Factors Influencing Utilization Of Modern Family Planning Method
Chapter One
Introduction
Background of the Study
Population growth and control are outstanding socioeconomic problems facing families, nations and countries. Population growth has been known to be associated with social ills of rejected and abandoned children on the street, health related problems of illegal abortions with its accompanying morbidity and mortality, repeated and too frequent pregnancies and child birth which are often associated with maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Family planning came in as one of the intervention strategies and has been in existence as far back 17th and 18th century.
According to World Health Organization (2018) family planning is defined as a way of thinking and living that is adopted voluntarily upon the basis of knowledge attitude and responsible decisions by individuals and couples in order to promote the health of the family, group and thus contribute effectively to the social development of a country (Antia, 2020).
Modern methods of family planning came due to the need to control population size since there was a high failure rate with the traditional methods as they were based on trial and error. The institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University, (2013) explore the characteristics of a modern family planning methods as follows: It must be based on sound understanding of reproductive biology, it must follow a precise protocol for correct use and it must have been tested in an appropriately designed study to access efficiency under various conditions examples of modern contraceptives method include hormonals such as pills, injectables and implants, barrier methods such as condoms (male/female) and diaphragm, intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) and voluntary surgical contraception also known as sterilization e.g. vasectomy and tubal ligation.
The United Nations Population Fund, (2014) reveals that contraceptives prevents unintended pregnancies, reduces the number of abortion and lower the incidence of death and disability related to complication of pregnancy and child birth. And if all women of child bearing age with an unmet need for contraceptives were able to use modern methods, an additional 24million abortion (14 million of which would be unsafe), 6 million miscarriages, 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 infant death would be prevented.
Nigeria which has a population of 14million and an annual growth rate of 32% (NPC, 2014) is the most populous country in Africa and is facing a population explosion with the resultant effect that food production cannot match the growing population. Hence the need for modern contraceptive than the traditional and natural methods (Nwachukwu&Obasi, 2013).
Statement of the Problem
The continued growth of the world’s population has become an urgent global problem. Every year approximately 80million people are being added to the World’s Population (Todara, 2016)
Nowadays more and more women of child bearing age are getting pregnant. However not all these women wanted the pregnancy. Abortion is not legalized in several countries including Nigeria which is why it has become tough to deal with unwanted pregnancies (Ezeh&Mberu, 2014)
During the researcher’s visit to Iko town community health centre. It was observed that despite the availability of the health centre in the community that readily provided the modern family planning methods, most of the women did not want to adopt any modern method of contraception even when they knew about it. Giving some unrealistic reasons. Hence most of them were having frequent pregnancies, ill looking babies and anaemia which could have been prevented with the use of modern family planning method.
This prompted the researcher to carryout this study to findout the factors influencing the utilization of modern family planning methods among women of child bearing age in Iko town.
Objectives of the Study
To find out if ignorance influence the utilization of modern family planning method
To ascertain whether religious factors influence the utilization of modern family planning methods among women of child bearing age in Iko town
To assess whether husbands opposition influence the utilization of modern family planning methods among women of child bearing age in Iko town
Research Questions
How does ignorance influence the utilization of modern family planning method?
What is effect of religious factors influence the utilization of modern family planning methods among women of child bearing age in Iko town?
To what extent does husband’s opposition influence the utilization of modern family planning methods among women of child bearing age in Iko town?
Significance of the Study
This study will be of great benefits to the profession, health providers, women of child bearing age and the society.
To the profession
The result of this study will enable the profession retrain more midwives in order to update their knowledge and skills on the modern family planning methods
To the health providers
It will help health providers to enlighten the women on the benefits of using modern family planning methods
To women of child bearing age
This study will help women of child bearing age to know the importance of modern family planning methods
To the society
This study and it findings will be of great benefit to the society by increasing awareness and improving acceptance of modern family planning methods.
Scope of the Study
This study on factors influencing the utilization of modern family planning methods cover only women of child bearing age in Iko Town. The study is limited to women within ages 18-49years living in Iko Town. Both indigenes and non indigenes irrespective of their socioeconomic status, level of education, parity and religion. Those above 49years and below 18years will not be included. The findings of this study will only be generalized to only women of child bearing age 18-49years in Iko Town.
Operational Definition of Terms
Family planning: This is the practice of spacing pregnancy and controlling the number of children one should have
Factors influencing: Things that hinder or prevent people from usingor accepting a particular thing
Modern family planning methods: Birth control based on knowledge of biology of the reproductive system. Example intrauterine device (IUD) and injectables.
Women of child bearing age: The age of women (18-49years) that can give birth to a child.
Leave a Comment