Knowledge And Compliance Of Family Planning Practices Among Women Of Child Bearing Age

1.3 Objective of the study

The main objective of the study is to examine the knowledge and compliance of family planning practices among women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in Kano state. Specifically, the study aims

(i) To examine the sources of awareness of family planning among women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in Kano state.

(ii) To determine the knowledge of family planning methods among women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in Kano state.

(iii) To explore the factors militating against married women’s acceptance of family planning. 

1.4 Research questions

The following research questions will be answered by the study

(i) What is the sources of awareness of family planning among women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in Kano state ?

(ii) What is the level of the knowledge of family planning methods among women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in Kano state ?

(iii) What are the factors militating against married women’s acceptance of family planning ? 

1.5 Research hypothesis

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 women of reproductive age towards family planning methods.

1.6 Significance of the study

It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide necessary information that will enhance activities and programs towards the practice of family planning to be appropriately conducted. Furthermore, the findings will also be relevant to those who intend to carry out a similar research topic as it has contributed to the existing literature. Finally, the research will serve as a fuel of new reasoning and further research work on knowledge, attitude and practices of women towards family planning services, and to health science students, lecturers and the general public. Also, there is evidence that natural family planning methods like the rhythm methods can equally be useful in checking fertility rate and it has actually been in used by couples in developed countries like the USA (Mosher and Goldscheider, 1988). So couples around these areas too will benefit from such knowledge in their practice of natural family planning by providing them with evidence based information on the right skills to be applied in the practise of natural family planning for effective fertility regulation.

Although, there are religions dimensions for its usage. Other studies such as Sherry et al (2010) also have shown that most physicians underestimate the effectiveness of natural family planning and only few of them provide information about natural family planning contraceptive counseling. Physician need better understanding of modern methods of natural family planning to provide evidence based contraceptive counseling to selected highly motivated patients who prefer natural family planning as a contraceptive (Sherry et al, 2010). It is hoped that the study results will come up with useful information that will help physician in these areas of providing contraceptive counseling to patients.

The study results will also help policy makers and programme planners determine what issues need to be stressed in the design of future family planning awareness campaign in Nigeria and used as reference materials by population planners for studying fertility related problems, as a reference material for further study in family planning. Educational programmes will find such knowledge about couples involvement at family planning issues very useful in their campaigns for effective fertility regulation which before now is mainly based on women. The study include couples involvement in programmes targeted to encourage the practice of natural family planning, such information is useful for policy workers in family planning programmes through the propagation of a vigorous public awareness campaign. The study will also contribute to knowledge, and form a basis through which other studies can proceed.

1.7 Scope of the study

The study revolves around issues such as the knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in Kano state. The research is focused on women child bearing age in Kumbotso LGA in 

Kano state. The study seeks to address such issues as the couples level of awareness of natural family planning methods, their attitudes towards the practice of family planning and how they practise it, the extent of gender and spousal involvement and the challenges couples encounter in their use of family planning methods. So based on the findings of the study, recommendations can be made to encourage or discourage the practise of family planning among couples.

1.8 Limitation of the study

This research work is specifically on the knowledge, attitude and practices of women towards family planning services. In the limitation on research work of this magnitude or nature can be carried out without limitation. Hence, during the course, certain constraints were encountered.

? Cost: the cost of thorough research is not what can be afforded by a student. The prices of materials needed for this work has gone up and transport fee has also gone up.

? Time: the time was one of the limitations in the process of carrying out this research work.

? Scarcity Of Literature: The research encountered some problems in collection of literature especially on the bank History and operations. This are hindered the smooth running of this work.

1.9 Definition of terms

Attitude: Attitude refers to inclinations to react in a certain way to certain situations; to see and interpret events according to certain predispositions, or to organize opinions into coherent and interrelated structure (Bankowski and Bryant, 1985). Attitude in relation to 11 the study refers to the views and opinions of the couples or research respondents on natural family planning methods. Whether they find it acceptable or not; whether they support, like and encourage it or not.

Knowledge: According to Bankowski and Bryant (1985), knowledge is the capacity to acquire, retain and use information, a mixture of comprehension, experience, discernment and skill. Knowledge within the context of this study refers to what the research subjects know about natural family planning, it comprises how they first come to be aware about natural family planning and the various methods of natural family planning.

Natural Family Planning: Refers to fertility regulation methods based on the understanding of the body mechanism without the use of any artificial means.

1.10 Organizations of the study

The chapter one consist of the introductory part of the study which includes the study background, the statement of the research problem, the study objective and scope of the study.

The second chapter is a critical review of other literatures relevant to the study and its objectives including the theoretical framework for the study. While the third chapter is methods of data collection, sampling and data analysis used in conducting the study. The fourth chapter centres around the research findings including an analysis of how it relates to previous findings. The fifth chapter consists of the summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations base on the study objectives.

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