ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF MARRIED MEN TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUN KHWA, PAKISTAN.
Introduction: Family planning programs have traditionally focused on women as the primary beneficiaries and men have been considered as the silent partners of the services. In Pakistan it is generally believed that men are not in favor of family planning and that men want more children particularly more sons. Objectives : The objectives of this study were to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of married men towards family planning services in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtun khwa, Pakistan. Methodology : This study was a cross sectional study involving 400 married men living in Bhana Mari Union Council Peshawar. Duration of the study was 6 months March 2015 to August 2015 .The sampling technique was multistage cluster sampling. Married men who did not meet pre-determined criteria were replaced with those from the nearest households Married men were interviewed through structured questionnaire. Results : The prevalence of family planning practice among the married men was (15.0%) about (6.0%) in their wives and (16.0%) were found among couples. Mean age of respondents were 38.3 +- 9.0 and respondents wives were 32.7 +- 8.4. Married men were mostly illiterate about 52.0% and 77.5% of their wives were illiterate.   Most married men were currently practicing condoms and their wives were currently practicing oral pills. Most married men (97.0%) were aware of the common types of male contraceptives methods. Conclusions : The study finding showed that married men, who were illiterate and in young age did neither use contraception nor did allow their wives to practice family planning and nor even discussed family planning with their wives.