The Social Cultural Factors Affecting The Use Of Family Planning (A Case Study Of Oredo Local Government)

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Abstract

The social-cultural factors affecting the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, the objective or aim of this study is to proffer solution to those social-cultural factors that is still affecting the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. One of such is the norms that are the rules that determine what should or should not be done.

The researcher saw that Oredo Local Government does not have a norm that promotes the use of family planning. The populations of the study were making up of hundred and eight people selected from six communities or wards in Oredo Local Government Area. The instrument used for the collection of data was1 the questionnaire. The researcher hereby recommend health workers to teach the family planning users on the proper way of using family planning methods, particularly the modern contraceptive methods so that careless causalities would be prevented, the government also has a role to play in educating its populace on the ills of having children they cannot adequately cater for.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The primary care system in Nigeria came to provide package such as immunization, micro-nutrient support, family planning counseling, pre-natal and post-natal care, health education and basic curative care (the family manager 1997) various government have tried to implement policies aimed at reducing the population growth through family planning programmers. A better access to good quality reproductive health service particularly family planning is the key to improving healthy status especially for women.

In Africa i8 percent of women use modern contraceptive as a family planning method and those women begin childbearing in their teens and have an average of six children or more has led to a high birth rate in Nigeria, were family planning in receiving government support, various agencies have been saddled with responsibilities of promoting and educating the people concerning its use. The Planned Parenthood federation is one agency, also family planning clinics have been set up in hospitals to encourage people to plan their families, and avoid unwanted pregnancies that are for the women by bearing only the number of children they can adequately cater for.

“Rosen and Conly (1998) state” we see the need through family planning to prevent the health risk of frequent child bearing, but also to reduce the high toll of illness and death associated with pregnancy and child birth and to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including HIV/AIDS. We must explicitly state that despite various efforts made by the Nigeria government to discourage high fertility or birth increase through the use of contraceptive, awareness campaigns, and prolonged breastfeeding by mother’s etc. popular growth rate is still rising.

The research would try to ascertain how the social-cultural factors (such as norms, values, education, religion, social class, custom) are affecting the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State., family planning has different meaning to people, to some, it is a method of giving birth to children by choice and not by chance, to health workers, it is the space of children. It can also be having only as many children as one can provide for, so that one can give the children proper care, enough food and opportunities for a happy life. The methods of family planning use are viz; Traditional methods (through calendar, rhythm, withdrawal and abstinence) folk methods (such as pills, condoms, vaginal methods, injection, inter-uterine, contraceptive devices (IUD), female sterilization, spermicides, impacts diaphragm etc. family planning and disease such as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Family planning services must be also includes access to long acting clinical method.

Janowite et al (1999) acknowledge the fact that currently, about ten million Sub-Sahara Africa women currently make use of family planning method. Family planning is beneficial to society. Rose and Conly (1998) aggress. Stating that the access to family planning would benefit the individual and sloe down Africa’s galloping or rising population.

In Nigeria, the trend of marrying many wives and having many children is still high despite the reduction in child mortality made possible by improvement in modern health care system, at the end of the research, we should know the social-cultural factors actually affecting the use of family planning in our study area, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

It was against the background of the projected world population growth especially in the developing countries and considering the consequences associated with current patterns of population control measure. In Africa, not all governments considered rapid population growth to constitute a problem to development. However, those countries that considered a rapid rise in their population as a major obstacle to development attempted to reduce the growth rate, countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Gambia adopted policies and programmes towards fertility and birth control in the countries.

Mrs. Saidu, a nurse at the Gwarinps General Hospital Abuja reiterated this stating that the need to control the increasing birth rate in Nigeria made family planning an acceptable programme. The traditional method came into existence it was seen as a taboo for a man to “meet with a woman he was not married to children were taught to abstain from sex. The girls were encouraged to maintain their virginity in some societies, any girl discovered to have defied her virginity before marriage was usually stoned to death. Others methods such as withdrawal, rhythm were used in our traditional societies.

The culture of marrying many wives also served as a family planning method through child spacing a woman could not “meet” with her husband until she accepted traditionally, they were not very effective however for instance during withdrawal, some men could be released mistakenly before the withdrawal, leading to a “mistaken” pregnancy. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, modern contraceptive methods of family planning through the use contraceptive were invented, especially for women, the use of pills, injections, implant, condoms spermicides, diciphragm, intra-urine device (IUD) are such in Africa , there has been an increasing rate of injectable contraceptive use. These methods are seen to be a more effective method of birth control than the traditional method. In china, contraceptive are free and available to all. This has led to a drop in the birth rate by approximately 50 percent (Adams and Win Stane 1976).

Donald light and Keller S (1975) argued that three out of the very four married couples using contraceptive in 1975 favoured the most effective methods, the pills the IUD and the sterilization. Sterilization is the most popular method for couples who have been married for ten years or longer. The increasing use of sterilization as a form of contraceptive in an indication that couples are more willing to accept the irreversibility of the decision to terminate childbearing.

Despite the availability of thes1e contraceptive, population is still increasing people still feel that having large families is better, especially in the rural areas. However, educating the people on how to use family planning methods would make them more susceptible to its use which would invariably check population increase.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The work is designed to show the social-cultural factors affecting the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

To examine the factors responsible for the ineffectiveness of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area.
To sort out the problem facing the development of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area.
This research work is also designed to suggest workable solution to the problem of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The objectives of this study are as follows;

To identify the different social-cultural factors that affects the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
To highlight the different methods of family planning.
To create awareness campaign on the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area.
To educate people on how the use of these methods of family planning.

1.4 Research Question

Is family planning felt in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State?
How enlighten are the people of Oredo Local Government about the use of family planning?

1.5 Scope Of the Study

This research work is limited to Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State; it is to examine the social-cultural factors affecting the use of family planning in Oredo Local Government Area. The validity of this study is limited to the accuracy of the information supplied by the respondents.

1.6 Definition of Terms

HIV:

Human Immune Deficiency Virus: This is a virus that causes AIDS.

AIDS:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome : This is a disease caused by HIV which paralyzes all the immune system in the body.

Patriarchal system:

Is a system of racing our ancestors through the male line.

Birth rate:

The number of births per thousand of women between the age of fifteen and forty-nine.

Fertility:

Refers to the number of live birth to women.

Crude death rate:

This is the total number of death in year divided by the average total population it is usually calculated per one thousand.

Chapter Five

Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion

5.1 Summary of the Study

Family planning is a method that couples choose for birth control which is a key issue in the reproductive right and health of women. It includes the right of men and women to have access to family planning which includes the decision that occurs between the couple on the intended number of children they should have. A number of factors are believed to influence the choice of contraceptives. The study sought to identify the factors that influence the choice of contraceptives among women accessing care at the FP unit of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Convenient sampling technique was used to study participants and to collect data from participants. After meeting all the study requirements and the necessary protocols, a structured close–ended questionnaire administered given to 352 respondents. A response of about 95.5% of an all-item completed questionnaire was received and analyzed. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.0

The study finding has revealed the highest prevalence rate on choice was Implanon of about 125(35.6%) followed by injectable 90 (30.6%). Again both pills and male condoms recorded the same number of respondents 17(5.8%). The usage of male and female sterilization 1(0.3%) and 2(0.7%) respectively were found to be less among the understudied respondents. The findings also revealed that almost all the respondents have knowledge of one or all of the methods but the highest percentage was implant with 228 (76.0%) while injectable recorded the second highest with 180 (60.0%) and pills with 169(56.3%). The factors that influence the choice of contraceptives are personal, socio-cultural, economic, and literacy with frequencies 158 (46.7%), 25(7.4%), 57(16.9%), 32(9.5%), 66(19.5%) respectively. The highest percentage related to personal grounds followed by literacy level of the respondents. Cultural norm and decision-making process of respondents were found to significantly have an influence on the choice of contraceptives. Finally, the finding has revealed a significant relationship between demographic factors of the respondents and choice of family planning.

5.2 Recommendation

Based on the study finding, the stated recommendations were made to the Edo state Ministry of Health, Specialist Hospital Edo, Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMC),

5.2.1 To Edo State Government

The Edo State Government should adopt a positive attitude to the usage and uptake on FP among the populace.
Ensure that conducive environment is ensured such that clients will appreciate that they are protected and privacy would be given in contraceptive services.
Sponsor and encourage the service providers to update their knowledge.
Enlighten the populace on various types of FP methods on social media platforms.

5.2.2 To Specialist Hospital, Edo

The Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State should create a friendly relationship between the staff and the clients accessing the facility.
The Hospital should award hard working staff with to enhance the performance of other staff.
The hospital should encourage the staff on continued education and provide such professional development services with motivation that is sustainable.

5.2.3. To Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria should introduce a policy for Nurses and Midwife for knowledge update.
The council should introduce reproductive health education to all cadre of Nursing training in the country

5.3. Recommendations to Stakeholders

The finding of this study has revealed low prevalence and low knowledge on some FP methods in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State therefore, it is very needful for the stakeholders to partner with the state policy makers and the management of specialist hospital in achieving sustainable benefits of on contraceptive that have low or least prevalence in the hospital and the state at large. The stakeholders should link with the FP unit for necessary assistance in terms of adequate provision of FP drugs and in the creation of a conducive atmosphere for the service providers and clients.

It was also recommended that the Edo State and Nigeria at large should enlighten the populace on the importance of family planning methods using social media platforms as it is the common means of communication in contemporary times.

5.4 Conclusion

This study focused on factors that influence the choice of contraceptives among women in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The study findings have revealed that majority of the study participants have knowledge on at least one method of contraceptives with a greater number of the participants having knowledge on the implant with evidence of a higher prevalence rate as compared to the other methods such as injectable and pills. The finding also revealed that respondents chose contraceptives that suited them based on convenience, affordability, privacy, and accessibility.

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