ISSN 2736-1594
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2326-7234 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Factors influencing the choice of family planning among couples in Southwest Nigeria
OLAITAN, Olukunmi Lanre
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. E-mail: lanreolives@yahoo.com, olaitan.ol@unilorin.edu.ng. Tel: +234 80 347 15 348.
Accepted 17 June, 2019
Abstract
The study investigated factors influencing the choice of family planning among couples in Southwest Nigeria. Six hundred couples were selected from five Southwestern states in Nigeria through a multistage sampling technique. Questionnaire was used to collect information from the subjects. Five research questions were raised, five hypotheses were formulated and chi-square statistics was employed for the purpose of data analysis at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings revealed that socio-economic status, religious factors and cultural norms do not influence couples’ choice, whereas educational background of the couples and involvement of partners toward the choice of family planning significantly influenced the choice of family planning among couples. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended among others that every couple should be well informed about the importance of family planning’s choice so as to improve their reproductive health and economic standard of living, to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity and reduce unwanted pregnancy.
Key words: Family planning, couples, socio-economic