DEMOGRAPHIC AND FERTILITY RELATED CORRELATES OFUPTAKE OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE{15-49}YEARS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The issue of family planning all over the world has attracted attention due to its importance in decision making about population growth development issues. The low rates of contraceptive in Nigeria culminate/result in high fertility rates, particularly in the rural area and the northern part of the country. This high fertility rate accounts for Nigeria's high maternal, infant and neonatal mortality. There have been several studies on family planning in Nigeria, more work need to be done to unravel the most significant factors that can directly inform public policy. This research identifies the demographic and fertility related correlates of uptake of family planning service use among women of reproductive age (15-49) years in Nigeria. METHODS: This study involved a re-analysis of 2008 Nigeria demographic and health survey (NDHS) data set. This is national surveys and the design used was a cross-sectional population based study design. For this study, demographic and fertility-related correlate of uptake of family planning services among women of reproductive age (15-49) years in Nigeria were determined using 2008 NDHS. A stratified two- stage cluster sampling technique was used in the selection of the respondents. The primary data obtained from the survey were collected with interviewer administered questionnaires. Data was summarized as proportion and graphs were use in representing trends in knowledge, use and choice of contraceptives, A Chi square for trend was use to assess association between variables. Level of significant was set at 5%. RESULT: The total numbers of respondents studied were 13,678. Result show that only 14.7% of the respondent were currently using a method, majority of the respondents (40.5%) were between the age group 25-34, 70.6% were current!)' working, 47.4% had no formal education, majority 52.6% were Muslims, larger proportion were rural dweller 70.2%, are from North east 24.2% , are in monogamous union 87.4%, married at age (15-19) 43.2%. The following characteristics of respondents were found to be associated with contraceptive uptake: being 25 and above years [O.R = 2.25; 95%C.I=l.94-2.61] and [OR= 2.50; 95%C.1=2. l5-2.90] for women aged 25-34 and 35-49 respectively, being a Muslim [O.R= 0.25; 95%C.I= 0.22-0.27], being in polygamous union [OR=0.43; 95%C.I=0.36-0.52], having at least a form of formal education [OR= 4.96; 95% C.I= 4.24-5.79], [OR= 8.47; 95% C.I= 7.32-9.81] and [OR=l3.53; 95%C.I=l l.37-16.l l] for primary, secondary and tertiary education respectively, working [ OR= 2.42; 95% C.I= 2.14-2.74], being a rural dweller [OR= 0.3; 95% CJ= 0.27-0.33], being from south west region [OR= 2.37;95% C.I= 2.07-2.72], being married at the age 14 and below [OR= 0.23; 95% C.I= 0.20-0.27], having at least a child [OR= 5.17; 95% C.I= 3.82-7.01] and [OR= 5.12; 95% C.I= 3.80-6.89] for respondents having 5+ children and 1-4 children respectively, perceiving at least a child as ideal number of children [OR= 42.5; 95% C.I= 5.93-305.20] and [OR= 13.92; 95% C.I= 1.15-1.70] for women who perceived l -4 and 5+ respectively, wanting fewer children than the husband [OR= 0.33; 95% CJ= 0.30-0.37], having partner 25+ years [OR= 3.17; 95% C.I= 2.04-4.95] and [OR= 2.33; 95% CJ= 1.48-3.66] for partners aged 35+ and 25-34 respectively, being 16+ years younger than the partner [OR= 0.49; 95% 0.42-0.58]. CONCLUSION: High proportions of sexually active women aged 15-49 years in Nigeria are currently not using a method of contraceptive despite widespread of the knowledge of the services. There is an urgent need to address this through improved political will, giving priority to community health education, door step service delivery, promotion of girl child education, empowerment of female and male involvement in family planning so as to achieve millennium development goals.