Context: Jordan has begun to consider a strategy of targeting men for family planning services. However, little is known about Jordanian men's knowledge of and attitudes toward issues related to birthspacing and contraception.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 241 men whose wives delivered in three hospitals in Amman in 1996-1997. Findings for the overall sample are presented, as are results of chi-square testing to examine differences by men's educational status and income.
Results: Virtually all men (98%) had heard of birthspacing, but only 40% could correctly define the term. About two-thirds of respondents knew of male contraceptives, but a similar proportion did not know where to get information about them. Some 86% believed that men are as responsible as women for preventing pregnancies, and 52% thought that men's contraceptive use would rise if male-oriented services were available. Attitudes toward birthspacing and contraceptive use were more positive among men with at least a secondary education and among those with a higher income than among their less-educated and less well-off counterparts.
Conclusions: Culturally sensitive family planning services designed specifically for men in Jordan would increase their involvement in contraceptive use