Exploring the Use of Gender Scales in Predicting Contraceptive Use in Tanzania

Geeta Nanda, Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Sidney Ruth Schuler, Academy for Educational Development (AED)
Jane Alaii, Academy for Educational Development (AED)
James Foreit, Population Council
Elisabeth Rottach, Academy for Educational Development (AED)

This paper presents preliminary quantitative findings from an ongoing study in Tanzania that tests the effectiveness of radio programming addressing male gender norms in support of a community based distribution of contraceptives (CBD) program. A baseline household survey was conducted in two regions, Dodoma and Mwanza, with 100 couples per region, in order to explore gender norm attitudes as measured by various gender scales for both members of the couple as well as family planning knowledge and use. Logistic regression analyses were carried out for women and men separately, and focus on exploring the use of gender scales in predicting contraceptive use, including the Gender Equitable Men (GEM) Scale, and three scales from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS): household decision-making, attitudes toward refusal of sex, and attitudes toward wife-beating. Findings will have programmatic implications on approaches to consider with the aim of increasing use of contraception.