BARRIERS TO FAMILY PLANNING ACCESS AND UTILIZATION DURING THE COVID–19 PANDEMIC ERA AMONGST MARRIED COUPLES IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated barriers to family planning access and utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic era amongst married couples in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study objective was to investigate factors affecting family planning access and utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic era amongst married couples in Anambra State. Three theories were reviewed namely Malthusian Theory of Population, Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Ecological Theory. Thereafter, HBM was adopted as the theoretical framework. The study adopted the mixed methods research design and sampled 623 respondents generated using Taro Yamane (1967) statistical formula. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, simple percentages and charts while the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic method of data analysis. Findings revealed that majority of the respondents were willing to make use of family planning services during COVID-19 pandemic era but were constrained by restriction of movements. Hence, the study recommended amongst others that health workers should make use of mobile health clinics during future disease outbreaks in Anambra State, Nigeria.