Utilization of Family Planning Services and Promotion Strategies Among Married Couples in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated utilization of family planning services and promotion strategies among married couples in Imo State, Nigeria. Five specific objectives and three null hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 1,649,032 married couples in Imo State. The sample size for the study consisted of 1,220 married couples drawn using multi-stage sampling procedure. Three instruments were used for data collection in this study. They include Utilization of Family Planning Service Questionnaire (UFPSQ), family planning utilization in-depth interview guide (FPUIDIG) and promotion strategies for utilization of family planning services (PSFPU). The quantitative data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and Chi-square while the qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicated that low proportion of married couples (42.9%) utilized contraceptives.44.7 per cent utilized fertility awareness methods, 43.7 per cent utilized barrier method(condom, diaphragm), 42.2 per cent utilized hormonal method (pills and injectable), 47.8 per cent utilized implants, 43.0 per cent utilized Intrauterine devices (copper-T), 36.2 per cent utilized sterilization. There was a significant difference in the proportion of married couples that utilized FP services based on level of education, religion, and gender(p<.05). Moreover, all the formulated promotion strategies were appropriate for promoting family planning services utilization. Based on these findings, the author recommended among others that the Government, health planners and all other stakeholders should adopt and implement the formulated promotion strategies to improve the utilization of FPS and Family planning Centres should be erected in strategic places in the autonomous communities to ensure that it is accessible to the married couples. This will help for sustainable growth and development of Imo State and Nigeria generally.