Awareness and Attitude of vasectomy are critical for enhancing male involvement in family planning and reducing the contraceptive burden on women in Nigeria. This study assessed awareness and attitudes toward vasectomy and how these factors influence its acceptance among spouses of pregnant or recently delivered women at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the level of awareness of vasectomy, attitudes toward vasectomy as a male contraceptive method, perceived barriers influencing its acceptance, and the readiness of men to consider vasectomy as a family planning option. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted. The study population comprised male spouses of pregnant or recently delivered women attending antenatal, postnatal, and family planning clinics at UCH. Using convenience sampling, fifty respondents who met the eligibility criteria were recruited. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that assessed respondents’ awareness, attitudes, perceived barriers, and readiness regarding vasectomy. The instrument was validated through expert review and tested for reliability using a pilot study, which produced a reliability coefficient of 0.84. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that most respondents were aware of vasectomy as a permanent family planning method, although misconceptions regarding sexual performance and safety persisted. Respondents generally supported male involvement in reproductive health and joint decision-making with partners. However, cultural beliefs, perceived social stigma, and limited accessibility of services were identified as major barriers to acceptance. Readiness to recommend or adopt vasectomy remained relatively low, though many respondents indicated willingness to consider it after receiving adequate information. The study concludes that improving awareness through targeted health education, promoting male involvement in family planning, and enhancing access to vasectomy services may significantly improve acceptance of the procedure.
Keywords: Acceptance, attitude, awareness, readiness, spouses, vasectomy
