A Study of Factors Accounting for the Low Acceptor Rate of Family Planning in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region

Abstract

The family planning acceptor rate in the Nkwanta District is generally very low - 3.0% as compared to the National figure of 16.8%. This is against the background of the fact that the district is a deprived one in its' early stages of development, a fact which makes population control very crucial if the new development is not outstripped by an unregulated population growth. This study which was a descriptive qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional one, was designed with the objectives of finding out the possible factors accounting for the low family planning acceptor rate. FGD’s were held in three of the five sub districts conveniently sampled and supplemented by a structured questionnaire administered systematically to a sample of 150 women in their reproductive age (15 49 years) attending MCH/FP clinics in the district. The questions were to respectively unearth the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, beliefs and practices towards family planning and to help identify other factors which might influence utilization of family planning by women in the district. The study, which lasted a period of six weeks revealed that among other factors, the main factors accounting for the very low family planning acceptance rate in the Nkwanta District were socio-cultural factors that lead to the desire for many children, including those that limit the right of women to take decisions concerning their reproductive health issues as well as marriage and religion. There was however an insignificant relationship between education, age and the utilization of contraceptives, even though studies done elsewhere showed the contrary. Underpinning these barriers are the attitude of men. In this connection, it is recommended that family planning educational programmes should concentrate on couples and men instead of on women alone, so as to win the support of the men for family planning. Efforts should also be made to raise the status of women to enhance their assertiveness to their reproductive rights. Culturally acceptable IE&C messages should be used to address the misconceptions unearthed by the FGDs.