Male attitudes to family planning in the era of HIV/AIDS: Evidence from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Men have an instrumental role to play in reproductive decision-making and t heir attitudes may have sufficient impact on fertility decisions and family planning. This article presents findings from a qualitative study of male attitudes towards family planning in the province of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa. The study found that there is strong male approval of family plann ing as a method of fertility regulation. However, with reference to condoms as a specific method of contraception, although men's knowledge of condoms is relatively good, They are note a popular method of family planning and there is much male resistance to their use. An important reason is that con doms are associated with illicit sex negative attitudes are major obstacles to th development of condom use as a means of protecting against the sprea d of HIV.