Intention to use vasectomy and its associated factors among married men in Debre Tabor Town, North West Ethiopia, 2019

BACKGROUND: Vasectomy is one of the most effective and permanent male contraceptive methods, and involves cutting and ligating the vas deferens to make the semen free of sperm during ejaculation. Although it is effective, simple, and safe, it is not well known and practiced in the majority of our community. This study assessed the intention to use vasectomy and its associated factors among married men in Debre Tabor Town, North West Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS: A community- based cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 married men from March 05 to April 15, 2019. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Data was collected by face to face interview using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Questions concerned socio-demographic and reproductive variables and views on vasectomy. The association between variables was analyzed using a bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model. RESULT: A total of 402 participants were included with a response rate of 98.75%. The mean participant age was 37.12(SD ± 6.553) years with the age range of 20–56 years. The prevalence of intention to use vasectomy was 19.6% with 95%CI (15.6%-23.4%). Multivariable logistic regression showed that age from 30–39 years (AOR = 3.2(95% CI: 1.19–8.86)), having more than three living children (AOR = 2.5(95% CI: 1.41–4.68)), good knowledge (AOR = 3.4(95%CI: 1.88–6.40)) and positive attitude (AOR = 4.8(95% CI: 2.61–8.80)) of married men were significantly associated with intention to use vasectomy. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Intention to use vasectomy was comparable with findings in four regions of Ethiopia (Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray). Age, the number of living children, knowledge, and attitude were significantly associated with the intention to use vasectomy. Improving the level of knowledge and attitude towards vasectomy is an essential strategy to scale up the intention of men to use vasectomy.