Exploratory study for increasing acceptability of male sterilization--inductive analysis using female sterilization cases
Kwon, E.H.; Yun, B.J.; Kim, H.K.
Seoul Journal of Medicine 20(3): 1979 Sep
1979
PMID: 12262370 Document Number: 323647
Vasectomy is the least preferred contraceptive method in Korea, and although the target for 1977 was reduced from 60,000 to 40,000, it was not attained. This study explored why more wives than husbands are sterilized by interviewing 182 sterilized women in Miya-dong, Dobong-Ku and 42 women who were sterilized at the family consultation center at Seoul National University Hospital during May 1979. The study also assesses the acceptability and effectiveness of vasectomy by exploring motivation, knowledge, attitudes, and sociological implications. Most Korean males prefer female sterilization (81.5%) and 66% of all husbands flatly refuse sterilization by vasectomy. Interestingly, wives have contradictory attitudes toward vasectomy; although wives (50%) suggested vasectomy to their husbands, 62.1% stopped their husbands from having them. In deciding to be sterilized, both husbands' and wives' thinking is greatly influenced by traditional Confucian thinking concerning the importance of head of the household. For example, husbands and wives fear the side effect of sterilization especially physical weakness or sexual difficulties (51.5%), but wives are willing to suffer the side effects of sterilization to spare their husbands from suffering through a vasectomy. Alhtough the Korean family is male-oriented, the wife has the authority to choose her own contraceptive method regardless of her husband's opinion. To increase the number of vasectomy acceptors, the side effects from the procedure must reduced and regular follow-up must be provided along with better services. It is also necessary to develop a good IEC program for vasectomy. (author's modified)