A research on married men?s needs, roles and level of knowledge about subject of reproductive health in solaklı village clinic district

ABSTRACTA Research on Married men?s Needs, Roles and Level of KnowledgeAbout Subject of Reproductive Health in Solaklı Village Clinic DistrictIn order to enable progress in the subject of Reproductive health (RH) in Turkeyfamily has to be taken into consideration as a whole and male members of the familyhave to be involved in RH, too. The knowledge of men related to RH in all parts of thesociety is required to plan health services for RH.This research was carried out to investigate married men?s role, knowledge andattitudes towards RH in rural areas inTurkey. Data was obtained by systematicsampling, interterviewing 212 married men in Solaklı in Adana 2006. The avarage ageof men in the research is 39.8± 12.4, where 74.2 % are in 20-49 age group. 13.2 % arenot educated, 42.9 % are primary school graduates, 25 % never read a newspaper, and% 25.3 of men and % 51.4 of their wives have got married under the age of 19. Theaverage age at the time of first marriage was 21.0±3.9.The average age at the time offirst sexual intercourse was 18.5±2.8. 45.8 % of men have had their first sexualintercourse with a prostitute. 56.6 % have more than five children. Men have heard ofthe family planning methods by word of mouth: 82.2 % withdrawal method, 80.3 %IUDS method. 53.7% use family palanning, however, 5.7 % didn?t know if he usedfamily planinng in his family or not.The most used methods during the research were IUDs(42.1 %) and withdrawalmethod( 35.5 %). Of the men using withdrawal method, 75.3 % do not consider it safeand 79.6 % find the method difficult. 16.1% do not use family planing due to lack ofknowledge. 25.0 % see family planning as sin. 60.8 % acknowledge that healthy peoplecould be infected by AIDS.While 27.8 are very happy with their sexual life, 0.5% aren?t. Fertility of theresearch group is high; unhealthy behaviour due to lack of information and beingmisinformed is common; knowledge about family planning is limited and trueknowledge about FP has not changed the attitude. Sexual myth among men is common:sexual intercourse is nice when both partners have orgasm at the same time (94.3 %) Abig penetrated penis is a key to a good intercourse (70.2 %). Those were the mostcomon myths. % 85.9 of them received less than 21 points according to the SexualHealth Evaluation Form (SHIM test).Based on the data of the research group, while in our country reproductive healthservices for the health of society indicates progress , there is still over fertility and lackof knowledge in rural areas Solaklı. Therefore reproductivity health services in terms ofcontent scope and availability should be increased. Giving up-to-date information andintroducing new methods should be focused on in the reproductive health includingfamily planning and sexual health.Key words: Male, Reproductive Health, sexual myth, family planning, AIDSX