Perception and Practice of Family Planning Among Rural Women in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Family planning does not only help regulate population and better planning of a family, it also promotes maternal and child health by giving room for the woman to recover and be able to nurse her infant well. Perception of family planning may affect its practice. This study aimed at determining the perception and practice of family planning among rural women in Lafia, North Central Nigeria. Adopting a descriptive study, 321 women voluntarily participated by completing a pilot tested questionnaire. Finding reveal that most rural women of Lafia Central have a positive perception about family planning but the prevalence rate is lower. Women used various family planning methods and factors like religious belief, side effect, desire for a male child and pressure from husband and mother in-law affects the uptake of family planning by rural women in Lafia Central. A null hypothesis tested at a significant level of 0.05 suggested that a significant relationship exist between perception and practice of family planning.(p<0.05). It was recommended that rural women should be properly educated by community health workers about family planning and enlightenment campaign involving religious leaders should be implemented urgently.