The developed economies of the world have advanced in the goal of achieving a balance between population growth rate and economic resources. In view of this, measures have been taken which include family planning, sex education, among others in controlling such growth. The major aim borne in mind towards effecting this policy is the general standard of living of citizen. To this effect, modern family planning method in addition to natural family planning mode have been developed and improved upon in the recent past.
Family planning has become an important population issue of many countries. It is considered as part of national population/health policies or programmes. Inspite of the hue and cry in and outside Nigeria about family planning or birth control, many people are still confused about its meaning, the method involve, advantages and disadvantages and the factors hindering its wide application in Nigeria. Improving reproductive health is central to achieving the sustainable Development Goals.(SDGS) on improving maternal health, reducing child mortality eradicating extreme poverty, promoting gender equality and empowering women to have access to safe and effective methods of fertility control. The promotion of family planning so that men and women can avoid unwanted pregnancy is central to the world health organization (WHO) work on improving maternal health and core to achieving the S.D.G.S (Cleland Bernstein, Ezeh, FaundersGlasier and Inms 2006).
The decision of when or even whether to have children is a human right that all people must enjoy. The 2016 total fertility in Nigeria is 5.13% from 5.89% recorded previously. (Cia world factbook 2016) women are usually socially and economically dependent on their husbands, this may have contributed to Nigeria becoming a country in Africa with the Fastest population growth averaging 5.2 births per women and with attendant high maternal and child mortality (Ijadunola et al, 2010)
.Furthermore, rapid population growth make it difficult for the Nigerian economy to create enough jobs particularly for women and youths of life large numbers of people out of poverty maintain healthy living condition and protect the environment (Ityai, 2000, world population Data Sheet, 2013). This underscores the need to step up family planning practices in Nigerian which is presently affected by gender imbalance as a result of non involvement of men.
The World Health Organization (2001) defined family planning as the practice that helps individuals or couples to attain certain objectives such as avoiding unwanted pregnancies bringing about unwanted babies at the right time regulating the interval between pregnancies, controlling the time at which birth occurs in relation to the ages of the parents and determing the number of children in the family.
Family planning which is widely defined as the prevention unwanted pregnancies through the use of family planning such as contraceptive, pill coil loop diaphragm. According to the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN, 2012). Family planning is the spacing of birth for health and welfare of mothers and children. It could be described as counseling and disseminating of information on birth control with the object of making it possible for parents to achieve the desired number of children they want. Both government and non government agencies inform of voluntary organization purposely promote family planning activities. Therefore, family planning could be said to be part of health policy as well as population policy.
In addition, gender which is more of not biological but role one play within their families and society are assigned to them, and are shaped by the societal beliefs in which the person is born into or lives in (Oakley, 1980 Cited in Ngum, 2012). Gender which is more of a social construct rather than biological make up cultivates the seed of discrimination between masculinity and feminity.This gender factors affects the personality building of the female folk. Oftentimes, the cultural setting make women powerless in taking decision concerning them. They are disadvantaged and even powerless to pursue the reproductive health services they need or prefer. They are cajoled into options dictated by menfolk (spouses).
Traditionally, Nigeria has recognized the need for spacing births for examples, abstinence while breastfeeding has been widely practiced in Nigeria in the olden days and according to wolf and Abubukar (2008), it is still practiced in Nigeria across the northern part of Nigeria as a method of child spacing. Nnaocha (2002) observed that traditional ways used to prevent pregnancy in the olden days include prolonged lactation, postnatal and sexual abstinence and polygamy, that is husband pressure for intercourse is reduced because of too many wives, other methods include charms/armlets and herbs. With the increased population and disease as stated by Lordson (2012), the traditional ways have become obsolete and modern family planning methods for child spacing have been adopted. With the economic state of the nation, couples begin to face unwanted pregnancies.
This study therefore, is posed to evaluate the gender dimension in the use family planning services in Awka South L.G.A of Anambra State.
Nigeria faces problems of population explosion, poverty among others. Also the importance of fertility decision is lowly appreciated. Issues are critical for social and economic development. The use of family planning has been identified to aid and reduce fertility. Nigeria has a population of about 140 million and population growth rate of 3 percent per annum (NPC 2003) Nigeria is African Giant and tenth largest country in the world (United Nations 2001, 1994: 9) with this the reasons for unacceptable high level of fertility and low use of family planning are complex and diverse. In the Nigeria setting, the women status is largely a product of her child bearing within marriage that of man is the ability to have the children he wants with the male child as a priority Monjok et al (2000) research conducted which Nigerian women and men suggested that men and women are aware of family planning but they believed family planning have harm, side effects.
Men and women’s level of education is one of the factors that may affect their perception about family planning. Education is related to men and women access to and utilization of family planning because it equips them with information to make better decision in their fertility control. On the contrary insufficient knowledge of family planning services brings about low utilization of family planning (Republic of Kenta, 2008).
Religion is another factor affecting the use of birth control method, some religious organization and group criticize the concept of fertility control because of the belief that procreation is the making of God as cited in Biblical terms “Go into the world, increase and multiply and fill the earth. Genesis chapter I verses 27 and 28, Okogie (1998) noted that the Catholic bishop of Lagos Arch-diocese quoted that he would encourage Catholics to disobey birth control laws and obey the laws of God, even if at gun point and also that children are gift from god which cannot be rejected whenever they come.
Kishor (1993) Stated that women in poor countries have limited access to birth control that the cultural traditions over whelming favour males. The United Nations development programme championed eight major areas where position of women need to be further equalized which include the autonomy of the body (Control over reproduction and the problem of Violence).In most African societies children are seen as wealth (Mukoro, 2001). This belief that male children are important in any family so that family name will not die which makes it difficult for them, especially when they are only giving birth to female children is another factor militating against the use of family planning and don’t understand that it is harmful to the society. A lot of researcher have identified a great deal of factors affecting family planning services much less is known about how male and female roles, social, economic and religious influences the use of family planning services in Awka South L.G.A of Anambra State. Against the background of above problems, this study aimed at understanding the gender dimension to the use of family planning services in Awka South local Government Area of Anambra State.
The following will serve as research questions to this study.
The general Objectives of this study is to examine gender dimension in the use of family planning services in Awka South L.G.A Anambra State.
The specific Objective of the study are:
This research work has both theoretical and practical significance.
Theoretically, this research will provide scientific and objective investigation into problem of gander dimension in the use of family planning services. It will serve as a reference document for social scientists and medical sociologists. It will also be of immense benefit to researchers studying family planning services and will serve as a relevant material and a source of data for them.
Practically, this research work will help to have a proper planning and child spacing to enhance good health and better social condition. The findings in this study will also enable
policy makers, governmental and non-governmental organizations. They will include in their programme and policies gender mainstreaming strategies.
This will promote a culture of positive family planning through the identified ways to reduce the negative effect of lack of family planning.
The definition of terms will clarify and prevent ambiguity in this study.
Birth control: Deliberate prevention or delaying of birth by means of sexual abstinences, contraceptive, abortion, sterilization and prolonged breast feeding.
Contraceptive: This is a drug, object or method used to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant when she has sex.
Family planning: This is a practice that helps individual or couples to attain certain objectives to avoid unwanted birth to regulate reproduction and child bearing to suit individuals family and communities well being.
Fertility: This is the ability to conceive a child by a woman of childbearing age.
Gender: refers to the social construction of female and male identity.
Gender dimension: This is a dynamic concept which puts a researcher at the forefront of questioning gender norms and stereotype and addresses the involving needs and social roles of women and men depending of the field of research and it entails an analysis of gender, sex or both.
Gender mainstreaming: This means introducing a gender perspective in the process of assessing the implication for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies in any area and at all levels.
Infant mortality: Maternal mortality is the death of young ones at birth.
Men: This is used to qualify the male gender of a sex.
Perception of family planning: Is the process of recognizing and interpreting or the way that people understand family planning.
Population: This can be defined as the total number of people living in an area in a given period of time.
Population Explosion: Refers to a rapid population growth.
Population Growth: This is the change in a population over time
Pregnancy: A woman having a baby developing inside her body.
Relevance: the degree to which something is useful to what is happening or being talked about.
Spousal Communication: These are ways of encouraging spousal harmony and preventing spouses from having to condemn or to be condemned by their spouses.
Uses of family planning: This is the utilization of family planning or the consumption of family planning.
Women: This is used to qualify the female gander of a sex.