The Role of Men in Contraceptive Utilization in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Men play a critical role in achieving gender equality because they hold disproportionate power across most societal spheres. Consequently, gender equality must be promoted in all areas, including family and community life, to encourage and enable men to take responsibility for their reproductive behavior as well as their social and family roles. This study examined the relative effects of gender-based power, fertility behavior, socioeconomic factors, and demographic characteristics on men’s participation in family planning utilization in the North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed, sampling a total of 1,130 currently married men aged 20–59 selected through three-stage cluster sampling. Data management and analysis were performed using EpiData 3.1 and STATA 14, and a sequential multivariate logistic regression model was utilized for data analysis. The findings indicate that only 23.6% of men in the zone reported participating in contraceptive decision-making. Regarding gender equity indices, 23.7% of men exhibited equitability in financial authority, 47.5% in attending social affairs, and 28.2% in the control of resources. Additionally, 33.4% of men rejected domestic violence, and 40.1% shared household activities. Notably, all gender-based power indices remained statistically significant after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic indicators. In conclusion, gender-based power significantly influences men’s roles in family planning utilization independently of socioeconomic and demographic factors. Therefore, engaging men as primary partners in family planning and women’s reproductive health should be integrated into broader efforts to improve gender relations and promote equity. Furthermore, priority interventions should include couple counseling on fertility and family planning, as well as strategies to encourage spousal communication regarding reproductive health issues.