were considered and summaries to identify the best evidence.

However, review papers and incomplete reports in the form of editorials, opinion pieces, and conference abstracts have been excluded. Furthermore, a total of 1128 articles were retrieved and the initial evaluation for their titles abstracts took place. After evaluating and removing the duplicated articles, only 262 were found to be related to the topic of interest. Then, related articles were printed and read in full, following a secondary evaluation, 14 articles were exactly identified to cover the inclusion criteria. As a result, those fourteen articles were included in this review (see Figure 1). Among the 14 articles, 1 article was randomized control trial, 1 article was mixed method approach, 7 were cross sectional survey, 2 article was qualitative, 1 article was quasi-experimental, 1 nonequivalent, post-intervention only control group design and 1 was longitudinal study. The findings of each study were considered with codes for identification from the literature, summarization, synthesis and inferences, and discussion of findings for clarifying the interpretation themes.

Articles selected for retrieval were assessed for methodological validity by two independent reviewers prior to inclusion in the review. Critical appraisal assessment and review was done with agreement between the reviewers and a third reviewer was consulted when needed. Data was extracted from the literature included in the review using standardized data extraction using specific details about the interventions, populations, study methods and outcomes of significance to the aim of the review. Then to display the data, all summarized pages were collected in a one matrix by using word sheet.

Fourteen relevant articles have been reviewed. From each article the following data have been extracted: study purpose, design, sample, and findings (Table 1).

Then, authors compared articles to identify themes. Review articles show that law percentage of men involved in family planning practices [6] . From women perspectives men were seen as an obstacle and never enabled them to plan their next pregnancy [13] . Men engagement in family is affected by different factors [7] [8] [9] [10] . Attitudes, norms and self-efficacy were each positively associated with men’s intention to discuss birth control [7] .

The more strongly men endorsed a traditional masculinity sexual script; the less likely they were to intend to discuss birth control [1] . Determinants of modern contraceptive use among sexually active men (n = 9514) were: region of residence, marital status, religion, wealth, interaction with a health care provider, fertility preference, number of sexual partners and access to media [8] . Men’s (n = 154) identified reasons for limited involvement in reproductive health include: side effects of female contraceptive methods, dissatisfaction with male contraceptive choices, perceptions that family planning was a woman’s domain, large family size preferences, and fear of partner sexual promiscuity [9] . Male (n = 524) involvement in family planning is affected by lack of information, inaccessibility to the services and the desire to have more children [10] . Contraceptive behavior is influenced by religious, family and social backgrounds [11] . Gendered male centered values predominate in contraceptive behaviors [11] . In India, men’s (n = 69,751) attitude about family planning revealed that they think contraception is women’s business, and men should not have to worry about it, by using contraception, women may become promiscuous and lactating woman, can’t become pregnant [16] . Women (n = 720) considered male partner support can drive cultural sensitivities towards accepting use of contraception [13] . For women in Nigeria (n = 16,118) gender-equitable norms have the potential to increase the prevalence of modern contraceptive use [14] .

There was an association between community-based activities and sue of family planning. In Senegal, men (n = 2270) who were exposed to a religious leader speaking favorably about family planning were more likely to report using family planning and discussing family planning with their spouses [15] . Radio activities and television exposure was associated with family planning use [19] . Married men (n = 1081) who were exposed to CHARM (Counseling Husbands to Achieve Reproductive health and Marital equity) intervention revealed that it was an effective approach to engage men in family planning, improve marital contraceptive communication and use [16] . CHARM also reduce male perpetration of sexual intimate partner violence [16] . Men with higher education level, media exposure and knowledge of modern family planning are significantly more likely to agree that wife can ask her husband to use condom if he has STDs [16] . Strategies to increase men involvement in family planning include intensive education for men, religious leaders, chiefs and opinion leaders [17] . Mosque goers (n = 840) who recalled messages were more likely to report taking relevant actions [18] .

In this integrative review, common themes emerged were determinant of male engagement in family planning, women perception of male enrolment in family planning, and methods to enhance male use of family planning. Review studies revealed that male intention to discuss family planning is affected by their attitudes; norms and self-efficacy were each positively associated with men’s intention to discuss birth control [7] . At the same time region of residence, marital status, religion, wealth, interaction with a health care provider, fertility preference, number of sexual partners and access to media are also important factors that affect male use of family planning [8] . Moreover, side effects of female contraceptive methods, dissatisfaction with male contraceptive choices, perceptions that family planning as a woman’s domain, large family size preferences are relevant factors [9] . Family planning also affected by male attitude as they think contraception is women’s business, and men should not have to worry about it [12] .

For women perception of male enrolment in family planning they consider gender-equitable norms [14] and male partner support can increase the prevalence of modern contraceptive use [13] . This review also pointed some measures to increase use and communication of family planning among men. Higher education level, exposure to media and knowledge of modern family planning are significantly improving communication with their partner [12] . Community-based activities, exposure to a religious leader speaking favorably about family planning [15] [20] and counseling programs for husbands are effective approach to engage men in family planning [16] .

Therefore, identification of male determinant of family planning, factors affecting family planning use, male and women perception about this issue will help health care providers where to start their intervention with aim to increase prevalence of family planning among male and female and to help them to reach shared decision.

The recognition of the possible determinants and barriers including identification of men’s negative health beliefs regarding contraceptive services can be used to develop effective male-involvement in family planning. More attention is needed at community and governmental level to identify strategies to promote gender equity and shared decision making, shared responsibility and positive participation of men, empowering women, and to increase effectiveness of male participation. Male-focused interventions should be encouraged instead of women focused programs as family planning should be considered shared responsibility.

Attention is needed at community and governmental level to identify strategies to promote gender equity, shared decision making, shared responsibility, positive participation of men, empowering women, and to increase effectiveness of male participation in family planning use. Male focused programs, intensive education for men and religious leaders should be considered.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Eqtait, F.A. and Abushaikha, L. (2019) Male Involvement in Family Planning: An Integrative Review. Open Journal of Nursing, 9, 294-302. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojn.2019.93028