Family planning IEC project in Ghana: impact on Ghanaian males.

As part of a larger study to evaluate a family planning (FP) information education and communication (IEC) public sector project undertaken by the Ministry of Health in Ghana from September 1987 to April 1993 this report presents findings from 1990 and 1991 on the extent to which the IEC project reached Ghanaian males the degree to which the IEC audience increased as the project progressed and the degree to which the IEC project influenced male FP knowledge attitudes and practice (KAP). After presenting background information on the larger FP/IEC project which was developed in 6 stages (situational analysis training of service providers IEC material development an initial campaign in 3 regions a second campaign in the same 3 regions and expansion of the campaign country-wide) the methodology of the substudy (sampling timing of data collection and survey instrument and procedures) was detailed along with the results in terms of sociodemographic characteristics of the 625 men sampled FP/IEC reach the effect of campaign length the current use of modern FP methods and current condom use. It was concluded that both the nation-wide IEC effort and the localized intensive tri-regional campaign were effective in transmitting FP messages to men. As was to be expected men in the regions where the intensive campaign occurred received more exposure than men in the other regions. A single additional year of campaign development resulted in 26% more men exposed to FP method leaflets 28% to method booklets 16% to posters or billboards 13% to a FP television drama and 25% to the theme song. In addition 25% more men reported participating in a FP community mobilization activity. It was concluded that there was a significant increase in mens FP KAP as the length of the campaign increased. This success should be shared by all the organizations promoting FP in Ghana.