Male reproductive health in Lesotho: needs, knowlegde, attitudes and practices
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Date
2002-05
Authors
Phoofolo, Agnes Moelo
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Most reproductive health programmes in Lesotho are designated for women
only, such as the family planning programmes, which focus only on women
and children and exclude men. Male reproductive health programmes do not
exist in Lesotho. Yet men, like women, have different reproductive health
needsand problems at different stages of their development.
The purpose of this study was to determine men's needs, knowledge,
attitudes and practices regarding reproductive health. A non-experimental
design of a descriptive nature was used. The survey method was used to
gather data. Probability sampling techniques were used to select the sample
of 794 male respondents from the 10 districts of Lesotho. Focus group
discussions and structured interviews were used to collect data from the
respondents aged 15 to 60 years and older, living in the rural and urban areas
of Lesotho. Ethical principles as relevant to the conduct of research involving
human subjects was adhered to, such as obtaining the necessary permission
and complying with the human rights of the respondents. All data was
analysed on a nominal descriptive level. The results of the study showed that men needed more knowledge and
information related to male reproductive health; their attitudes towards their
own reproductive health and the services to be delivered varied; they did not
possess adequate information related to safe reproductive health practices
and indicated that they (men) would utilise male reproductive health services
provided they existed. Basedon the above, recommendations were made that
health care programme managers in Lesotho should design men friendly
programmes and services. The education of health care providers should be
modified to include male reproductive health and all health care providers
should be trained to render quality male-friendly reproductive health care. Furthermore the need for further research into male reproductive health was
emphasized. Lastly, a proposed male reproductive health programme has
been outlined as a qutdellne for health care managers.
Description
Keywords
Human reproduction -- Lesotho, Male -- Services for -- Lesotho, Medical care -- Lesotho, Health education -- Lesotho, Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc. (Nursing))--University of the Free State, 2002