["On Men and Vasectomy in the City of Sao Paulo: a Study of Knowledge Attitudes and Behavior": phase II]

The Materno-Infantile Center (CMI) in Sao Paulo carried out a two-phase study of men aged 25-49 who were not single about their knowledge and attitudes concerning vasectomy and contraception under the auspices of The Johns Hopkins University in 1989. Trained interviewers visited 1554 households and completed 600 interviews. 62.2% of the men had elementary school education 82.8% were married and 11% lived in consensual union. Income distribution was: 55-60% of the sample had 2- 5 minimum salaries 78.7% had 5 minimum salaries and only 18.4% had more than 5 minimum salaries. 37.7% had always lived in Sao Paulo however 62.3% were not born there indicative of the large influx of immigrants. 85.5% were Catholics but only 45.8% attended mass and 32% went to church once or more per month. 75.2% had 1-3 living children. The condom was known to 98.8% of them the pill to 96% female sterilization to 93.7% and coitus interruptus to 87%. 4.4% of men underwent vasectomy: 44% did not want more children and 32% because of the impracticality of tubal ligation for the partner. 23.5% of female partners had ligation most did not want more children. 23.6% of men who wanted no more children were interested in vasectomy. 74.5% of responders knew that vasectomy was a small surgery. Views about the preference of ligation to vasectomy were shared by all males but only 23.9% of those with less than primary education supported it. 82.2% of men thought "Machismo" plays a role in rejection of vasectomy. 24.2% felt that vasectomy was equal to castration while 23.4% feared it would cause impotency. 82.7% thought television and 735% the radio was the proper vehicle of spreading information about vasectomy. The information level of the male population of Sao Paulo seems to be adequate about vasectomy but their access to more information would be welcome.