Assessment of awareness and utilization of natural method of family planning among married women of reproductive age in Shinkafi town, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted on assessment of awareness and utilization of natural method of family planning (NFP) among married women of reproductive age in Shinkafi town. Specifically, to determine the proportion of married women of reproductive age who practice natural method of family planning, identify common method of NFP methods practiced by the women, determine the factors hindering married women of reproductive age from utilizing natural method of family planning and to identify methods of improving utilization of NFP. The research was descriptive in nature, convenience sampling technique was used and 310 respondents were sampled out of 1600 target population. The instrument used for this study was self-structured interview of which 310 were distributed. The data was analyzed using frequency distribution tables. The findings of the study shows that 35% of the respondents practiced NFP, the common method that is practiced is olden natural methods (such as ‘Laya’, ‘Guru/Kiri’), lack of awareness and illiteracy were identified as factors hindering the practice of NFP and the ways of improving utilization are counselling and peer influence. It is recommended that the nurses should explain the benefits and importance of natural method of family planning to the married women of reproductive age and their husbands. Therefore, government should be involved in creating awareness about natural method of family planning through all means that will reach the community in a comprehensible and understandable ways.