ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF FEMALE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING IN SCHOOLS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Background of the study: The practice of family planning has called for global attention because of its importance in decision making on population growth and issues of development. Childbearing and the use of contraceptives are some of the most important decisions on reproduction that could be taken by couples to curtail the number of children they want to have. Therefore, the issue of family planning and its methods has led many married women to either accept family planning or reject it (Suntai and Apuke, 2016). The World Health Organisation (1971) defines Family Planning as the practice that helps individuals or couples to attain certain objectives such as avoiding unwanted pregnancies, regulating the interval between pregnancies, controlling the time at which birth occurs in relation to the ages of the parents and determining the number of children in the family.However, Onokerhoraye (1997) sees family planning as the provision of birth prevention information services and appliances.

It also involves teaching men and women about their bodies and teaching them how to prevent births usually with contraceptives but sometimes also with abortion or sterilization. This means men and women need to know more about their bodies and how to prevent unwanted pregnancy. And this could only be by implementing any form of family planning.Childbearing and contraceptive use are among the most important reproductive health decision that many have to make (Gertner, 2009). Family decision and choices are most likely to meet these decisions based on accurate, relevant information, and are medically appropriate, that is, when they are informed choices (Gertner, 2009).There have been a lot of campaigns on the use of family planning and reduction of population from country to country especially in Nigeria. Even at that, a study by NPC (2009) indicates that contraceptive use is still low in many developing countries.

Over the past four decades, there have been numerous publications on contraceptives and other family planning methods. While culture, poverty and poor access have been widely understood as militating against their use (CDC, 2000; Leke, 2000; USAID, 2008; and NPC), studies presenting women’s self identified barriers are relatively few. Much attention is given to eliciting clients’ knowledge and utilization gaps regarding family planning methods, but specific attention to eliciting their knowledge gaps regarding the benefits of family planning is often deficient. Yet, identifying women’s self-reported barriers and benefits is central to any intervention to promote their use especially in Family planning could further entail making decisions on the number of children couples want to have by using different methods to achieve that, ranging from contraceptives to use of condoms, male and female sterilization among others. (CDC, 2000; USAID, 2008). Reshma (2015) adds that, other factors such as culture, low education, poverty and poor access to information on contraceptive are among other numerous reasons that have been identified by scholars to militate against the use of family planning methods.

Basically, there are two major methods of family planning—the traditional and modern methods.  Attempts to control increase in population started from the early men when they practiced coitus interruptus (Withdrawal method) during sex. Therefore, birth control is as old as man himself.  Evidence from medical history indicates that our forefathers did space their children through traditional means. Before the introduction of modern methods, Africans had methods of fertility regulation. Nigerian culture includes many myths, rituals, and the use of herbs in attempts to regulate women’s fertility. Although, many of these traditional methods had no harmful effects on a woman’s health, but some did. Besides, the complete effectiveness of these methods couldn’t be ascertained, because some women still got pregnant despite the use of these methods.

Contrarily, the introduction of the modern methods have helped women around the world to avoid about 400 million unwanted pregnancies, reducing high risk pregnancies and ultimately reducing the number of maternal deaths jeffer (2020). The practices of modern contraceptive methods offer many advantages in health and economy of the couple and the country. The primary aim of family planning enables women and men to plan their families and space their children through the use of modern contraceptives. However, family planning also embraces activities such as infertility and genetic counseling, contraception, abortion and sterilization.

Family planning programs, policies and methods have become increasingly important in the last decade as a result of the socio-economic problems influencing rapid population growth, as well as public health problems, especially control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as AIDS  Obasi (2021). There is evidence based on many studies which show that these programs are jointly responsible for improvement in the quality of family life, directly benefiting the health of women and children and is the most cost effective intervention to lowering fertility.

Traditional values also play a big role in family planning acceptance and decision, as many cultures and traditions support giving birth to as many children as possible. Some see it as a thing of pride. In places like “Jesse” Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta state, a man with many children is regarded as a strong and rich man as such family planning acceptance is very minimal (Suntai and Apuke 2016). Traditional values feature prominently because the cultural valuation of children is evident in studies which indicate that, among Nigerians, “having fewer than five surviving children negatively affected the use of family planning methods” (Lawoyin et al, 2002) . Although, the Practice of traditional birth control method in rural communities in Nigeria dates back to the oldest rural settlement, but  the introduction of modern family planning  method is  a recent  development. Studies have shown that there is generally low level of acceptance of modern contraceptives   in   Nigeria (Orji, et al. 2007). Against this backdrop, the study seeks to assess the attitude of Female Secondary School Students In Some Selected Schools In Ogun State on family planning

1.2 Statement of the problem

Family planning has attracted global attention due to its importance in decision making about population growth and development issues. Contraceptive use is still low in many developing countries, including Nigeria, where 23.7% of currently married women had ever used one. Despite, the campaign on the usefulness of family planning in having smaller and healthier family, studies by NPC (2009) and Adeleye et al., (2010) indicate that contraceptive use is still low in many developing countries. Over the past four decades, there have been numerous publications on contraceptives and other family planning methods. Adeleye et al., (2010) outline culture, poverty and poor access to some of the factors militating against the use and acceptance of family planning. Therefore, the acceptance and use of family planning among married women in Nigeria has become a contentious problem. Married women tend to give birth to many children forgetting the importance and benefit of family planning. Other factors that contribute to this could be ignorance, illiteracy, African traditional values and norms, husband dominance among others.