Thread by @aproko_doctor

I was on the streets of Lagos recently asking people, "who decides how many children a couple has?" Most men said: The man of course

Most women said: Both of us

I asked the men a second question, "How many times have you followed your female partner to a gynaecology visit?

Went ahead to ask, why though? Why haven't you been readily available for family planning visits for a decision that impacts both of you? One answered: “my own is to provide the money, her own is to go for the visit.” This mindset is prevalent in a lot of African homes

For a long time, most men especially in this world see family planning as a women's affair. Men have been rarely involved when it comes to sexuality, birth spacing, reproductive health etc. When you place that against what we have here where traditionally, men lead many homes

and are expected to make decisions on the number of children they have, how soon they have it as well as the spacing. There is a problem, for someone who knows so little about the sexuality of women, how can proper decisions be made based on the reality on the ground.

Ask the average man on the street what contraception he knows and the first thing that pops out of his mouth is the "pullout method" which has been shown to be one of the most unreliable methods there is.

There are a couple of factors that prevent men from being involved in family planning practices, one being the mindset that it is women's thing
Some men said that they felt out of place in a "women's clinic", this mindset needs to go. We need the narrative that "joint is better"

So if you are a man reading this, it starts from you taking an interest. Start the conversation with your sexual partner if you have one Do away with the mindset that family planning is a "woman's affair" it impacts you both Be more involved, be supportive.

Bodies like @IPPFAR have been at the forefront of advocating that men are more involved in family planning.

It is not just a woman's affair!