Old Wine in a New Bottle: Rebounding Vasectomy Practice in Low-Middle-Income Country

Despite existing overwhelming evidence on the effectiveness and safety of vasectomy as a permanent method of family planning, its use worldwide has been declining over the last 5 decades. Currently, there are several studies on knowledge and acceptance of vasectomy in Ethiopia from the client-side (men). In this study, we investigated knowledge, attitude, and practice of vasectomy among family planning providers in Ethiopia.

We conducted a descriptive survey study on knowledge, attitude, and practice of vasectomy among family planning providers in Ethiopia at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College over 2 months (from September 1, 2024, to October 30, 2024). Data were collected prospectively using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Simple descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data.

We approached 100 family planning providers, and 90 of them completed the response, making a response rate of 90%. Majority of the participants were obstetrics and gynecology resident physicians constituting 70% (63/90) followed by midwives who accounted for 13.3% (12/90). Seventy-eight (86.7%) and 46 (51.1%) out of the 90 participants had good knowledge and favorable attitude towards vasectomy, respectively. Only 7 (7.8%) out of the total had good practice. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 80%, 50%, and 20%, respectively.

Despite good knowledge and favorable attitude of family providers towards vasectomy in our study, significant gap was identified in the practice of vasectomy (less than 1 in 10 of the providers included in the study had good practice of vasectomy).