THE SOCIAL CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE USE OF FAMILY PLANNING

1.1 Introduction

Family planning is a technique used by individuals or couples to mutually agree on a child-bearing interval so that they can have children that they can conveniently care for or adequately support (Jeoffery, 2004). The process of limiting the number of children desired in a marriage through the use of contraceptive methods, also referred to as birth control measures, is called family planning. Family planning is not a novel concept in society; in fact, it has been so well established in developed nations that people in less developed nations are unable to identify themselves as family planners.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Research Questions, Scope of work, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Family planning is not new in the society; it has been well established in developed countries that those under developed countries could not recognize that they are practicing family planning. It was such in the area of study that when a woman put to bed or deliver a baby she is sent to her mother to nurse the baby for one or two years. The period of stay with her mother was meant to breast feed the baby, after which she then return to her husband. This way natural child spacing was taking place without relishing it. However, family planning started in Nigeria because of the obvious problems of brutality means (violent) of born and unborn children. 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 continues 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. Family is a unit that comprises of man, wife and children here the man is the head of the family or home he plan and place resources in strategic areas that requires development in the home.

If the size of the family determines the happiness of the family according to Gribble .J. (2008), then the male take viable decision as it may affect the health of the family and also look forward to having a family he can carter for. Therefore, he has a role to play in family planning as no man would prefer spending his income on sickness or hospital and feeding of children, without proper education, entertainment, proper nutrition, home that will be suitable and comfortable for the family.

It was against the background of the projected world population growth especially in the developing countries and considering the consequences associated with current patterns of population control measure. In Africa, not all governments considered rapid population growth to constitute a problem to development. However, those countries that considered a rapid rise in their population as a major obstacle to development attempted to reduce the growth rate, countries adopted policies and programmes towards fertility and birth control in the countries.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that one of the issues with using family planning techniques is that women are frequently held responsible for the size of the family when there are a lot of children. Women also frequently lament their spouses' lack of support.

Lastly, women usually wait until an unintended pregnancy occurs before discussing family planning or contraception with their spouse.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Social Cultural Factors Affecting the Use of Family Planning. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To identify the different social-cultural factors that affects the use of family planning in the study area;
2. To examine the relevance of educating people on how the use of these methods of family planning;
3. To highlight the different methods of family planning in the study area; and
4. To determine the level of awareness campaign on the use of family planning in the area under review.

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:

• Is family planning utilized among women of reproductive age in the study area?
• Apart from advising the man to adopt the use of condom and withdrawal method during sexual intercourse. Did the woman also advocate for other safe method of family planning and contraceptive?
• What are the different methods of family planning in the study area?
• What are the different social-cultural factors that affect the use of family planning in the study area?
• What is the relevance of educating people on how the use of these methods of family planning?
• What is the level of awareness campaign on the use of family planning in the area under review?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0:There are no social cultural factors influencing the use of family planning services in the research area by women who are of reproductive age
• H1: There are social cultural factors influencing the use of family planning services in the research area by women who are of reproductive age

1.7 Significance of Study

The relevance of the research outcome 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.

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.

1.8 Scope of the Study

The scope of this research is focused on the Social Cultural Factors Affecting the Use of Family Planning using Oredo Local Government Area as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

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).
4. Initial Cooperation Delay from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.10 Definitions of Terms

Family planning:

It 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:

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

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.

Birth Rate:

It refers to the number of births per thousand of women between the age of fifteen and forty-nine.

Crude Death Rate:

This is the total number of death in year divided by the average total population it is usually calculated per one thousand.

Fertility:

It refers to the number of live birth to women.