Trend in vasectomy acceptance: 1974-1981.

It is often heard in Thai population seminars and workshops that Thai men are resistent to vasectomy. There are claims that due to traditional fears of vasectomy or an unwillingness to play a role in family planning most Thai men will not accept vasectomy services even if they are offered nearby. This assumption may be wrong. The Research and Evaluation Unit of the Family Health Division has graphed a new acceptance of vasectomy by month service January, 1974-June, 1981. The graph also plots important events that should be related to vasectomy acceptance. Indeed it appears that when extra effort is made, such as a demonstration mobile team, private sector reimbursement, short-term campaigns and the deployment of mobile teams, willing and waiting acceptors are there. The fact that "extra effort" is required with vasectomy is probably more the result of a general reluctance to undergo the procedure than rather fear or hard-core resistance.