Swazi Men’s Contraceptive Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices

This study investigated Swazi men’s contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Thirty adolescent men, aged from 16 to 18, and 86 adult men from urban and rural areas participated in focus group interviews. Adult Swazi men indicated that men were the sole decision makers about sexual and reproductive issues. The number and gender of children remains socially significant in Swaziland. Adolescent men expressed contradictory notions in expecting girls to refuse unprotected sex but maintaining that men were the sole decision makers about sexual matters. They agreed that women should commence childbearing activities at the age of 21 or later. This finding holds some promise for enabling more Swazi women to use contraceptives at least until they have completed their schooling. Contraceptive services were not readily accessible to men in Swaziland.