British Couples’ Experiences of Men as Partners in Family Planning

Abstract

This study explores how British couples experience men partners’ roles within family planning. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with couples and analyzed using discourse analysis. From the analysis, three discourses emerged: “Men’s role as partners is perceived differently within the couple”; “As partners men do not like their options for procuring condoms”; and “Family planning services are for women partners.” The first discourse considers the support of informal systems, whereas the second and third discourses reflect the formal support couples experienced when utilizing health services. Together, these three discourses construct a social structure where men partners’ roles are restricted within family planning. These findings are discussed in relation to changes to policy and practice, which aim to engage men as partners in family planning.