Knowledge, attitude and perception of Vasectomy by educated Nigerian Christians

N. Nwobodo¹, U. S. B. Anyaehie²*, E. Nwobodo³ and U. I. Nwagha⁴

¹Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Technology (Nigeria) ²Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (Nigeria) ³Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus. ⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (Nigeria)

ABSTRACT: Acceptability of vasectomy as a family planning method in Nigeria is reportedly poor as in other developing countries due to factors which include awareness, education, religion and socioeconomic class. Using self administered structured questionnaires, we determined the knowledge, attitude and perception of vasectomy among randomly selected educated Nigerian Christians. We also collated data from ten selected Family Planning Clinics in Enugu metropolis and interviewed Practitioners of the selected Clinics. Our results show poor awareness and defective knowledge of vasectomy which was significantly more among males. Acceptability of vasectomy and reasons also differed significantly among the sexes. We propose the incorporation of family planning in health education syllabus of senior secondary schools and the involvement of men in family planning matters and decisions. This will increase the awareness and also abolish the sex-differential knowledge.

KEYWORDS: Vasectomy; Christians; clinics; nigeria

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