Reachability and Uptake of Modern Contraceptives among Spouses in Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the reachability and uptake of modern contraceptives among spouses in Kogi State, North-Central, Nigeria. Specifically, amongst others, it determined how the level of reachability of modern contraceptives affect the use among spouses in Kogi State, and identified those factors that affect the use of modern contraceptives among spouses in Kogi State. The study made use of five theories, but relied on the rational choice theory in explaining the social phenomena studied. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design. Kogi State has a 2016 projected population of 4,473,490. However, the population for the study consisted of all spouses of age 18-49. The study has a sample size of 1067. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire, in-depth interviews (IDIs) schedules and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide. Multi-stage sampling techniques, entailing simple random sampling, systematic and purposive sampling techniques, were adopted in the study. The data analysis was based on 1,064 questionnaires that were correctly filled and returned by the respondents out of the 1067 distributed. A total of 6 IDIs and 12 FGDs were conducted in the study. Descriptive statistics like frequencies and percentages were employed in interpreting the data, while chi square was used in testing the hypotheses. Results revealed that 50.3% of the respondents report non availability of modern contraceptives in their locality which affects contraceptives use among spouses in Kogi State. 75.2% of the study respondents report that lack of education amongst majority of spouses as well as several other determinants like non-accessibility, cost, proximity or distance of clinics from their homes and religion and culture of the people account for poor and low use of modern contraceptives in Kogi State. Based on the above findings, the study recommends that sociologists should educate and create more awareness about the need of spouses to use modern contraceptives by organizing programmes that educate and keep spouses and reproductive persons well informed. Government should collaborate with international bodies and organizations that are capable of providing the required healthcare needed by spouses that can provide these services at subsidized rate for spouses. If possible, government should incorporate and implement already formulated policies that promote free family planning services to rural dwellers.