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Published:
Feb 19, 2013Keywords:
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The impact of religion on the contraceptive choice among women in the south west Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency of use and the impact of religion on the choice of the available modern methods of contraception among women in a semi-urban area in the Southwest Nigeria.
Methods: A total of 848 case reports of the new acceptors of the modern methods of contraception at the family planning unit of the University Teaching Hospital between January 2009 and December 2010 were retrieved. Relevant data regarding biodata and religion characteristics of the clients were collated and analyzed.
Results: Overall, 407 of the 848 (48%) clients studied accepted injectable hormonal contraceptives. Very closely, 382 (45%) accepted IUCD. The third and fourth most frequently accepted modern methods of contraception were Oral contraceptive pills 5.5% and implant, 1.2% respectively. Least accepted was the male condom by only 0.2% of the clients. More than half, 509 of the 848 clients (60%) were between 30 – 39 year age brackets, while only 1 client out of the 848 clients was an adolescent below 20 years. Pentecostals (605 out of 848) accounted for the majority (71.3%) of
the new acceptors of Modern methods of contraception in this study. Only 61(7.2%) were Roman Catholics. Other non-catholic orthodox represented 14 %, while 7.4% were Muslims. There was no significance relationship between the religious denominations and the choice of contraceptive methods among the clients in this study {X2 (35) = 32.04; p>.05}.
Conclusion: This study shows clearly that religion to a large extent affects the acceptance of the modern method of contraception. However, there is no significant relationship between religious denomination and the choice of modern methods of contraception in our environment.
Keywords: Modern Contraceptive Methods, Acceptance, Choice, Religion, Nigeria
