AWARENESS, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF FAMILY PLANNING AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE IN FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE OWERRI, IMO-STATE

Ibebuike J. E.*, Nwokike I. G., Iquiro A. A., Ibebuike K. E., Nnajiofor F. O., Ezenwuba C. O., and Amadike J. N.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to ascertain the level of awareness attitude and practice of family planning among women of child bearing age attending ante natal at FMC Owerri. To accomplish the research purpose, three research questions was formulated. Descriptive design was adopted for the study. The sample size was 1000 women drawn from the total population of 20,000 who were attending ANC as at time of conducting the research. The instrument for data collection was a no eight item questionnaire; the data was collected and analyzed using frequency table, bar chart and pie chart. Finding among others revealed that 1000 respondents (100%) have heard about family planning, 995 ie 99.6% have had lectures up to 4 different times in family planning indicating high level of awareness of family planning among the responses 700 (70%) accepted family planning, 500 (50%) showed increased partner co-operation and 560 (56%) accepted and also health educate mothers on family planning which reflected a positive attitude of family planning. 200 (20%) started family after first birth, 350 (35%) after second birth and 450 (45%) after the fourth birth which showed that women’s contraceptive use is positively related to parity. Above all the finding showed that there is high level of awareness and practice and positive attitude towards family planning by women attending ante natal clinic is Federal Medical Centre Owerri. The recommendations among others are, the Federal and State Ministries of health should improve the family planning clinics both in the urban and rural areas to increase access and choice. The male folk should be actively involved in family planning to improve compliance.

Keywords: awareness, attitude, practice, family planning, women of child bearing age.