FAMILY PLANNING

Background: Family planning is a critical component of reproductive health, yet male involvement in family planning activities remains limited in many low- and middle-income settings. In Nigeria, the contraceptive prevalence rate among married women is only 20%, and men continue to be underrepresented in reproductive health programmes despite their significant influence as household decision-makers. Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State reflects these broader national challenges, with inadequate knowledge, socio- cultural barriers, and low male participation identified as key drivers of poor family planning outcomes. Few studies have specifically assessed male involvement using a composite multi￾indicator approach in this setting. Objectives: To assess male involvement in family planning activities in Ovia North East LGA, Edo State. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Four hundred and eight (408) adult men in stable sexual relationships or marriages were selected from communities across Ovia North East LGA using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysed with IBM SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were performed. A composite ten-indicator score was used to classify male involvement as high (score ≥ 7 out of 10) or low. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 408 men participated with a response rate of 100%. The mean age (SD) was 42.7 ± 11.4 years. Most respondents were married 308 (75.5%), predominantly Christian 384 (94.1%), with tertiary education accounting for 203 (49.7%) and the majority belonging to the middle socioeconomic class 312 (76.5%). Of the 408 respondents, 363 (89.0%) had heard of family planning; health workers 195 (53.7%), radio or television 193 (53.2%), and friends or relatives 191 (52.6%) were the most common sources. Overall, 262 (72.2%) of those who had heard of family planning had good knowledge, while 101 (27.8%) had poor knowledge. Being married was the only independent predictor of poor knowledge (OR = 0.466, 95% CI: 0.232–0.934, p = 0.031). Nearly all respondents 391 (95.8%) had a positive attitude towards family planning. Christianity was the strongest independent predictor of positive attitude (OR = 9.086, 95% CI: 2.066–39.953, p = 0.003), followed by nuclear family type (OR = 6.530, 95% CI: 1.400–30.467, p = 0.017). Slightly more than half 226 (55.4%) xiv had discussed family planning with their partner, and most 325 (79.7%) approved of their partner using a method, but only 112 (27.5%) had accompanied their partner to a health facility. Less than half 176 (43.1%) were currently using any family planning method, with condoms 111 (63.1%) and withdrawal 83 (47.2%) being the most common methods; vasectomy remained virtually unused 1 (0.6%). Nuclear family type was the only independent predictor of current family planning use (OR = 1.878, 95% CI: 1.007–3.500, p = 0.047). Knowledge of service location (χ² = 30.702, p < 0.001) and perceived affordability (χ² = 28.824, p < 0.001) were the most strongly associated factors with current use, while cultural or religious beliefs were a significant barrier (χ² = 6.111, p = 0.013). Regarding male involvement, 160 (39.2%) were classified as having high involvement and 248 (60.8%) low involvement. The most commonly met indicator was considering family planning a joint responsibility 376 (92.2%), while community participation in health talks was the least met 107 (26.2%). Education (χ² = 42.035, p < 0.001), occupation (χ² = 32.673, p < 0.001), socioeconomic status (χ² = 38.636, p < 0.001), marriage type (p = 0.014), and family type (p = 0.020) were significantly associated with male involvement. Health worker discussion of family planning was the strongest independent predictor of high involvement (OR = 5.768, 95% CI: 3.366–9.885, p < 0.001), followed by good knowledge (OR = 2.028, 95% CI: 1.137– 3.619, p = 0.017) and upper class socioeconomic status (OR = 27.794, 95% CI: 2.358– 327.618, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Nearly three-quarters of men in Ovia North East LGA had good knowledge of family planning and almost all demonstrated a positive attitude. However, slightly less than two-fifths had high overall involvement, and less than half were currently using any family planning method. Health worker engagement emerged as the most powerful modifiable predictor of high involvement. Health authorities should institutionalise routine male family planning counselling at all primary health centres, expand male-targeted community outreach, and engage religious and traditional leaders to create an enabling environment for active male participation in family planning.

This study explores the determinants influencing the utilization of postpartum family planning (PPFP) among women attending postnatal care at Oluku Primary Health Care Center in Nigeria. The primary aim is to identify the socio-cultural, institutional, and personal factors that affect women’s intentions and actual use of modern contraceptive methods during the postpartum period. Understanding these factors is vital to designing effective interventions that promote reproductive health and reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in the region. The research adopts a descriptive survey design, targeting all women attending the postnatal clinic at Oluku PHC within a specified period. A structured questionnaire serves as the primary instrument for data collection, focusing on demographic variables, awareness, attitudes, and perceptions regarding family planning. Data analysis is carried out using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations to summarize the responses and interpret the findings. The findings suggest that socio-cultural norms, partner involvement, knowledge of contraceptive methods, and perceived service quality significantly influence post partum family planning utilization. The study concludes that improving education, community engagement, and service quality are essential to increasing contraceptive uptake among postpartum women. Recommendations include implementing targeted awareness campaigns, integrating family planning counseling into routine postnatal services, and fostering male involvement to address cultural barriers and promote positive reproductive health outcomes.

This study was carried out to ascertained the knowledge, attitudes and family planning behaviours of men in Oluku community Ovia North East LGA, Benin City. To guide the, five (5) research questions were raised and three (3) hypotheses were formulated. Relevant literatures related to the study were reviewed with maximum attention to the with the subject of interest. The study was a descriptive research which adopted a survey research design with the population of five thousand, two hundred and sixty (5,260.) men in Oluku community, while 263 respondents made up the sample size carefully selected using simple random sampling technique. A self- constructed questionnaire, whose reliability was determined using test-retest method, was validated by the supervisor and used to collect relevant data for the study. The data were further analyzed using simple percentage, frequency counts, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and Chi-square statistical methods. The results were presented, interpreted and discussed by the researcher and findings were drawn. Following the findings, majority of the respondents (men in Oluku) have high knowledge of family planning. Furthermore, majority of the respondents had negative attitudes which were significantly related to their negative family planning behaviours. These were associated with low socio-economic status and religious factor which were proven to influence family planning behaviours of men. Hence, the researcher recommended that the government and relevant stakeholders should provide for functional institutions and health system which guarantees child survival and an improvement in the general level of education in the community as some men, especially in the rural areas, are scared of, and believe that non-use of family planning could help them to still have many children in case of child-mortality. This is key to enhancing knowledge, attitudes and family planning behaviours of men.

This study explores the attitudes of Oregbeni Market women towards immunization and the factors that influence their immunization decisions. A survey research design was employed, with data collected from 140 market women in Oregbeni Market, Edo State. The findings reveal that while there is a high level of awareness about the importance of immunization, knowledge about specific vaccines and the concept of immunization is limited. Negative attitudes, including fears of deformities and distrust in vaccine safety, are prevalent. Religion and culture significantly influence immunization attitudes, with some aligning their beliefs with medical consensus. Recommendations include tailored public health education campaigns, community engagement with local leaders, and further research to understand cultural nuances. Keywords: immunization, attitudes, Oregbeni Market, women, Nigeria, public health education