The study investigated factors influencing the choice of family planning among couples in Southwest
Nigeria. Six hundred couples were selected from five Southwestern states in Nigeria through a
multistage sampling technique. Questionnaire was used to collect information from the subjects. Five
research questions were raised, five hypotheses were formulated and chi-square statistics was
employed for the purpose of data analysis at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings revealed that
socio-economic status, religious factors and cultural norms do not influence couples’ choice, whereas
educational background of the couples and involvement of partners toward the choice of family
planning significantly influenced the choice of family planning among couples. On the basis of the
findings, it was recommended among others that every couple should be well informed about the
importance of family planning’s choice so as to improve their reproductive health and economic
standard of living, to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity and reduce unwanted pregnancy.
Key words: Family planning, couples, socio-economic
INTRODUCTION
Child bearing and contraceptive use are among the most
important reproductive health decision that many have to
make (Gertner, 2009). Family decision and choices are
most likely to meet these decisions based on accurate,
relevant information, and are medically appropriate, that
is, when they are informed choices (AUSC International,
1998).
Concepts of family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have and use
birth techniques to implement such plans. Other
techniques commonly used include sexual education,
prevention and management of sexually transmitted
diseases, pre-conception counseling, management and
infertility management (Olaitan, 2009). However, family
planning is usually used as a synonym for the use of birth
control. It is most adopted by couples who wish to limit
the number of children they want to have and control the
timing of pregnancy, also known as spacing of children
(Olaitan, 2009). Family planning may encompass sterili-
zation, as well as pregnancy termination. It also includes
raising a child with methods that require significant
amount of resources namely: time, social, financial and
environmental. Family planning measures are designed
to regulate the number and spacing of children within a
family, largely to curb population growth and ensure each
family has access to limited resources. The first attempt
to offer family planning services began with private
groups and often aroused strong opposition. Activists,
such as Margaret Sanger in the U.S., Marie Stopes in
England and Dhanvanthis Rama Rou in India, eventually
succeeded in establishing clinics for family planning and
health care. Today, many countries have established
national policies and encouraged the use of public family
services (The United Nations and World Health
Organisation offer technical assistance, 2006).
The concept of informed choice in family planning can
be applied to a wide range of sexual and reproductive
health decisions. It focuses on whether to seek, to avoid
pregnancy, whether to space and time one’s
childbearing, whether to use contraception, what family
methods to be used, and whether or when to continue or
switch methods. The term family planning choice could
also refer to the family decision making (Diaz et al.,
1999).
The principles of informed choice focuses on the
individual; however, it also influences a range of outside
factors such as: social, economic and cultural norms,