Factors influencing the choice of family planning among couples in Southwest Nigeria

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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,

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