Health, 2019, 11, 1043-1054 http://www.scirp.org/journal/health ISSN Online: 1949-5005 ISSN Print: 1949-4998 DOI: 10.4236/health.2019.118082 Aug. 16, 2019 1043 Health Males as Partners in Family Planning Service Uptake in Ghana: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Survey Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah 1,2* , Francis Adjei Osei 3 , Nicholas Karikari Mensah 3 , Patrick Lebene Adonoo 4 , Abdul Ganiu Tanko 5 , Phans Oduro Sarpong 6 1 Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology, Kumasi, Ghana 2 Ludwig-Maximilians Universitate, LMU-Centre for International Health-University of Munich, Munchen, Germany 3 Public Health Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana 4 School of Government, Sun Yat-Sen University of Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China 5 Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University Science Technology, Kumasi, Ghana 6 Research and Development Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana Abstract Background: Family planning is an efficient and effective intervention that results in quick benefits for the whole family socio-economically. Differences exist in the rate of contraceptive use between male and female and male in- volvement of service uptake in Ghana. The objective of this study was to ex- plore male direct involvement and or support to their partners in family planning service uptake. Methods: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey to sample 384 men of reproductive age (18 - 45 year) using cluster sampling to enlist participants from within the Suame Magazine light Indus- trial area in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Data was analyzed descriptively us- ing SPSS version 16. Results: Men showed very high knowledge (90%) about what constitutes Family Planning, with moderate level of involvement both ac- tive and passive involvement (56%) though only a few (38.9%) were presently adopting or using modern contraceptive. The study rather found only 14% (55) males were willing to be solely responsible and actively involved in Family Planning service. Family Planning services did not adequately meet the needs of men with the services centers remaining unavailable in the study area. Con- clusion: The extent of male involvement in family planning programmes is marginally above average. Males showed appreciable knowledge of family planning options though misconceptions continued to exist. A more cou- ple-oriented approach to family planning is needed including recruiting males as family planning providers, offering more family planning counseling for couples, and promoting female-oriented methods with men and vice versa. How to cite this paper: Appiah, S.C.Y., Osei, F.A., Mensah, N.K., Adonoo, P.L., Tanko, A.G. and Sarpong, P.O. (2019) Males as Partners in Family Planning Service Up- take in Ghana: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Survey. Health, 11, 1043-1054. https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2019.118082 Received: February 13, 2019 Accepted: August 13, 2019 Published: August 16, 2019 Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access