Family planning is highlighted by the World Health Organization Sustainable Development Goals (Target 3.7) as a crucial component to achieve universal access and rights to sexual and reproductive healthcare services [1]. Addressing barriers to family planning use also requires the education and involvement of men to better support shared decision making in family matters, particularly where gender inequalities persist and decision-making power is predominantly held by men [2].

Increased use of modern family planning methods is reported in high-income countries, but uptake remains low in low- and middle-income countries [3]. Correspondingly, maternal and neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries constitute a significant burden of disease [3]. If used effectively, family planning methods may prevent about 32% of maternal and 10% of child deaths in these low resource settings [4]. In addition, strategies to improve health-related outcomes are important, including more years of schooling and spill-over economic outcomes for girls and women [2].

Vasectomy and tubal ligation provide permanent surgical family planning methods for both men and women who do not want more children. However, vasectomy uptake is low, particularly in Africa [3], despite evidence that it is an efficient family planning method with lower costs and fewer complications compared with tubal ligation [5]. Women in African societies are the primary holders of family planning responsibility and use but seldom have primary decision-making power. This is largely attributed to gender roles and power dynamics evident in these societies [6–8]. Deep-rooted cultural practices of women taking responsibility for contraception, often through traditional methods, is coupled with widespread misinformation and assumptions that a vasectomy will damage a man’s pride and masculinity [9]. Even though groups such as health providers and/or development experts may positively promote vasectomy update, previous studies found women were negative about their partners’ having a vasectomy [9–11], often because of a lack of awareness or full information about the procedure [11].

Improving family planning services is a long-standing health policy and strategic priority in Tanzania [12, 13]. This is important to improve the high rates of maternal mortality (556/100,000 live births) and neonatal deaths (25/1,000 live births) by 20%–35% [14]. Family planning in Tanzania remains predominantly a women’s issue, and few men use condoms (15%) [14]. In addition, only about 32% of married Tanzanian women aged 15–49 years use modern family planning methods, such as injectable (13%), implant (7%), and oral (7%) contraception [14]. Of these, about 26% stop complying with contraception within 12 months because of method-related health concerns and side effects [14]. There is a paucity of data regarding vasectomy use in Tanzania, and more broadly across East Africa. In addition, vasectomy is not featured in national health reports, including the latest (2016) demographic health survey [14]. Previous studies reported that less than 1% of the Tanzanian population use vasectomy as a family planning method [15].

There is increasing recognition of the importance of including men in planning and delivering reproductive health services. However, this requires transforming current societal practices and beliefs. As women are the main users of family planning methods, understanding their perceptions and beliefs regarding barriers to vasectomy uptake is needed to support efforts to involve men in reproductive health and promote vasectomy as an effective, low cost option.

The research team involved two national and two international colleagues all of whom are PhD qualified nurse-midwives with experience in qualitative research. All data was collected by the principal investigator of this study with the assistance of a female research assistant with previous experience in reproductive health research. The research team had no prior knowledge of the participants of this study. Importantly, however, the team had many insights of pre-understanding of the contextual issues related to family planning in Tanzania. Understanding of local culture and context enhanced the interpretation of data and added to credibility of this study. Of note such pre-understanding might have also lead to researchers presenting their own perceptions rather than solely those of participants, potentially affecting the trustworthiness of the results. This was mitigated by frequent discussion among the local research team and international researchers involved in this study, to ensure a reflected critical position. This helped the research team remain conscious of advantages and potential risks involved in the research process and ensure the results represented barriers as perceived by participating women.

In total, 20 women from four health facilities (two hospitals and two health centers) in Bagamoyo and Kisarawe districts participated in this study. These participants were from two religious groups (Muslim and Christian). Most women had completed primary-level education only and were engaged in small-scale farming. The number of children per woman ranged from two to six. Table 2 present participant demographic data.

Overall, three main themes about barriers of vasectomy use were identified from data (Table 3), and are discussed below with associated sub-themes. Key points relating to these themes are illustrated by quotes from participants.

Men’s education level was an important sub-theme that emerged from participants’ comments. Women in this study perceived that a low level of formal education among men in their communities was a major barrier to vasectomy uptake. They believed that men with a higher level of education and from well-educated communities were more likely to accept vasectomy than men with low/no education. They stated that educated men desire to plan families and save money to have a better family life, rather than support big families.

Another key sub-theme concerned inadequate knowledge about vasectomy and misinformation among women, men and communities. Despite their familiarity with other family planning methods, women perceived that they lacked appropriate knowledge and information about vasectomy. This gap was reflected during the discussion, for instance, some women described vasectomy as unsafe procedure since it involved cutting of men’s reproductive organs which frightened them, their husbands/partners, and the wider community. In contrast, other women believed vasectomy was safe because it was provided at health facilities. As they reflected upon a man who will opt to use vasectomy, one woman stated that:

Many women in this study were aware that vasectomy did not offer protection against HIV and other infections associated with unprotected sex. Some, women, however had limited understanding and believed that a vasectomy would protect a man from HIV as well as preventing him fathering a child. The number of women that asked if a vasectomy would provide protection against HIV suggested a need for knowledge that vasectomies do not prevent sexually transmitted infections when promoting the procedure. Indicating knowledge gap, a participant commented that:

Inadequate knowledge and misinformation have also been reported in other parts of Tanzania as barriers to vasectomy uptake [15, 20]. Lack or inconsistent provision of vasectomy, along with lack of infrastructure, limited supplies, lack of trained personnel in health facilities, and non-discussion of vasectomy by healthcare providers is reported to contribute to a low vasectomy uptake [15]. This limits knowledge spread among providers and community. For example, while guidelines and communication materials for female-centered family planning methods are usually available in Tanzania’s rural health facilities, vasectomy-related information is almost nonexistent [15]. While it is important that women have a control of their own bodies and contraception choices, they also desire options for shared responsibility with their partner. The lack of knowledge about vasectomy limits this choice for both men and women.

A key barrier identified by participants concerned the links between religious beliefs and vasectomy practice. Some women said their religious beliefs prevented them from engaging in family planning. They perceived men who had a vasectomy as living against “God’s plan.” Some women further explained how their religious beliefs acted as a barrier to family planning, with family planning being seen as “killing living things.” These religious beliefs were considered particularly relevant in rural settings. For example, one woman said:

Vasectomy was also perceived as contradicting Islamic beliefs that allow a man to have multiple wives. Participants said that as men could marry more than one wife, each wife may have different preferences regarding the desired number and spacing of children. This meant vasectomy was an unsuitable family planning method. Other participants challenged this view, explaining that men with multiple wives would need new/reversed vasectomy after each wife had the desired number of children. This would allow him to take appropriate care of his children. These women commented that a large number of children contributed to poor living standards and increased the risk that families would be unable to pay school fees.

Similar to the present study, religious beliefs has been consistently reported in several previous studies conducted in different parts of Tanzania [15, 20, 21] and other countries [10, 22, 23]. Religious beliefs have a powerful influence on individuals’ health behavior and play important roles in local communities including influencing the acceptability of family planning [10]. Therefore, vasectomy uptake remains dependent on powerful religious constructs and how reproductive health matters are defined by communities.

Social pressure and stigma was another key sub-theme identified in this study. Participants reported that men with many children were regarded by their community as powerful, proud, and respected. Contrarily, communities named men who had received a vasectomy as “idiots,” “powerless to their wives,” “half men,” and “bushmen.” This highlighted the social power dynamics and gender inequalities that place women in inferior positions.

The factors associated with men’s acceptance of vasectomy is complex in such contexts. Similar results were reported by other Tanzanian studies that found men believed family planning was solely a woman’s role, thereby justifying their non-involvement [15, 21]. Similarly, a Turkish study that assessed married couples’ opinions about vasectomy reported sociocultural barriers to vasectomy including beliefs that contraception was the woman’s responsibility and sterilized men lost status in society and authority in the family [11]. Although some women in our study highlighted the need for men to practice vasectomy, they were uncertain whether they could ask their partners to undergo the procedure given the associated village-based stigma.

Educating men about family planning was considered by women as key in increasing uptake in vasectomy use and involving men to reproductive health services. Most women felt that conducting educational sessions and holding meetings with men at their workplaces about family planning (vasectomy included) may promote their uptake of vasectomy. Women also suggested that community health workers could play a role in providing education specifically for men. They explained that men would trust and act on information from medical personnel “heard with their own ears,” and recommended men be given extra explanations and supportive documents (e.g., brochures). Education for men was perceived as complementing health information conveyed by women at home and eventually increased the acceptability and uptake of vasectomies. One woman suggested:

Several studies in low- and middle-income countries [15, 21–23] have reported results consistent with the present study. These studies revealed that orienting men regarding family planning has the potential to increase contraceptive use. The fact that men predominate in decision-making means that up-scaling modern family planning in Tanzania will remain challenging without men’s meaningful engagement in shared decision relating to family size [24].

Another important sub-theme concerned women’s role in promoting vasectomy uptake. Because men’s lack of knowledge was seen as a powerful barrier to vasectomy uptake, these women participants perceived themselves as their men’s educators, advisors and supporters in decision-making, and health behaviors regarding vasectomy uptake. Women believed that frequent visits to health facilities with their children might have contributed to them having higher knowledge and awareness of reproductive health matters than men.

Women in this study strongly believed that men would accept vasectomy if women shared knowledge, encouraged them to visit health facilities and promised to support them after the procedure. A small family size (which made it possible to pay school fees and save money to meet the family’s long-term goals) was mentioned as a key reason for accepting vasectomy. A participant stated that:

Some women preferred female over male sterilization because of their view that all the responsibility for contraception belonged to women. These women were of the view that this would avoid potential problems faced by men following vasectomy, such as sexuality problems, stigma, and discrimination by the community. Paradoxically, other women emphasized the need to share their family planning responsibilities with men to allow the family to improve health and economic status. Studies conducted in low and middle-income countries reported that women often negatively influenced vasectomy uptake because of the perception that the procedure would lower their men’s reputations [10, 11, 21–24]. In contrast, women in some studies conducted in high-income countries expressed the need for shared responsibility with men, and were increasingly opting for vasectomy as a family planning method [25].

Generally, the results of this study indicate an intersectionality of a complex domains of religion, masculinity, sexuality, power dynamics and gendered roles. Sexuality and ability to produce higher number of children demonstrates masculinity and maintains men’s power in the community. Consequently, vasectomy uptake is negatively affected both at individual and structural levels. Women perceive that education (and health information) may help their male partners to choose financial sustainability over their masculinity practice through vasectomy. Whereas orientation of men to vasectomy as a highly effective and viable male centered contraceptive option is vital, promoting the uptake of this method will require combined efforts and critical analysis of the deep-rooted cultural, religious and socioeconomic barriers through the lenses of intersectionality.

Participating women perceived vasectomy uptake as being influenced by poor knowledge and misinformation, along with religious and sociocultural barriers. Some women were supportive of men undergoing vasectomy while others were not. Efforts to promote vasectomy and other family planning methods should be directed to mitigating these deep-rooted sociocultural barriers. Orientation of men to vasectomy as a highly effective and viable male centered contraceptive option is vital, and women play an essential role in facilitating the uptake of this method with their partners. Engaging couples in family planning educational sessions may facilitate reproductive health knowledge sharing, including information about vasectomies. This could be enhanced through organized ventures between women and healthcare providers.