A SSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING FAMILY PLANNING PRACTICE AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CLINIC AT GENERAL HOSPITAL KONTAGORA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to assess the factors affecting family planning practice among women attending Antenatal clinic at general hospital Kontagora, Niger State. The respondents in this study reported using various contraceptive methods. The traditional method was the most used method among the respondents (88%) and this is followed by contraceptive pills (80%) methods respectively. Residents in this community are more likely to have hindered access to adequate information on contraceptive, such as the ability of condoms to give dual protection (prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections). In a view of the use of contraceptives, using a nationally representative data in the 2017 national demographic and health survey, the overall rate for current contraceptive use was 13.2%, while the rate for modern methods was 9.4%. The findings from this study apparently reveals the factors that influence the utilization of family planning services among the respondents, majority (61%) agreed that family planning is not easily accessible in their locality, which this is figured out as major factor. It also reveals that (49%) of the women are not supported by their partners or husbands. Also, majority submitted that concern about side effects and health risk appears somewhat a strong factor affecting contraceptive use, (73%). (41%) from the study also reveals that they cannot afford the family planning services. Others are being influenced by their religion, culture or norms of their community respectively (76%). In conclusion, this study has achieved its objectives by providing a comprehensive understanding of the level of knowledge and utilization of family planning as well as the factors influencing family planning practice among women attending antenatal clinic of General Hospital Kontagora. The findings of this study have important implications for public health officers, family planning service providers and other professions to improve family planning services and promote reproductive health among women of reproductive age.