COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTVES AMONG MALE AND FEMALE IN OKPOKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTVES AMONG MALE AND FEMALE IN OKPOKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2016-01
Authors
EJEH, Benedict
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Abstract
It is reported that 75% of the world population, live in developing countries characterized by high fertility rates, high maternal and infant mortality and low life expectancy including Nigeria. Although reports showed that worldwide the fertility rates have fallen due to wide-contraception. Studies on contraceptives in Nigeria as in other parts of the developing world have long focused on women as the subject of interest. Very little work in this area has focused on men. Therefore, this study attempts a comparative analysis of knowledge and use of modern contraceptives among male and females in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to: assess the kinds of modern contraceptives available in the study area, examine the sources of information on modern contraceptives among male and female in the study area, assess the level of knowledge of modern contraceptives among male and female in the study area. assess the level of use of modern contraceptives among male and female in the study area, examine the decision-making process on the use modern contraceptive among male and females in the study area, examine the challenges of contraceptives use and strategies employed to solve the challenges in the study area. The study used both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data were obtained from 384 copies of structured questionnaires where in systematic sampling techniques were employed to facilitate a reasonable representation of men and women from the twelve (12) wards of the LGAs under study. The qualitative data were obtained from Focus Group Discussion (FGDs), two in each of the ward. The findings revealed that, majority of the respondents (95.3%) are Idomas by ethnic group and the most common religion is Christianity (99.5%) with high proportion of Catholics (90.9%). The level of education is relatively low with about 56.5% primary holders. This is reflected in their activities which are mainly farming. Income level is relatively low below the national average of eighteen thousand. Marriage is universal among men and women with about (75.8%) married. Polygamous marriage (78.4%) is the most common type of union. The study revealed that, the level of knowledge of modern contraceptives is almost universal (89.8%) among male and females. This knowledge of modern contraceptives is slightly higher among women ( 45.6%) than men (44.3%). The level of use of modern contraceptives is low (12.2%) and men (7.0%) are the major users than women (5.2%). The major sources of knowledge of contraceptives are family (26.8%) and electronic media (39.9%) while spousal approval (56.5%) is the major determinant factor of contraceptive use. The decision on the use of contraceptives is made mainly by husband/partner (64.3%) and joint decision (husband/partner and wife) (26.8%). Chi-square analysis x2 value 3.082, df =1, P-value 0.56. Based on the decision rule, alternative hypothesis is rejected while Null hypothesis is accepted. This shows that there no significance difference between male and female respondents in the knowledge and use of modern contraceptives in the study area. Therefore, there is need for a programme that will focus or encourage male on the practice of contraceptives. Also there is need for a persistent drive against those social customs, beliefs, and traditions which belittle the importance of family planning in the society.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA.
Keywords
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS,, KNOWLEDGE,, MODERN CONTRACEPTVES,, MALE,, FEMALE,, OKPOKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, BENUE STATE,, NIGERIA,