ASSESSMENT OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICES AND UTILIZATION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING GYNAECOLOGY CLINIC, JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY World Health Organization (WHO), defined family planning as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility”. The importance of family planning is clear from its benefits to individuals, as well as to families, communities, and societies. Family planning in Nigeria started early, in 1962, with creation of an association (Family Planning Council of Nigeria). This study was set out to assess the factors that influence the choices and utilization of family planning services among women attending gynaecology clinic in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). METHODOLOGY The study was a descriptive Cross – Sectional study, and convenient sampling technique was used to sample a total of 315 women attending gynaecology Clinic in J.U.T.H. Data was collected using semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and was analysed sing Epi Info version 3.5.4 software. Chi-square test was used as Test of Significance based on a P-value of less than or equal to 0.05. RESULTS Of the 315 respondents that successfully completed the research, most (87.9%) are aware of family planning but there was no statistically significant relationship between knowledge and increase usage. Among those that are aware of it, 84.4% believe in modern family planning. Only 57.9% of those that believe in use of contraceptive have use it. xi The analysis carried out to determine relationship between utilization and other variables indicates significant association between utilization and number of children (p = 0.0113), monthly income (p = 0.0024) and level of education which showed strongest association (p = 0.0000). There was no association between utilization, age and religion (p = 0.2412, 0.1494 respectively). Most of those that have not used modern family did so because of fear of the side effects. CONCLUSION Fear of side effects was found to be important determinant of utilisation of modern contraceptive for family planning and knowledge of the methods doesn’t really translate to utilization. There is need to disabuse the minds of women of any misconception about modern FP to improve utilisation of modern contraceptives for family planning.