Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2015

Abstract

Family planning (FP) is urgently needed in Pakistan but progress remains slow. In its 2002 Population Policy, the country pledged to reduce its total fertility rate to 2.2 by 2020; at the London Summit in 2012, it committed to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) to 55 percent by the same year. Despite important achievements, Pakistan’s current CPR is only 35 percent, the total fertility rate is 3.8, and 20 percent of married couples of reproductive age express unmet need for FP. FP programming has largely been directed at women, and husbands have been regarded, at best, as interested bystanders. However, recent research indicates that men’s attitudes are changing and they are eager to be involved. In several recent studies, the Population Council has focused on men’s perspectives of FP to support an evidence-based agenda that brings men into mainstream FP programming. This policy paper synthesizes the data from these studies, and other research, on Pakistani men’s readiness to be more involved in FP, the challenges they face in FP adoption, and the preparedness of the health sector to respond to their needs.

DOI

10.31899/rh9.1050

Language

English

Project

The Evidence Project

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