Rural Women and Family Planning Use in Selected Communities in Oye Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Family planning is a program that supports the rights of women and girls to freely choose for themselves, how many children they want to have. Nigeria population was estimated at around 190.88 million people and 410.6 million people by year 2050 all things being equal. Nigeria is currently the most populous country in Africa and the7th most populous nation in the world and projected to be the third country with highest population. Annual population increase is 4.5 million and estimated annual growth rate of 3% per annum. This rapid population growth is alarming and it is primarily sustained by the fertility level in the country. At the moment, Nigeria Total Fertility Rate is 5.5, which is one of the highest TFR in Africa, such rapid population growth and high TFR demand attention. This study is therefore carried out to investigate the family planning practice, knowledge, types and reasons for not using family planning among rural women in Oye and Ilupeju communities in Ekiti State with a view to making necessary recommendations that would improve family planning practices. The cross-sectional study was carried out in Oye and Ilupeju communities in Ekiti State. The target population was women of reproductive age 15 and above in Oye and Ilupeju communities. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the respondents. All data were statistically analyzed, using statistical package for social sciences and statistical test of significance was performed with chi-square test. A total of 200 respondents participated in the study. The main determinant of the use of family planning in Oye and Ilupeju communities is spouse decision making, and most of the respondent have heard and use more than one method of family planning. Indication shows that spouse decision making influences the use of family planning in Oye and Ilupeju communities in Ekiti. Conclusively, recommendation is thereby made for more awareness of men towards the use of family planning in Oye and Ilupeju communities.