Knowledge of Vasectomy and its Associated Factors Among Married Men in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A community Based Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract Background: - Even though vasectomy is one of the safest, simple and most effective family planning methods available for men, it is one of the least used contraceptive methods in developing world including Ethiopia. The main reason for low level use may be low knowledge about vasectomy among men. This study was therefore designed to assess knowledge of vasectomy and its associated factors among married men in Debre Tabor Town.Methods: - A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 418 married men from December 05 - 25, 2019. Simple random sampling technique was employed. Data was collected by face to face interview using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Data was entered using Epi- Data version 4.2 and analyzed by SPSS version 23. The association between variables was analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model. Finally variables having p-value < 0.05 at 95% CI were considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 418 participants were included with response rate of 98.8%. The mean age of participant was 38.06 (SD± 6.873) years. About 60.5% of men had ever heard about vasectomy. Men mentioned health care providers as main source of information. Among those who had ever heard, only 58.8% defined vasectomy correctly. About 25.6% equated vasectomy with castration and about 15.6% described as “it is making the man impotent. In this study, only 38.5% of men were knowledgeable about vasectomy. Multivariable logistic regression showed that completing secondary education (AOR= 4.70, 95% CI: 1.26--17.55), attending college and above (AOR=8.36, 95% CI: 2.41-28.97)), having 4 or more alive children (AOR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.29-0.89) and positive attitude (AOR= 2.47, 95% CI: 1.58-3.86) were significantly associated with knowledge of vasectomy. Conclusions: In this study level of knowledge of married men about vasectomy was low. Educational status, number of children and attitude were statistically significant with men knowledge about vasectomy. Emphasis should be given on improving the educational status of men to improve their knowledge, and positively changing the men upbringing culture right from their childhood which will also improve their attitude towards vasectomy in the future.