Factors Influencing Women's Attitudes towards Family Planning: An Explorative Study in Eku Community, Delta State, Nigeria
Efejene, O. I.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria and Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Nigeria.
Igabari J. N.
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Orororo, O. C. *
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Chidebe, E. O.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Aisuodionoe, E. M.
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Nigeria.
Osirim,E.
Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3HD, United Kingdom.
DeLoache, S.
Kintegra Health Pharmacy, Gastonia, North Carolina, USA.
Ofiebor, L.
College of Nursing Sciences, Eku, Delta State, Nigeria.
Bassey, E. G.
College of Nursing Sciences, Eku, Delta State, Nigeria.
Iweriebor, O. B.
College of Nursing Sciences, Eku, Delta State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The awareness of family planning is a major subject in the present-day health education advocacy with respect to child and maternal health considerations. Specifically, the aim of this study was to unravel the educational influence, religion, age, health, culture of women, including income as an important consideration in family planning. This research used a descriptive cross-sectional study and was carried out in Eku Community in Ethiope East Local Government of Delta State with the aid of a convenient sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collected data from 100 respondents made up of women of childbearing age from the main street and quarters of the Eku community in Delta State, Nigeria. The percentage system was used to determine the outcome of the data collected to map out considerations of various societal values, such as religion, finance, education, and cultural influence, as a determinant of couples' measures of involvement in family planning. The results showed that 42% of the respondents strongly agreed that the educational status of women of childbearing age influences the choice of family planning. Moreover, 20% of the respondents highly agreed that cultural and religious beliefs support family planning. In terms of socio-economic status and knowledge of family planning, 42% of the respondents strongly agreed that socio-economic status influences the attitude of women toward family planning. Lastly, 27% of the respondents strongly agreed that Healthcare providers' attitude influences family planning services. Incentive and educational awareness program was a key determinant recommended through various media channels to childbearing individuals to adopt family planning. The study showed that women in the Eku community in Delta State, Nigeria, still see family planning as a means of impeding a natural process that could have a major negative impact on reproductive health.
Keywords: Eku, family planning, women, attitude, delta state