As the country marks world contraception day today, health officials are facing a huge challenge in pushing for the Voluntary Surgical Contraception procedure among men even as it emerges that some women are against this method of family planning.

Officials from the Ministry of health have revealed an unusual trend among some women who are opposed to their husbands going through vasectomy.

Read: Explainer: What is Vasectomy and How is It Done

Mr Mohamed Hambulle an official from the ministry of health said the alleged women are instead opting to undergo the Bilateral Tubal Ligation, a surgical procedure that involves blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent the ovum (egg) from being fertilized.

“We have just learnt that the majority of women are not supporting the idea of their men undergoing vasectomy and instead chose to undergo the BTL procedure themselves,” said Mr Hambulle.

Speaking during a sensitization meeting with journalists in Nakuru, Mr Hambulle regretted that the trend is among the reasons why the uptake of the procedure has been sluggish.

According to him, the data relating to vasectomy uptake reveals an insignificant achievement compared to other family planning methods.

Vasectomy, or vasoligation, is an elective surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception

The Economic Survey Report 2023 released in May shows that 557 men underwent vasectomy in 2022 an increase from 2021 where only 248 men underwent the procedure.

The survey further shows that 334 men underwent vasectomy in 2020, 658 in 2019 and 646 in 2018.

The ministry in partnership with the county government is working to come up with measures that will see the increase in the procedure which is considered safe and easier.

The County Director of Medical Services Dr Daniel Wainaina said the county has formed a working group comprising different stakeholders to help in pushing the agenda and demystifying the misconceptions around the subject.

County Director of Medical Services Dr Daniel Wainaina during a sensitization meeting on contraceptives in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: JOSEPH OPENDA/MTAA WANGU

Dr Wainaina indicated that the aim is to bring more men on board to take up the procedures as well as build their capacity to become champions of the method.

“We want to see more men driving the vasectomy agenda. We want to build capacity among them so that they can be champions of the method,” said Dr Wainaina.

Related: Who should have a say on family planning methods between the man and the woman?

The ministry however has recorded a significant achievement in use of modern contraceptives with a prevalence rate of 56.9 percent against a demand of 76 percent.

However, the rate of teenage pregnancy stands at 15 percent.

opendajoseph@gmail.com

Alarm as wives vote against vasectomy, MoH reveals

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Joseph Openda