Measuring Men’s Gender Norm Beliefs Related to Contraception

Development of the Masculine Norms and Family Planning Acceptance Scale

Bibliographic Data

ID8358015
AuthorsSara J Newmann (0000-0002-2672-0191, San Francisco General Hospital, corresponding author), Jennifer Monroe Zakaras, Shari L Dworkin (0000-0002-8535-4822, University of Washington Bothell), M Withers (0000-0001-7754-0206, University of Southern California), Louisa Ndunyu (0009-0004-9706-3979, Maseno University), Serah Gitome (0009-0002-3371-4213, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Phillip Gorrindo (0000-0002-0296-8790, Ibis Reproductive Health), Elizabeth A Bukusi (0000-0002-2031-2808, Kenya Medical Research Institute), Corinne H Rocca (0000-0001-9892-249X, University of California System)
Year2021
Volume50
Issue6
Pages2691-2702
Publication date2021-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchives of Sexual Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-0002 • E-ISSN: 1573-2800
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10508-021-01941-w
PMID33821378
OpenAlexW3152138832
LanguageEN
References cited68

Male partner resistance is identified as a key factor that influences women’s contraceptive use. Examination of the masculine norms that shape men’s resistance to contraception—and how to intervene on these norms—is needed. To assess a gender-transformative intervention in Kenya, we developed and evaluated a masculinity-informed instrument to measure men’s contraceptive acceptance—the Masculine Norms and Family Planning Acceptance (MNFPA) scale. We developed draft scale items based on qualitative research and administered them to partnered Kenyan men ( n = 150). Item response theory-based methods were used to reduce and psychometrically evaluate final scale items. The MNFPA scale had a Cronbach’s α of 0.68 and loaded onto a single factor. MNFPA scores were associated with self-efficacy and intention to accept a female partner’s use of contraception; scores were not associated with current contraceptive use. The MNFPA scale is the first rigorously developed and psychometrically evaluated tool to assess men’s contraceptive acceptance as a function of male gender norms. Future work is needed to test the MNFPA measure in larger samples and across different contexts. The scale can be used to evaluate interventions that seek to shift gender norms to increase men’s positive engagement in pregnancy spacing and prevention

Cronbach's alpha · Developmental psychology · Family planning · Masculinity · Norm (philosophy) · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychometrics · Scale (ratio) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Social Psychology