THE ATTITUDE OF MEN TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING

Abstract

Many studies carried out on family planning focused immensely on women neglecting men’s role and attitude. Despite Government programmes and facilities to encourage family planning in Nigeria, the uses of such facilities are still low in Oghara-ete LGA. Results were presented in the form of frequency tables, percentages, charts and Chi square analysis. The research was carried out among men and women between the ages of 15 and 50+ years. These men and women were purposefully selected, based on respondents who were willing to take part in the study. A sample of 0.1% of the total population (408,198) of the study area was taken. The Hausa/Fulani is the largest ethnic group, followed by northern minority and Yoruba; Muslims are the major religious group. The findings also revealed that more than half of the respondents have tertiary education, followed by secondary and Quranic education. A greater proportion of the respondents were civil servants and those doing business. More than one quarter of the respondents did not disclose their income. More than half of the respondents want to have additional number of children. In spite of high knowledge of FP, only 121 out of 354 respondents are currently practicing FP. Ever use of FP by respondents was slightly higher than current use. While injectables and oral contraceptive pills were the most used methods by women, condom was the most used method by men. Decision making regarding the practice of FP is made jointly followed by husband only. The main reasons for adopting any FP method are spousal approval, effectiveness and availability. Majority of respondents not practicing FP do not intend to use FP in the future. The Chi square analysis (X²) revealed a significant association between marital status, educational attainment and knowledge of FP. Age, religion, ethnicity, education and income have statistically significant relationship with family planning practice. Religion, marital status and income also have statistically significant relationship with who made the decision to practice FP. Family planning programme in northern Nigeria should focus on Muslim men more to participate as joint decision makers in modern FP practice. This can be achieved through targeted family planning education and promotion programme to husbands. Religious leaders must be involved in clarifying religious misconceptions on issues regarding family planning. By practicing FP, the rates of maternal and child mortality will be reduced in Nigeria, especially in Northern Nigeria where such rates are very high.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 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:

1. assess the nature of family planning facilities available in Oghara-ete LGA.
2. 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.

1. assess the role of men in family planning in Oghara-ete LGA.
2. assess the attitudes of men towards family planning in the study area.

• Hypotheses

 H₀ There is no significant relationship between socio-economic factors and the use of family planning in Oghara-ete LGA.

 H₁    There is significant relationship between socio-economic factors and the decision to

practice family planning in Oghara-ete LGA.                                                                                                                

 Scope of the Study

The study covered Oghara-ete LGA, which has thirteen wards (six and seven wards from within and outside the city wall respectively): Angwan Juma, Angwan Fatika, Kaura, Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Dembo, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Limancin Kona, Tudun Wada, TuKur Tukur and Wuciciri. This study focused on men and women between the ages of 15-50+ years. It also covered issues on male involvement in reproductive health decisions and socioeconomic factors affecting the utilization of family planning services within and outside the city wall.                                                                                                                                                                

 

• Significance of the Study

The attitudes of men and women have direct effects on family planning practice. Understanding the role of men in inhibiting or promoting family planning could affect the design of family planning promotion programme and also the success of the programme in Nigeria and other African countries. The lack of success of the family planning revolution is attributable to the failure of the programme to recognize the importance of male attitudes and attributes in fertility decision-making (Duze and Muhammad, 2006).

Most family planning programmes that continue to focus solely on women will continue to achieve only limited success in Nigeria and the many patrilineal societies where similar programmes are pursued. The implications of not involving men in family planning are the high morbidity and high mortality rates of women and children associated with closely-spaced births. Fertility rate is also high, translating into large family sizes and a rapidly growing population, which all have a negative impact on sustainable population growth and developments. Thus, the involvement of men will give family planning a better chance of success in the future, since they exert greater influence on family size and family planning decisions. In addition to reducing the fertility of women and slowing population growth, family planning has a direct positive impact of reducing child and maternal morbidity and mortality; and the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, generally producing a healthier and more productive society. Government, policy makers on population, Researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), men, women and children will benefit immensely from this research.

1.7 Limitations

The collection of data from the study area was not without complications both for the researcher and research assistants. Most of the respondents were curious about why the researcher was interested in the role of men as well as their attitudes towards family planning. They assumed the researcher was being influenced by the western culture of having very few numbers of children; and also the ideology that Nigeria’s population is very large, thus requires the help of family planning programmes, to curb high population growth. Some even thought the researcher was spying for the government as such refused to disclose their personal information. For some of the respondents who were not educated and unaware of family planning, the researcher and her assistants expended so much time explaining some questions that were not clear to respondents. Translating questions from English to Hausa languages was difficult also; the researcher had to seek the help of a good translator who could capture the essence of those questions written in English language. Questions about age, income and spousal communication were regarded offensive by some respondents, because they felt the researcher was invading their privacy. Some respondents even questioned the legality of such study in Islam and one respondent openly asked if the researcher was not committing a sin. This contributed to low response to some questions. It took the researcher a long period of time to obtain data from the study area, and this eventually reduced the total return of questionnaires with 54 unanswered.

 

1.8 Definition of Terms and Abbreviations

Child spacing: Delaying pregnancies between child births.

Infertility: The inability of couples to achieve pregnancy in 1 or 2 years of unprotected intercourse or couples who do not have/never had a child.

Patrilineal: Descent traced through paternal line or family relations traced through the male line.

Unmet need: Women would prefer to stop having children or delay their next birth, but are not using any method of family planning.

DHS: Demographic Health Survey

FP: Family Planning

FGD: Focus Group Discussion

FRN: Federal Republic of Nigeria

ICPD: International Conference Population Development

IPPF: International Planned Parenthood Federation

LGA: Local Government Area

NDHS: National Demographic Health Survey

RH: Reproductive Health

UN: United Nations

UNAID: United Nations Agency for International Development

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