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: 12262388 Document Number: 323648
Vasectomy is the least preferred contraceptive method in Korea. Why more wives than husbands are sterilized was explored by interviewing 182 sterilized women in Miya-dong, Dobong-ku and 42 women who were sterilized at the family consultation center of Seoul National University Hospital from May 1, 1979-May 31, 1979. The acceptability and effectiveness of vasectomy was assessed by examining motivation, knowledge, attitudes and sociological implications. Most Korean males preferred female sterilization (81.5%), and 66% of all husbands flatly refused vasectomy. Wives had contradictory attitudes towards 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 the head of the household. Husbands and wives fear the side-effects of sterilization especially physical weakness of sexual difficulty (51.5%), but, wives are willing to suffer the side-effects of sterilization to spare their husbands. Although 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 vasectomy acceptors, the side-effects from vasectomy need to be reduced, and regular follow-ups need to be provided along with better services.