knowledge and utilization of family planning among rural postpartum women in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In Nigeria, contraceptive use has remained low, 12% for any modern method, despite the huge resources committed to family planning programs by stakeholders. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge and utilization of family planning and determine predictors of utilization of family planning among postpartum women attending primary health care centers (PHCs) in a selected rural area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 325 postpartum women attending PHCs in Ibeju-Lekki local government area of Lagos State selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collate data which was analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Result: The mean age was 29.94 ± 5.14 years. All the respondents (100%) had heard of contraceptive methods, however only 38 (11.7%) had good knowledge of family planning. About 38.5% of the respondents used modern family planning methods during the postpartum period. The most commonly used methods were male condoms (26.3%) and implants (17.0%). The significant predictors of postpartum family planning (PPFP) were non-intention to have more children [AOR = 1.88 (95% CI: 1.14–3.11)], and good knowledge of family [AOR = 2.31 (95% CI: 1.11–4.81)]. Conclusion: It is recommended that interventions be designed to educate and advocate for the use of family planning methods not only to stop childbearing but also to space pregnancies. Education about family planning should also be intensified to improve knowledge of family planning, and thus practice.

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“…Only a small number of respondents engage in family planning more than six weeks after giving birth. The most frequently used methods are implants, injectables, and male condoms, which aligns with the findings reported by Ackerson and Zielinski (2017), Duru et al (2018), Joshi et al (2020), and Anate et al (2021).…”

“…Nevertheless, in order to attain the expected reductions in fertility rates, it is imperative to persist in efforts towards gender parity and the empowerment of women. This can be achieved by enhancing male involvement in family planning, advocating for female education, eradicating all manifestations of violence and prejudice against women, abolishing early, coerced, and child marriages, and guaranteeing women's equal access to employment opportunities, social safeguards, and political engagement (Anate, 2021).…”

“…In their study on awareness and use of contraceptives among post-partum women in a rural community, Anate et al (2021) determined that all the respondents were aware of contraceptive techniques. The prevalent forms of contraception include male condoms, implants, injectables, and tablets.…”

Postpartum contraceptive practices among urban and peri-urban women in North India: a mixed-methods cohort study protocol

“…Postpartum contraception knowledge and practice remains low in the postpartum period [34][35][36][37]. Studies have shown a time lag of 5 months from resumption of sex and initiation of postpartum contraception use [38].…”