Male partners’ roles in women’s contraceptive decision-making in Nigeria: a secondary qualitative data analysis

Abstract

Male partners can play important roles in contraceptive decisions, especially in patriarchal societies like Nigeria, where restrictive gender norms influence women’s reproductive choices. However, little has been explored about how women navigate male influences and its impact on reproductive autonomy. This study explores how Nigerian women perceive and navigate male partner influence in contraceptive decision-making. We conducted a secondary qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 60 women aged 15–45 from Enugu and Plateau States using data from the Innovations for Choice and Autonomy (ICAN) project and conducted in Nigeria as part of a multi-country study. Thematic analysis, guided by a pre-existing codebook examined decision-making, agency, and partner influence. Data were analysed using Dedoose software (version 9.0.62) with emergent themes refined through collaborative coding, independent review and memo writing. The process of contraceptive decision making occurred through three stages. ‘Before’ decision-making, societal norms shaped women’s perceptions, reinforcing men dominance as the heads of the home expected to make decisions. ‘During’ the decision-making process, women used strategies such as persuasion, joint decision-making or third-party involvement to align their partners’ views with theirs. However, male partners often asserted significant influence by insisting that women comply with their preferences, constraining women’s agency. In the ‘after’ stage, supportive partnerships emerged when couples communicated openly and shared their views. In relationships with dominant gender roles, women often complied with husbands’ preferences, and in some cases resorted to covert contraceptive use to avoid conflict. The process of contraceptive decision-making among Nigerian women is influenced by normative beliefs, negotiation strategies, and women’s agency. While male dominance often constrains autonomy, some women navigate these barriers through persuasion, negotiation, or covert use to exercise reproductive autonomy. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive approaches that promote open dialogue, couple-based education and policies that support women’s autonomy while fostering collaborative decision-making.