ABSTRACT
The study investigated into the assessment of Knowledge on family planning methods in women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community, Ogun State. The study examined some specific aims which include; To find out the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods. To ascertain the impact of cultural belief on the practice of family planning methods among women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community. To determine the factors influencing the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods. To assess the sources of information of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
The study entails some conceptual review and theoretical framework which include; Family planning (contraception), Methods and choices, Socio-demographic factors. The health Promotion Model.
The study employed descriptive research design. The study used the questionnaire to gather the primary data from respondents. The Yaro Yamane to select the sample unit for the study which was (124) one-hundred and four.
The study hypothesis resulted the socio-demographic and influencing factors have significant effect on the knowledge of women towards family planning.
The study recommended that the government should sanitize the rural areas on the dangers of continuous child birth, which pose threat to families that lose their wives due to un-spaced child birth.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study
Family planning is defined having the number of children you want when you want them. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods (FMOH, 2011).
Family planning is voluntary use of natural or modern contraceptive by individual or couples. This approach helps the users to have the number of children they want to have and to assure the wellbeing of children as well as parents. The goal of FP is to decrease the rapid growth of population so that if will be compatible with living standard of the people. It also contributes for the effort to create sustained and efficient use of countries resources (FMOH, 2011)
Family planning reduces the number of unintended and unwanted pregnancies and thereby saving women from high risk pregnancies and unsafe abortions (White and Speizer. 2007). Other benefits accruing from family planning methods include prevention of cancers, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (Moronkola, Ojedirin, and Amosu, 2006). Furthermore, investing in family planning as a component of good reproductive health has benefits that go beyond the obvious prevention of pregnancy and reduction of disease burden, the social and economic benefits for global development goals should not be overlooked (MacPhai, 2007).
There are traditional methods of family planning, which is divided in to withdrawal and rhythm, and there are modern family planning methods, which is divided in to three: long acting reversible contraceptive methods (IUCD and Implants); permanent contraceptive methods (Tubal ligation for females and vasectomy for male) and short-term contraceptive methods (oral pills, injectable, male and female condoms, foam tablet and cervical cup (Dieppe, 2011).
Intra uterine contraceptive devices [IUCD] and implants are long acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARCM); when removed, return to fertility is prompt (USAID, 2015). Modern family planning methods account for the majority of current global contraceptive practices; almost nine out of every ten contraceptive users rely on a modern method. Female sterilization, intra uterine device and oral pills account for more than two-third of all contraceptive practice worldwide (Dieppe, 2011).
Globally, female sterilization is the single most used method and alone accounts for one-third of all contraceptive use worldwide. The IUCD is used by (22%) of all contraceptive users and the oral pill by (14%). The use of modern contraceptive methods differs significantly between the developing and developed areas. In the developing areas modern methods account for much larger share of total contraceptive use (90%) than in the developed areas (70%) (USAID, 2015).
Currently, family planning becomes an important issue throughout the whole world. This is because of the unexpected and rapid population growth, as a result exposes to high maternal mortality and even the level of economic development and health care demands that uncontrolled fertility rate negatively effects on the family and the society as a whole (USAID, 2010). Starting from the 1960, family planning service has become the major worldwide activity to influence fertility in the year 1965 family planning was accepted as an issue by only 21 countries, but in less than two decades, to mean that in 1983, access to family planning method in its modern way was limited in only seven countries useable, it is less than 1% of the world’s population (USAID, 2010).
Family planning is a way of thinking and living that is adopted voluntarily, upon the basis of knowledge, attitudes and responsible decisions by individuals and couples, in order to promote the health and welfare of the family group and thus contribute effectively to the social development of a country (Park, 2013).
Worldwide contraceptives prevalence (the percent of couple currently using contraception) is estimated to have reached 58%. At 70%, the average level of use is higher in the more developed region than in the less developed regions, where average use is estimated at 55%.
While overall levels of contraceptive use remain higher in the more developed regions the gap is narrowing (Rimal, 2008). However, in the group of least developed countries traditional methods of contraception account for 27% of all contraception use, a proportion far higher than that in the more developed regions (Rimal, 2008). Family planning is now an integral part of the health system of Nepal. Total fertility rate (in women) is in decreasing order. It was 4.6 in 1996, 4.1 in 2001, 3.1 in 2006 and 2.6 in 2011. Although CPR of all methods increased from 48% in 2006 to 50% in 2011 (Shrestha, Shrestha and Ghimire, 2012), there was a slight decrease in CPR of modern methods from 44.2% to 43.2% during the same period. The mid-term survey of NDHS (2006) showed that the knowledge on any contraceptives methods was universal among women of reproductive age (15-49) years.
Specific knowledge on various contraceptives methods have improved over the years. For instance knowledge of contraception has improved significantly from the baseline of 2006 to the mid survey of 2009. Likewise, majority (67%) of women had ever heard of the IUD in 2006, this increased to 75% in 2009 (Shrestha, Shrestha and Ghimire, 2012). However, nearly half (49%) of women of reproductive age had ever heard of traditional methods in 2006, this has increased to 66% in 2009.The mean number of method known has increased from 7.2 to 7.6 among women of reproductive age (Shrestha, Shrestha and Ghimire, 2012).
1.2 Statement of the problem
Despite persistent advocacy urging the use of modern contraceptive methods for family planning, the fertility rates in most African countries still remains unacceptably high, mostly due to poor uptake of contraception because of cultural, economic and political barriers (Shrestha, Shrestha and Ghimire, 2012)
Unable to use modern contraceptives leads to unwanted pregnancy which intern results economic and social problem in the family. If the mother is giving birth frequently without enough gaps in between, she is stayed at home rearing her children. This problem prevents her from being active participant in the country and she will draw from social activity, it causes famine and makes the ecosystem unfavorable (Kebadnew, 2014). In terms of Health crisis unplanned pregnancy is known to represent a serious problem in Countries today although only limited empirical data are correctly available. But the 2005 district hospital finding show more than 20-40% death of mothers is due to the complication of unsafe abortion. Most victim of unplanned pregnancy was adolescent. Giving birth at extreme age i.e., at early adult hood age and near to Menopause periods has health burden for both the mother and the neonate (Birie, and Yamaneh, 2017).
Currently, the world population growth is increasing through time to time in fastest manner. Such kinds of problems are much significant in developing countries in Africa (Birie, and Yamaneh, 2017). One of the most common family planning is hormonal birth control, the side effects of hormonal birth control may stand out as a disadvantage for some women. While many women regularly use contraception without experiencing side effects, complications can and do occur. The most common side effects associated with hormonal contraception include weight gain, headaches, dizziness and nausea (Verma, 2014). Less common but more serious side effects include stroke, blood clots and ectopic pregnancy. Though natural family planning poses no health risks, this method is among the least effective at preventing pregnancy, according to the National Women’s Health Information Center. Out of 100 women who use natural family planning, approximately 25 will become pregnant (Verma, 2014)
1.3 Objectives of study
The general objective of this study is to ascertain the assessment of Knowledge of family planning methods in women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community, Ogun State. The specific objectives include the following:
1. To find out if marital status, number of children and religion influence the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
2. To ascertain the impact of cultural belief on the practice of family planning methods among women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community.
3. To determine the factors influencing the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
4. To assess the sources of information of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
1.4 Research questions
The relevant research questions related to this study include the following:
1. What is the influence of marital status, number of children and religion on the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods?
2. What is the test of cultural belief on the practice of family planning methods among women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community?
3. What are the factors influencing the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods?
4. What are the sources of information of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods?
1.5 Research hypothesis
H1– Marital Status, Number of Children and Religion influence the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
H0 – Marital Status, Number of Children and Religion does not influence knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
H2 – There is a relationship between sources of information and the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods.
H0 – There is no relationship between sources of information and the knowledge of women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community on family planning methods
1.6 Significance of the study
This study will be relevant to women in their reproductive age, healthcare personnel, media and researcher.
The findings from this study will be useful in educating women in their reproductive age on the different methods of Family planning, the study will also address the importance of family planning on the socio-economic status of families and the nation at large.
To healthcare personnel, the study addresses their responsibility in educating women on the relevance and importance of family planning. Most women in rural areas have no knowledge on family planning methods, it is however important for healthcare to ensure rural women are well educated on the methods of family planning.
1.7 Scope of the study
This study is carried out to assessthe Knowledge on family planning methods in women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community, Ogun State. Due to the time factors that may be needed in this study the researcher is compelled to limit its focus to just women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community, Ogun State. This study will adopt a descriptive survey research design, and also using questionnaires in addition to library research would be used in collecting existing data. Hence the collected data would be analyzed using the correlation statistical method. The sample size of this study would be 124women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community, Ogun State. This study is restricted to the Assessment of Knowledge on family planning methods in women of reproductive age in Ikenne-Remo community, Ogun State.
1.8 limitation of the study
Some of the major constraints the researchers encountered in putting up this research include lack of time, lack of willingness to give information by respondents, and limited resources.
1.9 Definition of terms
Family planning: the practice of controlling the number of children one has and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilization.
Contraception: is the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse.
Sexually transmitted infection: An infection that can be transferred from one person to another through sexual contact.
Fertility rate: is the average number of children born to women during their reproductive years.
Sterilization: refers to any process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents present in a specified object.
Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.