In a 1982 survey of 250 men living in Khartoum, knowledge of, attitudes towards and use of contraception among Sudanese men were explored. Particular attention was given to attitudes towards male and female sterilization. Although most of the men expressed a desire to have large families, several findings suggest that they felt that they may have to be satisfied with a lower number for economic reasons. Three-fifths of the men with wives of reproductive age wished to use family planning services now but only about one-fifth were currently using an effective method. Almost 60% of the men were interested in learning more about female sterilization and about 50%, more about male sterilization. In general, attitudes towards family planning were more favourable than previously believed by providers of these services. Only 2·8% of these men had obtained services from a family planning clinic, suggesting that the demand currently exceeds the supply.