The vasectomy experience in Barbados 1980-1994 - abstract

Vasectomy has been offered by the Barbados Family Planning Association (BFPA) since 1980. In this study, the records of persons who had this procedure between 1980 and 1994, under the aegis of the BFPA, were reviewed. One hundred and fifty-five (155) vasectomies were done during this period and all but six of the files (96.35) of the subjects who had the procedure were available for analysis. Fifty-two percent (54.2 precent) of the vasectomies were done in the first 7 years of the 15-year period, 81 percent were married, 66 percent were in their thirties, 70 percent had had at least a secondary education and, of these whose income was recorded (129 of the subjects), 82 percent were in the higher income bracket. There was no relationship found between religion and deciding to have a vasectomy. Sixty-eight per cent (68 percent) had had three or fewer children and 70 percent felt that their family was complete, twelve per cent (12 percent) said that they could not afford more children and 5 percent had the procedure because of their wives' ill health. In the first four years, 60 percent of the men reported that the media had influenced them to have a vasectomy, whilst 6.6 percent were self-motivated; a decade later in a smilar 4-year, 4.8 percent reported being influenced by the media, whilst 29 percent reported being self-motivated. It appears that vasectomy as a means of family planning has not been marketed well by the BFPA after it was introduced. However, it is an acceptable and successful method to those who have had the procedure (AU)

Eight years of vasectomy

A series of 177 consecutive cases of vasectomy performed at the operating theatre at the Family Planning Association, Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is reviewed. These cases were performed over 8 years from July 1974 to August 1982. There are four operating sessions a week, each session being performed by a gynaecologist. Tubal ligations, vasectomies and minor gynaecological procedures are carried out in the operating theatre. I do a full range of gynaecological procedures but all vasectomies are done on my list. During this period, 177 vasectomies were done as compared with 2,598 tubal ligations. The procedure of vasectomy is described together with modifications which have evolved over the eight years that the procedure has been performed. In this series there was one case of haemorrhage sufficient to require admission to hospital for transfusion. There was one case of haematoma formation requiring evacuation. There was no case of gross infection. Routine semen analysis was done six weeks following the procedure and one week later. At first specimens of the vas were not sent routinely for histological examination. At present a piece of vas is excised on each side and sent for histological examination. From analysis of the data, the typical vasectomee is 34 years old, living in a stable union. He is employed and his income and education are among the higher levels. He has three children and he was influenced to have a vasectomy by talking with friends and through the mass media. (AU)