KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF WOMEN TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES

1.1 Introduction

Family planning is the process of controlling the number of children wanted in a marriage using contraceptive method, often known as birth control measure. Jeoffery (2004) also support the view that family planning is a means by which individual or couples space the interval of child birth based on mutual agreement between the husband and wife in order to have children they can conveniently care or adequately cater for. The focus of this report is to understand the Determinants to Family Planning Choices among Women of Reproductive Age context in Northern Nigeria through a literature review. It will also assess changes in modern contraceptive use in Enugu States using household survey and facility-level data, and contextualize the quantitative findings with a qualitative study.

This chapter will address the background information that motivated this study, the challenges that prompted it, its aim, and its objectives as a preface to subsequent sections of the study. Additional factors include the study's significance, scope, limitations, research questions and hypotheses, and the definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Family planning is nothing new in society; in fact, it has been practiced for so long in industrialized nations that many in less developed nations are unable to identify it. in the field of study, it was customary for a woman to send her newborn to her mother, who would care for him or her for a year or two. Her time with her mother was intended to be used for nursing the child before she returned to her husband. In this manner, natural child spacing occurred without being enjoyed. However, the clear issues of violence against both born and unborn children led to the invention of family planning in Nigeria. These reasons were based on child jumping that is a child that is unwanted can be dump into the street, gutter, mot, some are found in front of orphanage, bush part and to public toilet. In 1954, Adeniyi Jones established the first family planning centre in Nigeria she continue without support until 1969 when pathfinder provide fund to sustain the programme.

Fortunately for her in 1984 The family planning centre of Nigeria (FCN) was further organized for woman for better services. This include provision of family planning methods to improve maternal mortality and those with health risk 1989, president Ibrahim Babagida limited the number of children to 4 (four) per parent or couple, this programme was very good but could not be sustained because of poor service and management. in the word of Gribbe, J. (2008) cited in Mabel Oshomah work he opine that “family planning can be better explained as being a situation where people have children by choice and not by change”, to him the happiness of the family squarely depend on the number of children a family has to cater for.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) (2002) conceptive is a drug or device used to prevent woman from getting pregnant, this can sometimes be called birth control according to (FPA) Family Planning Association. It is discussed as a special device that prevents fertilization of egg in the ovum by special device used to limit reproduction, which provide a safe and effective way to regulate fertility of the womb. An individual, his spouse, and their offspring comprise a family. The guy plans and assigns resources to important areas that require improvement because he is the head of the family or household. Should Gribble, J. (2008) indicate that a family's contentment is associated with its size, a guy ought to choose a course of action that will not only enhance the family's well-being but also satisfy his ambition to support a family. He needs to take part in family planning since no man would rather spend his money on unsatisfactory education, amusement, or a decent and comfortable home for the family than on bills for medical care, child care, or sickness.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Women Towards Family Planning Services.

1.3 Statement of Problems

In the study, the researcher postulated the following research problem or identified the following problems;

1. Women is often blame for the size of the family when the number of child is high.
2. Women often complain of lack of support from their spouse or husband.
3. Women do not relate the issues of contraceptive or family planning to spouse or husband until its result in an unwanted pregnancy.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Women towards Family Planning Services. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the usage level of family planning products and services among women of child-bearing age;
2. To investigate the factors associated with utilization of family planning services among women of child-bearing age;
3. To examine the level of knowledge of family planning among women of child-bearing age; and
4. To assess the women of child-bearing age attitudes towards family planning;
5. To Proffer solution or recommendation that will further improve on the existing use of contraceptive method and to further open the eyes of the male folk in full participation in family planning.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does the health of women influence the attitude of women towards family planning?
• What is the level of knowledge of family planning among women of Child Bearing Age in the study area?
• What are the women of child-bearing age attitudes towards family planning?
• What is the usage level of family planning products/methods and services among women of child-bearing age?
• What are the factors associated with utilization of family planning services among women of child-bearing age?

1.6 Significance of Study

This study shall bring about recommendations that will serve as eye opener to the male folk in area of lacking active part or participation in family planning by bringing out the need for me to encourage their wife use of family planning method financial emotional, psychologically and emotionally.

Promotion of family planning and contraceptive use is highly adopted by the international community as one of the strategy to reduce the maternal mortality and to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Africa characterized by high rate of lack to contraceptive access reaching 57% and this lack lead to unwanted pregnancies, increased demand to abortion and death related to unsafe abortion.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of this research is focused on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Women towards Family Planning Services using Post Natal Clinic in Enugu State General Hospital as a case study.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:

1. Time Constraint:The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.9 Definitions of Terms

Family planning: Refers to the practice of controlling the number of children rural women has and the interims between their births, mostly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilization so to improve family planning services and practices.

Factors: Are elements that brings about certain effects or results and also what could cause rural women not to embrace family planning services

Rural Area: Refers to location outside towns and cities where women resides in low population density with less social and spatial mobility low social change; agriculture as the major preoccupation and less interest in family planning.

Methods: are procedures for accomplishing or approaching something or systematic way of involving women in rural area into family planning and established effectiveness of family planning.

Contraceptives: This refers to the several family planning methods that are available for use in controlling birth example; oral contraceptive pill, intrauterine contraceptive device etc.