Influence of age on the usage of family planning methods by Turkish married men living in southeastern Turkey

Aim: Unintended pregnancy rates are still high in Turkey and family planning services have been directed mostly at women. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of age on the usage of family planning methods by Turkish married men. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey research design was used, including 1352 men aged 20-52 years who lived in the southeast of Turkey and whose wives were fertile, not menopausal, and had at least 1 child. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and multidimensional cross-tabs were used. Results: Men 40 years old and over used family planning methods more often than men in the age group of 20-29 years. The rates of family planning methods being used by men in the age group of 20-29 years with 5 or more children and by men who were 40 years old and over with high income levels were found to be high. The use of modern methods increased as both age and duration of marriage increased. Conclusion: Age-specific family planning programs can make an important contribution to the overall efforts to improve contraceptive use among men. It is advisable for clinicians to design age-specific education programs for men and receive support from the opinions of their religious leaders.