Attitude To And Practice Of Modern Family Planning Among Widows Of Reproductive Age

The study was conducted in Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State. The Local Government located in the North-Eastern part of the State is a typical rural local government. There are two autonomous communities that make up Logo L.G.A. They are Gaambe-Tiev and Ugondo, with five council wards each. The culture of wife- inheritance seems to be fast disappearing in the LGA and widows are left alone to carter for themselves and their children. The task of caring for self and children alone, appears to be cumbersome among widows in the LGA. In an attempt to find helpers, some of them may fall victims of some boyfriends who might not be willing to use any device to protect them from HIV, STIs or unwanted pregnancies. HIV and STIs appear to be on the increase among Logo widows of reproductive age. Unwanted pregnancies, criminal abortion and unwanted children seem to be common among widows of reproductive age in the LGA. It is likely that some widows of reproductive age have died due to criminal abortion while some are being hospitalized as a result of abortion complications. Following from the above characteristics of these widows, the study on attitude to and practice of modern family planning among widows of reproductive age in Logo Local Government Area (LGA), becomes imperative.

Statement of the Problem

Modern family planning methods are considered a first line of defence against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immune- deficiency virus (HIV). The consistent and correct use of modern family planning methods reduce greatly unwanted pregnancies, STIs and HIV among women of reproductive age in any nation thus enhancing their health. However, it appears that attitude and practice of modern family planning among women of reproductive age in Nigeria is low and it varies by demographic and socio-economic characteristics. This calls for a study to verify what obtains in Logo LGA.

The use of modern family planning methods among widows of reproductive age will reduce unwanted pregnancy, mortality and morbidity associated with abortion among widowss. HIV and STIs incidence among widowss of reproductive age will also be minimized, thus, enhancing their health.

Studies have been conducted on attitude to and practice of modern family planning methods among women of reproductive age in many parts of the World including Nigeria. However, none of such studies, to the best knowledge of the researcher, has been conducted in Logo Local Government Area (LGA). Following from this, the need arose to study attitude to and practice of modern family planning methods among widows of reproductive age in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.This is the major problem of the study.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study was to find out the attitude to and practice of modern family planning methods among widows of reproductive age in Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State. Specifically, the objectives of the study were to find out the

1. attitude of widows of reproductive age to other women who practice modern family planning;

2. attitude of widows of reproductive age to those who provide modern family planning services;

3. attitude of widows of reproductive age to their possible practice of modern family planning;

4. attitude of widows of reproductive age to modern family planning, based on their age;

5. attitude of widows of reproductive age to modern family planning, based on their parity;

6. attitude of widows of reproductive age to modern family planning, based on their level of education; and

7. practice of non-appliance methods of modern family planning among widows of reproductive age;

8. practice of appliance methods of modern family planning among widows of reproductive age;

9. practice of surgical methods of family planning among widows of reproductive age;

10. practice of modern family planning among widows of reproductive age, based on their age;

11. practice of modern family planning among widows of reproductive age, based on their parity;

12. practice of modern family planning among widows of reproductive age, based on their level of education.

Research Questions

The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.

1. What is the attitude of widows of reproductive age to other women who practice modern family planning?

2. What is the attitude of widows of reproductive age to those who provide modern family planning services?

3. What is the attitude of widows of reproductive age to their possible practice of modern family planning?

4. What is the attitude of young and old widows of reproductive age to modern family planning?

5. What is the attitude of widows of reproductive age to modern family planning based on their parity?

6. What  are  widows  of  reproductive  age‟s  attitude  to  modern  family  planning based on their level of education?

7. What are widows of reproductive age‟s practice of non-appliance methods of modern family planning?

8. What  are  widowss  of  reproductive  age‟s  practice  of  appliance  methods  of modern family planning?

9. What  are  widowss  of  reproductive  age‟s  practice  of  surgical  methods  of family planning?

10. What is the practice of modern family planning by the young and old widows of reproductive age?

11. What  are  widows of reproductive  age‟s practice  of modern  family  planning based on their parity?

12. What  are  widows of reproductive  age‟s practice  of modern  family  planning based on their level of education?

Hypotheses

The present study postulates the following null hypotheses which were tested at

.05 level of significance.

Ho1: There is no statistically significant difference between the attitude of young and old widows of reproductive age towards modern family planning methods.

Ho2: There is no statistically significant difference in the attitude of widows of reproductive age to modern family planning methods according to parity status.

Ho3: There is no statistically significant difference in the attitude of widows of reproductive age to modern family planning according to level of education.

Ho4: There is no statistically significant difference between the practice of young and old widows of reproductive age towards modern family planning methods.

Ho5: There is no statistically significant difference in the practice of modern family planning methods by widows of reproductive age according to parity status.

Ho6: There is no statistically significant difference in the practice of modern family planning methods by widows of reproductive age according to level of education.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study may be useful to widows of reproductive age, modern family planning service providers, health educators, counsellors, policy makers, medical doctors, teachers and researchers among others. Specifically, data generated by determining the attitude to other women who practise modern family planning was positive. The findings may be beneficial to Logo widows because it is hoped that it will help them to understand the right attitude to exhibit to other women who practice modern family planning.

The result generated on attitude of widows of reproductive age to those who provide modern family planning services, which is positive may enable service providers to determine the need and techniques of persuading widows to maintain their positive attitude towards the modern family planning service providers.