OBJECTIVES

Limited data exists on attitudes and practices of young men in tertiary institutions towards contraception. This study assesses attitudes and practices regarding contraception among male students in a tertiary educational institution in northwestern Nigeria, identifying factors influencing these attitudes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study conducted from July to August 2021 at Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria, involved 160 male students chosen via multistage sampling. Structured questionnaires gathered information on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, attitudes, and contraceptive practices. Analysis utilized SPSS version 23.0, employing descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine significant factors influencing contraception attitudes.

RESULTS

Findings revealed a mean respondent age of 25.4 ± 3.5 years, with most being single (71.3%) and 51.2% sexually active. While awareness of contraceptives was high (85.6%), almost half (46.7%) exhibited negative attitudes towards contraception. Common concerns included reliability, impact on sexual pleasure, and traditional gender norms. Only 35.8% had ever used contraception, primarily using withdrawal and male condoms. Significant factors influencing positive attitudes included being aged 18-24 years compared to 26-35 years (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.22-5.82).

CONCLUSION

Culturally sensitive interventions are vital for improving negative attitudes and low contraceptive use among male Nigerian youth.