Couple communication about contraceptive use has been shown to be strongly correlated with reproductive behavior. In Rwanda, where contraceptive use has increased dramatically over a short period, understanding the role of couple communication about family planning can help inform programs designed to further increase the use of family planning. This study utilized qualitative methods in 2018, specifically 32 in-depth interviews with current users of modern contraceptive methods and eight focus group discussions with family planning providers. Respondents were from the districts with the highest and lowest modern contraceptive use, respectively, to explore the role of spousal communication about family planning in Rwanda. Findings demonstrate that spousal communication about family planning use prior to, and during, is very common and that some male partners even find ways to support their wife’s use of contraception beyond verbal communication. Male partners were motivated to support their wife’s use of family planning primarily due to their financial concerns related to the management of the family. With the level of communication occurring among Rwandan couples, the outlook for sustained, and even enhanced, family planning use in Rwanda is promising. Other nations with low contraceptive prevalence might try encouraging more male involvement in family planning by using some of the strategies that have been successful in Rwanda to increase contraceptive use.
