CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The over-population problem and stress free child bearing state have been a phenomenon of concern to all health stakeholders. The irony of getting pregnant and the pain hiding in the joy to give birth have been the issue that encouraged the use of contraceptive for married and unmarried women (Davidson, Fabiyi, Demissie, Gatachar, and Gillian 2016).
Family planning is a practice by which a couple space the number of years between each child they want to give birth to through the use of contraceptive methods (Nattabi, Thompson, Orachi, and Earnest 2013). For developing countries where the mortality rate and birth rate are dependently at a continuous high rate, the knowledge of contraceptive to control the lingering number of birth, is needed to be communicated to the male gender and most importantly the female gender. The families in the countries have to be informed and aided to practice different family planning styles, so has to reduce pressure of housing, education and social model which have been a burden on the nation in general. Therefore it advisable for the government and the medical agencies to take proactive decisions by organizing seminars that will inform, teach and educate married couples on the new contraceptive skills, contraceptive access and the benefit of spacing one’s children (Cheng, 2011) and (Paudel and Budhathoki, 2011).
Family planning can reduce maternal mortality by reducing the number of pregnancies, the number of abortions, and the proportion of births at high risk. It has been estimated that meeting women’s need for modern contraceptives would prevent about one quarter to one-third of all maternal deaths, saving 140,000 to 150,000 lives a year (Kiura, 2014). Since information induce on our attitude and perception. The information relating to the contraceptive skill is one of germane form of family planning programs. The mass media exposure and social networks have really aided to implant the awareness of the contraceptive methods that can be used to control birth by couples and government (Cheng, 2011).
Contraception is the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse. The major forms of artificial contraception are: barrier methods, of which the commonest is the condom or sheath; the contraceptive pill, which contains synthetic sex hormones which prevent ovulation in the female; intrauterine devices, such as the coil, which prevent the fertilized ovum from implanting in the uterus; and male or female sterilization (Davidson, Fabiyi, Demissie, Getachew, Gilliam, 2016).
Assessing the potential demand for contraceptive services is an important component of family planning programme management. The need to control increasing population so as to mitigate the adverse impact of population growth on the economic development was recognized by the planners since the very beginning of planning in the country (Kiura, 2014). The extent of acceptance of contraceptive methods still varies within societies.
Measuring the level of awareness of contraception provides a useful measure of the success of information, education and communication activities and help to identify the areas that need to be strengthened. Involvement of men regarding use of family planning is a must among the couples for consistent and effective result. Men are considered to be a neglected potential consumer of family planning method. Their involvement is found to be very low (Paudel and Budhathoki, 2011).
Fertility decision comprises of many components which the knowledge and availability of contraceptive stand to be part. Gender specific human capital is a socio-demographic which is cost-benefit in terms of child-bearing and contraceptive use and practice (Desai and Tarozzi 2008). From the fertility decision of couples to the knowledge and availability of contraceptive this study intends to investigate further into the knowledge and practice of contraception among women attending the family planning clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH, Sagamu).
1.2 Statement of problems
The high fertility in less developed countries has being an issue that needs more urgent intervention. As a result of the fact that contraceptive prevalence rate is still very low and the resultant increase in the level of fertility enhance undesirable conditions for the prevailing development and also aim at sustainable development. In the couple of years ago, contraception’s has been so helpful in shifting the pattern of fertility but not at a desirable pace, and this slow pace of contraception’s acceptance is as a result of several factors which are hidden under some institutional norms and values which are responsible for the increase in fertility rate. (Thapa, Pokharel and Shrestha, 2018).
The slow pace in the usage of contraception’s can lead to series of problems such as unintended pregnancy/unwanted pregnancy, undesirable child spacing, maternal death etc. Despite all impact of modernization and conscientious activity such as awareness programs, public orientations, funding of researches, production of free contraceptives, availability of health services, publication by the governmental and non-governmental organizations and also private individual both at the National and International level to promote and enhance the use of contraception and family planning, the uses of contraceptives are still on a very low pace and also fertility rate keep increasing at its rate of being due some seen and unseen institutional norms and values.
1.3 Significance of Study
The researcher hopes that the result obtained from this study will enhance the level of knowledge of women as it provides them with proper knowledge on the family planning practices. This will enable women to make their different choices on the type of contraception to adopt in family planning.
In addition, the study is also important as the material will be of immense importance for health professionals especially nurses by educating women on family planning method that can reduce maternal mortality by reducing the number of pregnancies, the number of abortions, and the proportion of births at high risk.
This study will disclose some of the available practices of contraception among women that attends family planning clinic.
In addition, this study will benefit researchers build on their existing findings in this area of knowledge. Future studies can also benefit from this study by utilizing the data presented for a qualitative research.
1.4 Objective of the Study
The general objective of the study is to investigate the knowledge and practice of contraception among women attending the family planning clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. Specific objective of the study are to:
1. Determine the level of knowledge of contraception among women attending the family planning clinic.
2. Determine the most practised contraceptive method among women attending the family planning clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
3. Determine the prevalence of contraceptive use among women attending the family planning clinic of OSUTH
4. Find out the common contraceptive method being used by women attending the family planning clinic
1.5 Research questions
1. What is the level of knowledge of contraception among women attending the family planning clinic of OSUTH?
2. What is the most practiced contraceptive method among women attending the family planning clinic of OSUTH?
3. How early do women return to fertility after contraceptive use?
4. Find out the most common contraceptive method being used by women attending the family planning clinic.
1.6 Hypotheses
The following hypothesis will be stated in Null form:
Hypothesis One
H0= Knowledge of Contraceptives has no significant effect on women attending family planning clinic.
Hypothesis Two
H0= Practice of Contraceptives has no significant effect on women attending family planning clinic
Hypothesis Three
H0= Contraceptive usage has no significant effect on women return to fertility
1.7 Scope of the study
This study is focused on examining the knowledge and practice of contraception among women attending the family planning clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. The study is restricted to women attending the family planning clinic and not beyond.
1.8 Operational definition of Terms
Contraception: This is a method which help to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy.
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.
Clinic: An establishment or hospital department where outpatients are given medical treatment or advice, especially of a specialist nature.
Contraceptives: Mechanisms or method used to prevent contraception such as condom, injectables,
implants, iucd, etc.