About 20% of births in South Africa are the result of unplanned or unintended pregnancies. One way to reduce the rate is for men to have a vasectomy. However, the uptake of vasectomies is low both locally and on the continent. In the past year, the number of performed vasectomies recorded halved from 1,391 in 2019 to only 639 were performed in 2020.

 

In many parts of the world, family planning is still considered a woman’s responsibility. There is also a knowledge gap about the vasectomy procedure as a family planning method in several African countries.  Another major reason for this is the cultural belief that a man’s fertility belongs to the community as a whole. As a result, men who go for vasectomies risk stigma and contempt. Should men be held socially responsible for their reproductive role in society?

 

Guest on the line: Dr Prithy Ramlachan – Medical Doctor and Director of Newkwa Medical Centre for Health and Wellness