ASSESSING MEN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING
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- NGN 3000
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The issue of family planning all over the world has attracted attention due to it important in decision making about population growth and development issues. Uncontrolled birth is a major contributing factor of an increase in the world’s population, particularly in Nigeria. Statistics shows that the population of the world was about one billion in 1859 in 1930, the population had doubled (two billion) in 1976, the total population was said to be four billion. Today, it is more than six billion, with Nigeria having a population of over 162 million, thus being the largest country in Africa and the 7th in the world map (United States Census Buxau, 2010). Life is a precious gift that every individual hunger for and in an attempt to grab this gift, our health must be maintained. There are so many problems that have been found to result from poor family planning method. Some of these problems include: Over population, criminal abortion, child dumping, increased child morbidity and mortality, as well as increases material morbidity and mortality rates. Over population as one of the consequences of poor family planning has succeeded in causing a lot of harm to individuals, families, society and the nation at large. Maternal mortality and child mortality have been found to occur due to poor family planning practice, according to the statement of the WHO (World Health Organization) and United Nation Education, Scientific Children’s Organization (UNESCO) in 1991) that over three million children and two hundred thousand women die each year and also women’s health and action research (2004) had showed rates of child and maternal mortality and morbidity rate in the world due to poor altitude towards Ante-natal care in which family planning is one of the objectives. The President of Nigeria, his Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was quoted in Vanguard newspaper on June 28, 2012saying “Nigeria families should have only the children they can afford. To ensure this order was followed, a new planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) was created. He said it may be time for birth control legislation. Family planning, until recently, a very sensitive subject in Africa, is now very increasingly accepted as a necessary ingredient of socio-economic development. It is now thought to be an important health measure that contributes to the health of parents, children and the entire nation. Because of the great effect over population has on socio-economic status, education and health in general, a full understanding of this phenomenon and the major factors governing it are essential, thus the need to adopt family as a means of checking the escalating birthrate cannot be over emphasized. Unfortunately, this idea is not adequately emphasized on, especially in the rural areas, where it was observed that they g=have a high regard for large families and children are seen as a blessing from God. They believed that the more children a man has, the more hands to help with work especially on the farm. It is also believed that children give status to women and security in old age. In Oghara-efe Community in Delta State, it was observed that husbands often make sexual demands with little or no consideration for material health and the children’s survival. They compound their wives potential mortality rate by either not allowing her to seek family planning, advice or will not seek it as a collection responsibility. This present mentality in Oghara-efe community and its consequent socio-economic, educational and health effect on the villagers makes it important for this study to be carried out.
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
Both men and women have prominent roles to play in the decision to use family planning methods and in determining the number of children a couple should have. The man and woman are important factors in bringing children to life, yet demographic studies on reproduction have tended to focus on women alone. For long, programmes on family planning have been directed towards women only, overlooking men who exert greater influence on family size and family planning decisions. In the light of the current gender imbalances, it is inadequate to talk about the attitudes and involvement of only females in family planning without taking the male involvement context into account.
Of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, the North-West zone (comprising of Delta, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara States) has the highest population growth rate of 3.14%, accounting for the largest population size of over 35 million people. It also has the highest number of women in the reproductive ages (15-49 years) of 8.2 million or about 46.8% of the total female population and the highest fertility rate of 5.7. Overall, this zone constitutes the largest proportion of the age group (0-4 years) which is 19.9% of the total population and the highest percentage of the young population (0-14 years) of 47.4%, more than the national rate which is 41.8% (NPC, 2009). While Nigeria’s infant mortality rate stands at 75 per 1000 live births; child mortality rate is 88 per thousand populations (PRB, 2009). Maternal mortality for Delta State also stands at 1,000/100,000 live births (Delta State Ministry of Health, 2007). The NW zone has the highest sex ratio of 104.1 in excess of males, more than the national sex ratio of 103.3. Although the overall adult literacy rates (age 10+) of the nation have improved, the NW ranks the second lowest with 55.7% compared to the highest of 81.9% in the South-East. However, Delta State has the highest adult literacy rate of 67.4% in the NW, with a gender gap of 11.5% between males and females.
The North-Western zone also has the highest percentage of disabled persons of 5.15% with Delta State having 4.9% of its total population (149,352 persons) with one form of disability or the other. The largest family size (number of people in a household) in Delta State, accounts for more than 8 persons in over 1.5 million households (NPC, 2009). One of the great impacts of such problems is the high level of poverty experienced in the northern region especially in the NW. Could these figures and levels observed, which are pretty high in the NW be due to the large population size of the northern region and the result of noninvolvement of men in family planning?
Oghara-ete LGA is predominantly made up of Muslims and a Christian minority. The negative perception of family planning by most people in this society (and to a larger extent northern Nigeria) is remarkably influenced by the Islamic religion, which is deeply rooted in their culture and tradition. Islam teaches that children are gifts from God. The negative view about family planning is also related to the external source of the programme. Muslims view the programme as an attempt by the West to curtail their population. Christians too, especially the Roman Catholic abhor family planning. Practicing it, is regarded a heinous act. However, this is not the only obstacle to the success of family planning. This study is determined to look into the problems associated with the rejection of family planning programmes, especially in northern Nigeria. The active participation of men in family planning is highly required so as to prevent unwanted pregnancies since they are considered to have absolute control over their households and women are expected to respect their husbands’ decisions. There is also the need to remind men of the daunting tasks and responsibilities awaiting them as household heads of large family sizes.
The role of men in family planning decision-making in Nigeria has not always been recognized in the demographic literature. This is evident from the large volume of literature based on studies focused on women, seeking to know their family size intentions, FP practice among other issues. Often, information on husbands’ attitudes towards family size and contraceptive use is obtained through their wives on whom most researchers have focused their interest. However, such information based on wives’ perceptions of their husbands’ attitude may indeed differ significantly from men’s actual attitudes and perceptions, if reported by them (Isiugo-Abanihe, 2003).
Abdulazeez (1990) considered knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning among the Nigerian Army’s wives in, Oghara-ete. The study revealed that majority of women, has great awareness of family planning. However, practice of family planning was found to be very poor, with only 25% due to factors such as religion, educational level, and ethnicity.
Isakoto (2002) also studied the effect of family planning on reproductive behavior in Oghara-ete and showed that despite the side effects of contraceptives, women were not deterred to practice family planning. They were determined to limit their family size and space their children for the health of mother and child.
Omotolani (2002) studied people’s perception of family planning methods in Oghara-ete and focused types of family planning methods, knowledge of, attitude towards and level of usage of contraceptive methods. The study revealed that contraceptive knowledge is high but the level of usage is very low in urban Oghara-ete. More than 80% have the knowledge and less than 5% of the people use more than one method. Furthermore, a positive relationship between educational attainment, family planning knowledge, and use of family planning methods were noted.
Similar studies have been carried out in Delta metropolis by Auta (1998); in Offa, Kwara State by Oyeniyi (2000); in Iyara, Kogi State by Akinwunmi (2002). Until recently, few studies in Nigeria have examined men’s role and attitude in FP and fertility decision making process. Ignoring men in fertility research weakens efforts both to motivate and change their attitudes on population matters. It is against this background that this study seeks to address the following research questions:
- What role do men play in family planning in Oghara-ete LGA?
- What are the socio-economic factors that affect family size in the study area?
- What are men’s attitudes towards family planning in the study area?
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this study is to assess the role of men in and their attitudes toward family planning in Oghara-ete LGA. This would be achieved through the following objectives, which are to:
- assess the nature of family planning facilities available in Oghara-ete LGA.
- examine the socio-cultural factors that determine family size in the study area. iii. examine the socio-economic factors influencing men’s role in FP in the study area.
- assess the role of men in family planning in Oghara-ete LGA.
- assess the attitudes of men towards family planning in the study area.
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