Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Acceptance of Family Planning among Rural Dwellers in Kano State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study examines the extent of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers in Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State. It also examined weather fertility rate of families of rural dwellers differ according to their educational and income levels. The result of the study revealed that education and income had significant relationship with family size, and ignorance, illiteracy and poor quality services are responsible for low level of contraceptive prevalence among rural dwellers. Based on the findings, the study recommended that more awareness should be created at grassroots level, state governments should provide free material and child health services, and family planning services should be integrated with other health services.


CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Since the publication of the popular Malthusian thesis on population, world leaders, Demographers, Educational Planners, Development Economists and many other international bodies like the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations International Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF) and the World Population Bureau, have made remarkable contributions towards population control, particularly in the developing countries. In particular, the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo further stimulated governments and these bodies to begin to formulate population policies to stem population growth through improvement in the lives of women and the populace (Umoh 2001:7).

In spite of the deliberate effort by these bodies to educate the world on the consequences of a growing population the growth rate in world population has been unprecedented in world history.

However, the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America have a greater proportion of the world population. For example, while average births per women in the year 2000 remained 1.5 for developed countries, 2.8 for Asian and Latin American/Caribbean countries, for African countries, it was 5.3. Of the Six Billion people in the world by 2000, 4.9 Billion or 81.67% live in the developing nations (Ashford, 2001:2). That much has not been achieved in the developing countries by way of reduction in fertility rate has been very obvious for the fact that most of their populations are mainly youths who are likely to either be in their child bearing ages or approaching it.

According to the data released by the world population reference bureau in 2001 about Nigeria, presented a frightening picture of a population crisis with grave consequences on the socio-economic development of the country. For example, the Nigerian population has grown steadily from about 56 million in 1960 to 127 Million in 2001 and is projected to rise to 204 million in the coming years 2025 (2001 world population Reference Bureau-PRB). This represent growth rate of 126.79% and 60.63% for the periods respectively. This implies that world population particularly those of the developing world and specifically Nigeria, will continue to record high growth hence family planning is imperative.

1.1 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

According to the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2008), the level of fertility rate in Nigeria is quite high because the total fertility rate (TFR) is 5.7, which means that an average Nigerian woman will bear approximately six (6) children throughout her reproductive years. The 2006 population census conducted by Nigerian population commission, gave a total number of Nigeria’s population at One Hundred and Forty Two Million (142 Million) with an annual growth rate figure of 3.1 percent, which means that Nigeria’s population will double it self in the next 22 years. As of mid 2009, Nigeria’s population rose to One Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Six Hundred Thousand (152,600,000) (UNICEF Info by Country 2000).

In the same vain, NDHS (2008) observed that low level of family planning is a major factor in the high rising rate of fertility pattern and population growth rate, with contraceptive prevalence rate of about 14.62 percent for any method and 9.7% percent for modern method in 2008. Beside, the United Nations observed that persistent unmet need for family planning can undermine global efforts toward the attainment of sustainable human development. Family planning as a health programme is very beneficial and important to reduce the currently high growing fertility and maternal mortality rate.

In view of the above, and when we consider that Kano is Nigeria’s most populace state with a population of 9, 383, 6829 (NPC: 2006), and with a fertility rate of 8.1%, and Sumaila being among the most populace LGAs in the state, this research will study the extent of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers in Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. This study will also answer the following research question.

· To what extent are the modern and tradition methods of family planning acceptable among rural dwellers of Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State?

· Does the fertility rate of families of rural dwellers differ according to their educational and income levels?

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The idea of writing this study was conceived purposely to study the extent of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers, when we take into cognizance the fear that high fertility rate and population growth poses challenges to sustainable human development.

It is also important to note that this study becomes imperative because over the years some adult members of the Nigerian society have concerned themselves with procreation and mass production of babies without much concern for the moral, social, economic and educational well being of the babies (Nelson E. 2008; 3).

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant because it will:

· Provide guidance to policy makers and development partners in strengthening health programmes in the state,

· Provide a picture of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers of Sumaila town in Sumaila Local Government Area,

· And to contribute to the development of knowledge in the area of family planning.

1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study has the following aims and objectives.

· To assess the rate of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers,

· To provide policy action steps to policy makers on how to strengthen family planning programme.

· To contribute to the development of knowledge in the area of family planning

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

The study intends to find answers to the following hypothesis:

· Educational and income levels are the factors influencing fertility pattern among rural dwellers.

· Ignorance and illiteracy are responsible for high fertility and population growth among rural dwellers.

· Poor quality services and lack of awareness are responsible for low level of contraceptive prevalence among rural dwellers.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study is being scoped to focus purely on the acceptance of family planning among rural dwellers in Kano State with a case study of Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area.

The study may encounter the following limitations:

· In adequate financial resources to cater for the research’s monetary needs.

· Fear of the respondents in ability to objectively respond to the questions administered to them.

· Bureaucratic bottlenecks of public organizations interms of information collection which affect the research.

1.7 DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

The study intends to define the following terms as follows:-

· Family planning:

Family Planning is a concept which allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It also means the planning of when to have children and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans.

· Rural Dwellers:

Are those that do not live in urban, built up areas or cities.

· Fertility rate:

Is the natural capability of giving life. As a measure, “fertility rate” is the number of children born per couple, person or population.

· Contraceptive:

Is the use of various devices, drugs, agents, sexual practices, or surgical procedures to prevent conception or impregnation (pregnancy). It can also mean any means to prevent pregnancy.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTERS

This study will be presented in five (5) chapters as follows:

· Chapter One:-

This chapter will comprised of an introduction of the study, statement of research problems, purpose of the study, significance of the study, Aims and objectives of the study, Hypothesis, scope and limitations of the study, definition of key terms, and organization of chapters.

Chapter Two:-

It will purely contain the review of relevant literatures on family planning and population.

· Chapter Three:-

It will comprise of the history of the study, sampling techniques, and instrument for Data analyses.

· Chapter Four:-

It will contain the presentation and Analysis of Data, interview, Analysis of responses, and testing of hypothesis.

· Chapter Five:-

It will have the summary of findings, recommendations and conclusion.


REFERENCES

1) Boniface A. et al (2006); Community-based study of Contraceptive Behaviour in Nigeria.

2) Clifford O.O (1999); Family Planning Attitudes and use in Nigeria: A factor Analysis.

3) NPC (2006) National Population Commission Report

4) NDHS (2008), Nigeria Demographic Health Survey


CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW ON POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Being one of the four fundamental features of a state, population is an important factor in the global as well as world politics. In deed, population related issues are now a days in the forefront of development activities/issues. Myriad demographic theories were developed overtime and over places to explain the arguments for or against population expansion. Prominent amongst such include those theories of Adam smith who was vehemently optimistic of the need for population growth to sustain the emerging industrial muscle of Europe in the 19th century. Thomas Robert Malthus (in the 19th century too) was pessimistic of exploding population when the commensurate food supply was not in sight. Marxist-Lenists on the other hand argue that countries all over the world will follow trends of the advanced countries. In other words, the third world countries will ultimately attain demographic stability.

Cornucopians or optimist just like Adam Smith are of the option that resources in the world are just too numerous for the global population and so there is no fear what so ever for in crease in population (Umoh 2001: 5). Arguments on why human numbers on the earth should be given unrestricted proliferation or ought to be checked against explosion are employed continuously in many circles of opinions. However, the recent increasing economic prosperity being registered in China, India and Brazil are good examples of the prospects of highly populated areas where there is effective management of human and natural resources. On the other hand, with the changing nature of global climate, the need for population control became imperative as it’s mostly caused by human activity (Adogi M. 2009: 5).

Some theories suggest that more rapid population growth should be bad for economic performance because with a larger population each worker will have less productive factors, both non-accumulated and accumulated, to work with. Other theories suggest that greater population growth will lead to greater productivity either by inducing innovation, producing innovation, or through creating greater economies of scale, specialization or agglomeration (Boserup, 1981, Simon, 1992, Kremer, 1993). Robert Cassen’s (1994) recent summary of the state of the art in research on population and development, states nicely the conventional wisdom of contrasting negative factor accumulation effects versus possibly positive productivity effects: What about the effect of population on per capita income? Here simple economics suggests that the effect is probably negative. Unless population exerts a strong positive influence on capital formation- and the suggestion that it does is a minority opinion-the more people there are, and the less capital there is per person; as a result even though total output may be larger with a bigger population, output per person is smaller. There are however, three arguments against this: larger population may generate economies of scale; they may induce favorable technological change; and when population is growing, the average age of the labor force will be younger, which may have beneficial productivity effects. The fact that the different theories predict a different causal mechanism shows, that there is a gap yet to be filled with empirical evidence across countries.

Between 1950 and 1995, the world’s population grew from 2.5 billion to 5.7 billion people, and is expected to grow by another 4 billion people over the next 50 years. There has been a long-standing debate on the effects that such population growth can have on economic development and growth of countries. This debate is generally couched in the distinctions made by ‘population optimists’ and by ‘population pessimists’. Population optimists believe that increases in population increase the incentives for the invention of new technologies and the diffusion of existing ones [Boserup 1981]. They also point out that larger populations allow for economies of scale both in production and in consumption [Kuznets 1966, Simon 1977]. Population pessimists, on the other hand, believe that the burden placed on the resources of an economy by an increasing population is a hindrance to economic development. The original ‘Malthusian’ perspective focused on agricultural resource constraints, while later economic models were based on the capital to labor ratio: increases in population meant that there was less capital per person, thereby reducing the productivity of labor (Todaro 2001:45).

Empirical studies, which have used cross-country data to try and evaluate these claims, have, however, found little evidence to support either argument. Once the effects of initial income, education, and other determinants of growth are taken into account, population growth is found to have a negligible effect on growth of GDP [Bloom and Freeman 1986]. This gave rise to the “population neutralist” or “revisionist” perspective, which held that demography, was not a significant factor in the ‘economic growth process. This view was in part responsible for the tenuous position population variables have recently occupied in studies of economic growth.

More recent research, however, has pointed out that it is not sufficient to take into account simply the growth in population when attempting to evaluate the role-played by demography, as demographic effects are significantly more complex. Kelley and Schmidt [1995] show that the composition of population growth is an important factor. For example, if population growth occurs mainly through mortality declines that affect infants and children disproportionately (as is well known to be the case in high mortality populations), the effect on age structure will be different than if population growth occurs due to migration, which generally selects for working age people. These changes in age structure can be extremely relevant to the process of economic growth. Bloom and Williamson (1998) further explores the role of a changing age structure, evaluating the impact of demographic transitions on economic growth.

While the historical literature on the role of demography in the growth process dates back many decades, its role in the current debate has been peripheral. Current work on the impact of demographic changes on economic growth, however, shows that demography might in fact play a significant role (Bloom and Williamson, 1998). Integrating fertility and mortality with capital accumulation in a process of economic growth has the potential to explain very large differences in observed outcomes.

Demography is also linked to the accumulation of both physical capital and human capital (i.e. health and education). Evidence from developing countries has shown that lower fertility has a direct effect on human capital, as smaller families are more likely to educate their children. Health and nutrition status is also higher, as large families tend to be poorer and hence less able to fulfill basic needs. More recently, economists have pointed to the indirect effects of a changing demography: as life expectancy increases, individuals are expected to save more for their old age, thereby increasing the accumulation of physical capital in the economy (Mason (1997), Bloom and Canning (1999)). Furthermore, as couples have fewer children to care for them in their old age, they will invest, instead, in assets that can provide financial returns, thereby accelerating capital accumulation.

Demographic factors have been used to explain the growth of government expenditure. Goffman and Mahar (1971) found the age structure of the population to be an important factor explaining growth of public expenditures in developing countries. Tait and Heller (1982) and Heller and Diamond (1990) analyzed growth of different categories of government expenditures and found demographic variables to be significant in explaining growth in some categories of government expenditures. The Heller and Diamond (1990) study, based on pooled data for developing countries, found the proportion of the population over 65years to be significant in explaining growth in the share of social security expenditures in GDP, and the proportion of population aged 14 and under to be significant in explaining growth in the share of education expenditures. Tung (1984), using an econometric demographic model for Taiwan, noted that a reduction in population increased per-capita income. Then, using an economic demographic model for Ethiopia, Kidane (1991) found that a lower fertility rate increased per capita GDP.

Once these linkages are incorporated into the system it is easier to explain the wide discrepancies in income that are observed, as an exogenous change in any one of the factors will affect each of the other factors and will get multiplied as it works through the system. For example, the introduction of a family planning program may bring down fertility rates. This may increase income, which could, in turn, increase education levels perhaps further lowering fertility rates. The linkages can thereby set in place a virtuous spiral of economic development. Of course, the reverse may also be true. Economies may be trapped in a downward spiral of low growth and high fertility and mortality if endogenous growth only occurs after a critical level of income has been achieved.

Thus viewing demography as part of the larger economic system enables us to explain why some countries have been so much more successful than others at generating economic growth. Yingfang (1994) Maintains that the quality of economic growth cannot be ensured, nor can economic efficiency be improved, nor can economy grow rapidly, without adequate attention being paid to the effect of population. In particular, the study of and solution to these issues are in the immediate interest of developing countries, especially densely populated, low-income nations and impoverished areas.

2.1 Fertility: Determinant s and Consequences

With by far the largest population and the current growth rate of 2.38%, Nigeria adds 3.7 million people to the world’s population every year (Microsoft Encarta, 2008). This phenomenon, as Malthus warned, has serious consequences, like the cycle of poverty, starvation, women subordination, social conflicts, and political instability.

In many cases, women’s inferior roles, low status, and restricted access to birth control is manifested in their high fertility. High fertility, however, affects the health of the mothers. The health of mothers, in turn, could result in low birth weight and, eventually, infant and maternal mortality. As of 2008, infant mortality was as high as 100 per every thousand born, female life expectancy is 47 years and child malnutrition or underweight was 39% (Population Reference Bureau, 2008).

Women form about 36.2% (compared to 23% of men) of the illiterate population in Nigeria (National Bureau of Statistics, 2008). This situation makes it difficult to enter the high status employment of the public sector. For instance, women’s proportion in federal civil service was 24.1% in 1991 and increased to 36% in 1997 (Federal Office of Statics, 1996; To’darro, 2001). Such women, therefore, end up in the informal sector of the economy. Ogunleye-Adetona (1996) discovered that women in southeastern Nigeria that are in the informal sector of the economy and low educational attainment had high fertility rate. This was due to the ease with which they can bear and bring up children without fear of losing their job due to frequent maternity leave. Women and children also form the bulk of the people living in poverty (United Nations Information and Children’s Education Fund, 2000). Poverty and low standard of living induces a large family size because more children is believed to serve as a source of cheap labor and old age security (United Nations Information and Children Education Fund, 2000). A large family however, means greater population growth, high dependency burden of 35%, 46% lower savings (both at household and national level), slow economic growth, and, ultimately, greater poverty.

As a result of large number of the population under 15 years, government will have to increase its expenditure on education. This will imply less investment in other sectors of the economy. Less investment in other sectors, on the other hand, will mean lower savings and, therefore, slow economic growth. As such, the prospect for any improvement in the living standards of the existing generation is reduced; therefore transmission of poverty to the future generation, especially of low-income family, is assured. For instance, people with low educational attainments are easily thrown out of their jobs due to government’s economic restructuring or re-organization programs, which is a panacea to the slow economic growth. These people thrown out of jobs may not be able to send their children to school, which will unable unschooled children to get good jobs, through which they could have relief their parents’ of the poverty burden. The vicious cycle of poverty, therefore, continues (To’darro, 2001).

Apparently, higher population growth retards economic growth. Since women are perceived to be the perpetrators of these phenomena, a program for• social and economic progress should aim at improving their health and empower them educationally. Their economic well being should be improved, along with their role and status, in both the family and the community. The empowerment of women will, inevitably, lead to smaller family size and lower population growth, as echoed at the 1994 United Nations Conference on population and development in Cairo.

In line with the above assertions, the family planning program was put in place by the Federal government to make birth control methods readily available and accessible to women, since they are the ones at the risk of child birth. Accordingly, women’s contraceptive knowledge increased to about 64.4% at the national level and 70% in Kwara State (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 1999). However, its use is just about 15% and 18% at the national level and in Kwara State, respectively. Men’s contraceptive knowledge is also moderate (78%); however, only 14% of men used the modern method. The low percentage of those using contraceptives calls for concern and re-examination of population issues, especially because, according to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (1999) report, sexual activity is high (48.8%) in the country. Fertility rate may increase or remain high if contraceptive usage does not increase. Apart from this, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and the consequent high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, and/or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) could be on the high side.

The need to promote behavioral change in communication for no risk sexual behavior and effective fertility regulation cannot be over emphasized. This could be done by the government putting in place incentives and disincentives that will encourage the use of contraceptive, by both men and women, since it takes two to make babies.

2.2 State of the Economy and Population Structure’

Prior to the oil boom of 1970’s, Nigeria was one of the poorest and least economically developed nations, with a per capita Gross National Domestic Product of $90 in 1968 to $1,020 in 2008 due to the rapid economic expansion and major structural transformation ‘(Microsoft Encarta, 2008). However, the per capita Gross National Product dropped to $752.30 in 2005, one of the lowest in the southern Sahara and in the world (Population Reference Bureau, 2008). This was due to the neglect of agricultural sector and massive rural- urban migration with the attendant consequence of a high rate of unemployment. The consistent urban bias in development kept the unemployment rate persistently high. Accurate unemployment rates are difficult to obtain especially in a society where many who work are marginally employed. Also data on Nigeria labour force have limited values because most Nigerians earn their living in more than one field. For instance urban workers “moonlight” to make ends meet and most rural dwellers have second jobs. However, from national statistical records, the number of registered unemployed, vacancies declared, and job placement presents a gloomy picture. For instance, in 1991 about 12,391 people registered as unemployed. Of the 20,475 vacancies declared, only 2,795 persons were employed. As of 2005, the number of government workers was 46,868 and about 3.2% of the population unemployed (National Bireau of Statistics, 2006). This situation has remained so ever since.

Furthermore, out of the economically active population, out of the people between the ages of 24 - 45 years, those not employed was as high as 23.0% in 1991 and 31.0% in 1996 (Federal Office of Statistics, 1996). This is an additional stress on the economy, coupled with a dependency ratio of 35% accruing from large number of the young and the aged people in the country. The number of the unemployed persons, by educational qualification of between 19.0 in 1991 to 18.7 in 1995, confirms the high illiteracy rate in the country.

2.3 Human Resource and Development

There is, therefore, a need for policy makers to have a sound knowledge of the demographic situation in the country at any point in time in order for them to plan ahead to meet the nation’s educational and industrial labor force need and demographic changes. In other words, the knowledge of the determinants and consequences of population size, distribution, structure, and change in population is a necessary tool to planning and implementing. For instance, the knowledge of the age structure, particularly the number of young children under five years, will enable planners to plan ahead of time for the provision of primary schools facilities for an adequate and effective primary education. Also, the knowledge of the number of people that will graduate from the universities in the next two or three years time will enable the government to create more jobs. This is because unemployment is not only due to the relatively slow growth rate of labor demand in both the modern and industrial sector, but a rapid growth of labor supply due to accelerated population growth. Therefore the higher the nation’s rate of population growth the greater the amount of capital that will be necessary merely to make provision for the added population and the less the fund left over for making capital improvement.

The knowledge of high level of unemployment in the urban areas will enable the government to redirect population away from the rapidly growing urbane areas, by eliminating the current in-balance in economic and social opportunities, in both urban and rural areas. Otherwise, the agricultural labor force will dwindle and the nation might not be able to feed its people, which will negate the planned objectives of a self-reliant nation. The above explains the fact that, it is not the number of people that is causing population problems, rather it is the inadequate understanding of the determinants and consequences of population structure as it interact and influences socio-economic development in Nigeria.

2.4 Contraceptive prevalence and fertility in Nigeria

The prevalence of contraceptive use has increased worldwide due to the development and introduction of modern contraceptive and the establishment of organized family planning programs. The contraceptive prevalence rate in many developing countries rose from 9% in the 1960 to 60, in 1997, and this has helped in reducing the total fertility rate of some developing countries (the lifetime average number of children per woman) from 6.0 in 1960 to 3.1 in 1997. The proportion of Nigerian women using modern contraceptive methods rose from 3% in 1990 to 8% in 2003. The slow rate of contraceptive use in Nigeria results in high fertility rates, particularly in the rural areas and the northern part of the country. This high fertility rate accounts for Nigeria’s high maternal, infant, and neonatal mortalities, and the use of modern contraceptive methods has been reported to be very limited in the northern part of Nigeria, with only 9% of Nigerian women reported to be using these in 2003. In addition, only 3% o of women front the northeast and the northwest reported using a modern method, compared with 23% in the southwest. These data correlate well with the high fertility rate in the northern part of the country. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, the country’s overall fertility rate was 7.0 children per woman in the northeast and 6.7 children per woman in the northwest, compared with only 4.1 in the southwest.’ This survey has shown that there is still a large unmet need for contraceptive use in Nigeria.

2.5 Contraceptive knowledge, attitude and practice

Several studies in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria indicate that contraceptive knowledge and awareness, especially among female students aged I5 to 24 years, is very high. In one study done in Ilorin, the methods mostly known by respondents were the condom (69.0%), the oral contraceptive pill (OCP. 38.8%), IUCD (29%), and periodic abstinence (32.9). With most respondents being able to name at least one method of contraception. Unfortunately, all of the studies that showed good knowledge and awareness did not show a strong prevalence of use of contraception. Instead, these studies showed a high level of sexual activity corresponding with a low contraceptive prevalence. The average age of sexual debut in many of the studies ranged between 12 and 20 years, with a mean age of 16 ± 1.2 years. The consequence of high sexual activity and low contraceptive use is an increased frequency of unplanned pregnancies and subsequent induced abortions or unplanned deliveries. Studies reveal that a high percentage of adolescents and young adults have had at least one unwanted pregnancy leading to induced abortion. The reasons given in these studies for not using contraceptives were fear of side effects objections from their partner. Conflicts with their religious beliefs, objections from family members, not thinking about using contraceptives, not having sexual intercourse to have a baby, and unplanned sexual debut.

2.6 Contraceptive use and choices

Contraceptive use and choices vary widely in Nigeria according to type of’ health facility, geopolitical zone, and within urban or rural settings. Various factors, related to both supply and demand, account for these variations and contribute to the low levels of contraceptive use and choices in Nigeria.

On the supply side are issues such as limited availability, quality, and cost of family planning services. As a consequence of limited availability, many Nigerians (particularly in rural areas) lack access to modern contraceptive and family planning services. In areas where services do exist, their quality is often poor, with inadequate contraceptive supplies, insufficient numbers of trained service providers, poor interpersonal skills on the part of providers, and limited essential equipment.

Research on factors associated with demand for contraceptives and family planning services in Nigeria has identified the relative powerlessness of women (especially in northern Nigeria), household poverty, low level of education (especially in northern Nigeria), myths and rumors about modern contraceptive methods, parity, pronatalist attitudes, and widespread preference for male children, as key influences on contraceptive use. In addition to these factors, and especially in northern Nigeria, early marriages and early initiation of sexual activity have contributed significantly to the high fertility and subsequent higher prevalence of maternal and fetal complications.

2.7 Some Commonly Contraceptive Choice in Nigeria

a) Condoms

According to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), the condom is reported to be the main contraceptive method known of and used by Nigerian women of reproductive age. The extensive marketing of condoms in response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, with the active involvement of both government and nongovernmental organizations, has been responsible for this increased awareness and subsequent increase in condom use. Condoms-are also the preferred choice for post partum contraception, especially among educated women with high parity. Studies in Nigeria have indicated that because patent medicine stores are common sources of contraceptives and because condoms are readily available over the counter at these stores, there is much less restriction on contraceptive purchases and use compared with the family planning clinics and health facilities where there are more restrictions.

b) Oral contraceptive pill

As already stated above, OCPs, like the condom, are readily available over the counter at patent medicine and pharmacy shops in Nigeria. They are also available at the health facilities, and are the second contraceptive method of choice for women of reproductive age, particularly young unmarried females and students, A significant problem in Nigeria is a general lack of adequate information about the OCP. The myth that prolonged use of the OCP leads to permanent sterility has limited its use in Nigeria and may explain why most young females in Nigeria, especially students, prefer to use abortion instead of contraception for unwanted pregnancy. Also, the protective effects of OCPs are virtually unknown by the majority of women in the Nigerian population.

c) Intrauterine contraceptive device

The IUCD is very popular and widely used in Nigeria, particularly by older married women. Studies carried out in the Nigerian cities of Lagos, Benin, Ibadan, and llorin specifically concerning use of’ and reasons for discontinuation of the IUCD indicate that the majority of women in these areas are in the age range 31.7 + 5.7 years with a mean parity of 4.0. The most common reason for discontinuation of IUCD use was a desire for pregnancy, especially among those younger than 35 years. Other reasons for discontinuation were side effects (mainly heavy menstrual bleeding), spousal disapproval, fear of infertility, and menopause. Experiences of “having a foreign body” or a missing IUCD and expulsion were also reasons for discontinuation. In many of these instances, the levonorgestrel IUCD should be considered because it tends to reduce menstrual bleeding and has a longer duration of action which would ultimately lead to a reduction in the high IUCD discontinuation rate. Unfortunately, the levonorgestrel IUCD is not available in Nigeria. It is envisaged that the introduction of this device in many centers in Nigeria would lead to an increased acceptance of this method by multiparous and grand multiparous women. IUCDs are also a common post partum contraceptive choice, especially for older women of high parity.

d) Female sterilization

Female sterilization by tubal ligation is not a common or acceptable contraceptive choice in Nigeria. However, this method is commonly used worldwide, especially in developed countries and in some developing countries in Asia and South America. Many factors can influence decision-making about sterilization in Nigeria. including religion, ignorance, and superstition based on ancient beliefs, even among more literate members of the community. The acceptability of sterilization in Nigeria and other developing countries might be influenced by the high cost of the procedure, scarcity of skilled providers (especially in rural areas), and fear of surgical complications. Nigerian studies have shown that the demand for tubal ligation is low, but is commonly accepted in conjunction with another surgical procedure, such as a cesarean section or laparotonty for repair of uterine rupture. Possible surgical complications when using the Pomeroy’s technique of tubal ligation via laparotomy or the mini—laparotorny route (the latter being the most common) include uterine perforation, bladder and intestinal injuries, and intra-abdominal bleeding, although the occurrence of these complications was found to be minimal.

e) Male sterilization

Male sterilization or vasectomy is a rarity among Nigerian men, There were only two eases of voluntary vasectomy performed over a 30-year period at University College Hospital in Ibadan. In a study in Jos, northern Nigeria, only 10 eases of vasectomy were recorded over a 16-year period compared with 3,675 female sterilizations. Eighty percent of the men who underwent a vasectomy were well educated, with 20% of them being medical practitioners. Although the procedure is simple, safe, and effective, it is not readily accepted as a method of fertility control in Nigeria. This low incidence has been attributed to male attitudes, whereby men are perceived to be more interested in proving their virility than in family planning. In addition, Nigerian men are afraid that vasectomy will hurt their sex drive, which they treasure for fertility reasons, especially in polygamous relationships. For these reasons, very few men in Nigeria who know about this method would choose it as a contraceptive method.

f) Emergency contraception

Knowledge and attitudes towards the use of emergency contraception (EC) have been reported by a national cross-sectional survey of the Nigerian population. The various groups survived included unmarried women in the community, female undergraduate students, health care providers, private medical practitioners, and men. All studies concluded that there is very poor knowledge of EC in Nigeria, even among private medical practitioners. There are very few programs in Nigeria designed to increase the awareness of EC in spite of the very high maternal mortality rate associated with induced abortions which occur as a consequence of unwanted pregnancies. In a cross-sectional sample of potential providers of EC conducted by the Society for Family Health. 81% approved of EC. The reasons cited far disapproval of EC in this study included religion (5%), potential side effects (3%), and the belief that EC leads to permanent infertility (29%). In the same Society for family Health survey, only 80% of the providers had training in EC’, only two providers knew both the correct dose and correct tinting of EC, and no provider knew both the correct dose and timing for Postinor. Private medical practitioners provide a substantial proportion of family planning and reproductive health services in Nigeria, but the study by Okonofua et al (2008) showed that while 79.9% of doctors correctly described EC methods, only 23% reported that they had EC products in their clinics, and only 13.8% used the correct brand and closes currently available in Nigeria. Similarly a large proportion of the doctors did not know the exact tuning of EC in relation to sexual intercourse, while only a few gave correct names and dosages of administration. Traditional fertility methods for post—coital EC use in Nigeria include use of gin, codeine tablets, and potash mixed with blue and lime taken with pepper seeds.


Reference

1. Netson E.A (2008), Education as correlate of fertility Rate among families in southern Nigerian.

2. Isaac F.A et al (2006), Community Based study of cocntraceptive behavour in Nigeria.

3. Population Reference Bureau (2004); The Unfinished Agenda: Meeting the need for family planning in less Developed Countries.

4. Akinrinola B. et al, (2009), Fertility transition in Nigeria: Trends and prospects

5. Microsoft Encarta (2008), Nigeria Facts and Figures, Microsoft Corporation, USA.

6. NBS (2008), National Bureau of Statistics Report.

7. NDHS (2008), National Demographic Health Survey.

8. Federal Office of Statistics (1999), Socio-Economic Profile of Nigeria

9. NPC (1999 & 2006), National Population Commission

10. www.unfra.org/pds/trends.htm

11. www.kanoonlint.com/populationhtml


CHAPTER THREE

HISTORY OF THE STUDY AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 THE HISTORY OF SUMAILA TOWN

The town SUMAILA was historically a name of one herdsman Isma’ila, this man Isma’ila left one village by name “WA’ITA” as far back 1745. This herdsman has a lot of cows which he uses to go from one place to another in the bush for rearing. It was said, among the cows he has, there is one that atimes runs to (SARKAKIYA) where she use to hide and drink water from a well. One day, the herdsman said he must follow that cow and see where she uses to go. So he followed that cow to that (SARKAKIYA) and he realized there is water which that cow normally drinks. So that well is now popularly today known as (KUNDUM). And up till today “Kundum” has water, and the government modeled it in 1980 under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Rimi. It is further said that (KUNDUM) up till today no one knew the one that did it except the Almighty Allah. So, this man Isma’ilu move to his former village (WA’ITA) and take all his belonging from Waita to that (SARKAKIYA) where that well (KUNDUM) was situate. He stayed near that (SARKAKIYA) about 1,000 feets, and the name of that place is (BAUDAR) south to the (SARKAKIYA). Later his relatives and other Fulani people started coming to that place. And he organize them to clear that (SAKAKIYA) and then they started building houses there, and they surrounded that well (KUNDUM).

After they completed building houses there, they continue to build a boundary (GANUWA) that will surround the town/village. And that boundary has four gates and the names of such gates are as follows:

1) Kofar Gabas – Akwai Sarkin Kofar Gabas Abubakar

2) Kofar Yamma – Akwai Sarkin Kofar Yamma-Ubandadi

3) Kofar Kudu-Akwai Kudu-M/Gidan Kofa

4) Kofar Arewa-Akwai Sarkin Kofar Arewa – Guga

Significantly, it was said they do that to protect themselves and their families from the attack of enemies particularly from Kasar Ningi, secondly, as at that time there are many bush animals near them. So that will assist them to atleast feel secured and live in peace.

All the people in that place said nobody deserve to rule them except that herdsman ISMA’ILU, since he is the first one to see the place for them, and he is the first one to settle there before them, so all the people accepted him as their leader and he settled crises and conflicts that arises in the course of daily happenings. Any problem that occurs will be taken to this herdsman ISMA’ILU for settlement. This occurred between 1784 to 1747 respectively.

As time goes on the people in that place and neighbouring places started calling that place “GARKIN ISMA’ILU”. After he died in 1749, they continue to call the place SUMAILU in memory of Isma’ilu. And since from 1749 to date any village head of Sumaila is popularly known as “DAN-SUMAILA” SARKIN SUMAILA. Histrocially, it was said that all these people that left Waita to Sumaila are Muslim and Fulani speaking people; about 255 years ago. The first leader of GARIN ISMA’ILU” that herdsman by profession died childless.

So people later (Big people around) appoint one Fulani man by name DANGI as their leader and called DAN-ISMA’ILU later called DAN-SUMAILA which means village head (Sarkin Sumaila) it was said he too stay long before he died. He ruled Sumaila from 1749-1829 respectively. As normal, people elected another Fulani man by name Muhammad to be their leader. It was during Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu that he fought war with enemies from Kasar Ningi; and he won them at first place. He fought Butawa people and also dealt with them severely. It was said later these Butawan Ningi get more organized and comeback to Sumaila for war and people and their leader Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu in Sumaila are not aware. And the Butawa people from Ningi succeded in fighting Sumaila, and it was said they catch Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu and killed him. They also caught a lot of cattle’s, people etc. to Ningi for their own selfishness. The rest ran to other place like Savina, Garko, Darki and Waita villages. Later it was said they comeback one by one to Sumaila and continue their normal life. Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu ruled Sumaila from 1829-1869. And he was killed by spongers from Ningi.

There was another man by name Akilu who appointed himself to rule and people accepted him from 1829-1869 respectively; it was said that during this man that three people came from Lardin Barno and Adamawa (Bare-Bari people) and they are rich all, and they collectively assist the people a lot, especially those that lose their property as a result of Butawan Ningi’s exploitation. So when Dan-Sumaila Akilu died in 1869, one of these three people by name JUMMA went to Kano to see the Emir of Kano, Maje Karofi for a special greeting and request of becoming Sarkin Sumaila. The names of these three people that came from Lardin Barono were Habibu, Jumma and Garba Maje Gabas. So, Jumma succeded in making contact with Emir of Kano Maje Karofi and made a special greeting to him with request of becoming the village head of Sumaila (Dan-Sumaila). Emir of Kano Maje Karofi appointed him as Dan-Sumaila and he reigned from 1879-1885.

Dan-Sumaila Jumma tried to bring people that ran away back to Sumaila and organized them toward their proper protection from enemies. And it was said that he ruled Sumaila for six (6) years before he died, and he did’nt have an off-spring to succeed him. So, his senior brother Habuna too followed the same process to Emir of Kano Maje Karofi and he accepted him and appointed him as the (Sarkin Sumaila) village head of Sumaila. It was during Dan Sumaila Habuna that he plans to retaliate the damages on Butawan Ningi and he succeded in doing what they did to Sumaila people. Emir of Kano was happy with this development and sent gift to him over that. He really fought Ningawa that tried to destroy Kano. It was further said that Emir of Kano Maje Karofi sent more people (Hausa Fulani) to Sumaila with (Kayan Yaki) to assist Dan-Sumaila Habuna in dealing very well with Butawan Ningi’s people.

It was in the course of this struggle that Dan-Sumaila Habuna died in 1885-1897, and he spent 12 years as village head of Sumaila and Sarkin Yaki. After his death, his last brother Garba Maje Gabas was appointed Dan Sumaila by Emir of Kano, Bello. He was said to be Islamic teacher that knows Islam adequately. He too fought enemies but with strong believe of peaceful reconciliation not through war. And he built a room where he teach Islamic religion to Fulani people in Sumaila. He fought Sarkin Ningi Haruna, and Sarkin Ningi Gajagi and he surprise them by the order of instructions of the then Emir of Kano Bello.

Dan-Sumaila Garba maje - Gabas spent 5 years 1897 - 1902; as the village head of Sumaila. And it was said that; it was during his time or tenure that the European missionaries came to Nigeria. Hisorical1y, they started with the annexation of Lagos in 1801 as a colony under colonial rule. And he was the first to appoint his children with titles as follows:

(1) Turakin Sumaila

(2) Daniyan Sumaila and

(3) Ciroman Sumaila.

By the time he realised the coming of Europeans to Nigeria, Garba moved to Kano with his three children to see Emir of Kano, Alu Emir Alu accepted his children appointments and then they discuss the European missionaries issues, and all of them decide not stay under European control. Dan-Sunaila Garba maje-Gabas runs to Mecca, and Emir of Kano Alu moved to Sokoto to meet sultan, and it was said that he did’nt reach Sokoto he met them (European people) on his way to Sokoto in Lakwaja and they killed him there.

Furthermore, it was later reported that Dan-Sumaila Garba maje too died in Sudan on his way reaching Mecca from his children by the time they came back. Since from if then, the leadership of Sumaila move or back to real Fulani people and the first settlers in Sumaia till date. It leaves the hands and relatives of those people that cames from Lardin Borno for over 23 years and each of these people or each one of them ruled Sumaila as Sarkin.-Sumaila (Dan-Sumaila). Within that 23 years the Surnaila affairs was re-alocated under the District head of Wudil by the Emir of Kano.

The Fulani people of Sumaila response to accept those children of Dan-Sumaila Garba maje - Gabas who died in Sudan. And they nominated one from them by name Isah and take him to Emir of Kano, and he accepts him as Sarkin Sumaila and Dan Sumaila. So, Fulani man Isah became village head of Sunaila (Dan-Sumaila) in the year 1902. He ruled Sumaila up to 1935 when he died. He has three children and two of them ruled Sumaila. Futhermore, it was during Dan Sumaila Isah that, the then Emir of Kano Shehu decided to establish more district areas in the Kano Emirate, Sumaila Area is among the selected towns by the Emir considering its history and the role it played with Ningawa during war. Suma’ila Area became a district Area of Kano in the year 1918 along others.

Therefore, after the death of Dan-Sumaila Isah in 1935, The first son of Dan-Sumaila Isah was appointed Sarkin-Sumaila Dan-Sumaila Ilyasu ruled Sumaila Area from 1935-1942 when he too died. His junior brother by name Muhammadu Nura was appointed Dan-Sumaila by the Emir of Kano Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero in 1942. Before then he was a village head of one small village near Suma’ila by name Alfindi, and he was promoted to Sumaila from Alfidi. It was said that he stayed in Alfidi for 10 years and he ruled from 1942 - 1992. He died on Tuesday the 17th November, 1992. He was indeed a man of integrity and honesty; and he loves the people of Sumaila Area and they too believed in his transparency trust and honesty.

Upon his death his first son, Alhji Bello Muhammad Dan-Sumaila who was then a manager in Devcom Merchant Bank Kano was appointed the new “DAN-SUMAILA Sarkin Sumaila on 10 December, 1992; by his Royal Highness the Ernie of Kano Aihaji Ado Baycro. He has contributed generally to various sectors of Sumaila Development, like the establishment of Sumila Community Bank, he donates a lot to various community projects like Sumaila Progressive Association, the New central mosque presently under construction and many others.

Alhaji Bello Muhammad Dan-Sumaila appointed a representative by name Hausa

“Wakilin Dan-Sumaila” to see the affairs of the town for mm under his instruction and command.

In a logical conclusion of the socio-cultural formation and history of Sumaila. The main cultural norms of Sumaila people are weaving, cattle-rearing, farming, business, butchering, fishing, hunting, and blacksmith etc. are the main daily business; and generally the people main religion was Islam.

3.2 Sumaila as a Local Government

Historically, during the second republic when Alhaji Muhd Abubakar Rimi was the Governor of Kano State, 9 Local governments including Sumaila were established, and it has two chairmen before it was cancelled by Buhari Regime in 1984 and they are:-

S/NO

NAMES

TIME

1.

Alhaji Umaru Farouk Sumaila

1980-1982

2.

Alhaji Sani Aliyu Sumaila

1982-1983

Furthermore, in 1989 the Babangida regime created more local governments in the country including Sumaila in Kano State. The principle and cardinal philosophy behind creating Local Government was to bring government closer to the people and for development programmes to take place for the fulfillment of people’s needs.

There is the Divisional police office in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State, headed by a Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O) and some policemen under him that assist in maintaining laws and order in the area.

The local government was headed by a chairman and his council members namely secretary, HOD’s, treasurer, and some principal staff officers for daily administrative work. There is also treasury Department that collects revenue from markets across Sumaila Area as revenue.

Below are the lists of the names of Local Government chairmen that rule Sumaila from 1989 to date:

S/NO

NAMES

TIME

1.

Alhaji Mohd.

1989-1989

2.

Alhaji Mohd. Musa Umar Gumel

1989-1991

3.

Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya Rimi

1992-1993

4.

Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha Tsanyawa (Secretary)

1993-1994

5.

Alhaji Sani Mohd Ma’aji

1994-1995

6.

Alhaji Garba Adamu Sumaila

1995-1996

7.

Alhaji Shehu Musa Usman

1996-1997

8.

Alhaji Musa Inuwa Gala

1997-1998

9.

Alhaji Abdullahi Sani

1998-1999

10.

Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya Rimi

1999 – 2003

11.

Alh. Zubairu Hamza Massu

2003-2011

3.3 Research Methodology

Sampling techniques

The married couples of Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Areas of Kano State will form the subjects of this study. The sampling will be carried out in two stages. First, the researcher will randomly select five (5) different areas in Sumaila town, and secondly use a stratified sampling technique to obtain the subjects of the study based on their large family size, educational attainment and income levels. A total of 100 families will form the subjects of the study.

Data Collection

The data will be collected from the responses of the 100 families who will form the subjects of the study. Review of some relevant literatures will also be conducted to help answer the research questions.

Instrument for Data Analyses

The main instrument for the study is a questionnaire which will be titled: questionnaire on family planning. The instrument sought to elicit responses on area of residence, age at marriage, and highest educational qualification etc. It also identified duration or age of marriage, and number of children owned.

Other areas which the questionnaire will cover are the factors that encourage large families and their general perception on family planning.

The third part will purely seek information on family planning acceptance in both modern and traditional way.


CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation and Analysis of Data

4.1 Introduction

This chapter examines the varied information gathered from the responses of the one hundred respondents who were contacted with one hundred (100) copies of a questionnaire on family planning across Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. A total of twenty questions are contained in the questionnaire, and each question will be presented and analyzed. They are as follows:

Question 1: What is your Age?

Table 1

Types of responses

No of Respondent

Percentage

15-25 years

18

18%

26-35 years

35

35%

36-45 years

29

29%

46-55 years

18

18%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 18% of the respondents fall within 15-25 years old, 35% fall between 26-35 years old, 29% fall between 36-45 years old, and 18% within 46-55 years old.

Question 2: What is your gender?

Table 2

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Females

13

13%

Males

87

87%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 13% of the respondents are females while 87% are males.

Question 3: Marital Status?

All the respondents are married couples. In other words, 100% of the respondents are married couples.

Question 4: Did you attend school?

Table 3:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Yes

85

85%

No

15

15%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 87% of the respondents have attended schools, and 13% did not go to school.

Question 5: If yes, indicate your educational qualification?

Table 4:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Post Graduate

5

5.9%

Post secondary

55

64.8%

Secondary

20

23.4%

Primary

5

5.9%

Total

85

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 5.9% of the respondents attended post graduate school, 64.8% attended post secondary school up to a university degree, 23.4% attended secondary school, and 5.9% attended primary school.

Question 6: Did you attend Quranic School?

Table 5:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Yes

100

100%

No

0

0%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

Table 5 shows that 100% of the respondents have attended Quaranic schools

Question 7: If yes, indicate the level of Quranic knowledge?

Table 6

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Not Completed Qur’anic

65

65%

Competed Qur’ain

30

30%

Completed with memorization

5

5%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 65% of the respondents have not completed Qur’an, 30% have completed it, and 5% have memorized it.

Question 8: Are you employed?

Table 7:

Types of responses

No of respondents

Percentage

Yes

80

80%

No

20

20%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

The table shows that 80% of the respondents are employed while 20% are not employed.

Question 9: If yes, indicate your employer?

Table 8

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Public sector

70

87.5%

Private sector

10

12.5%

Non-governmental organ

0

0

Total

80

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 87.5% of the respondents are working with government, while 12.5% are working with private sector, and none is working with non-governmental organization.

Question 10: Are you in to Business?

Table 9:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Yes

60

60%

No

40

40%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

The table shows that 60% of the respondents are into business, while 40% are not.

Question 11: If yes, indicate your level of income?

Table 10

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

0-20,000

5

8.4%

20,000-40,000

30

50%

41,000-80,000

20

33.3%

Others

5

8.3%

Total

60

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 8.4% of the respondents who said they are into business, earn N0-20,000 naira, 50% earn 20,000-40,000 Naira 33.3% earn 41,000 80,000, while 8.3% earn 81,000 – 200,000.

Question 12: How many children do you have?

Table 12

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

0-10 children

10

10%

11 – 20 children

60

60%

21-30 children

30

30%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that 10% of the respondents have 0-10 children, 60% have 11-20 children, and 30% have 21-30 children.

Question 13: Did you know about family planning?

Table 12:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Yes

60

60%

No

40

40%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 60% of the respondents are aware of family planning, while 40% are not. This goes to show that majority of many couples are aware of family planning.

Question 14: If yes, what is the source of information?

Table 13

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Seminar

5

8.3%

Radio

40

66.7%

Hospital

15

25%

Total

60

100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that 66.7% of the 60 respondents who are aware of family planning, heard information through radio, while 25% through Hospital, and 8.3% from seminars and trainings.

Question 15: Have you ever used family planning contraceptive methods?

Table 14

Types of responses

No of respondents

Percentage

Yes

20

20%

No

80

80%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

The table shows that 20% of the respondents used family planning contraceptive methods, while 80% did not.

Question 16: If yes, are the methods traditional or Modern? Specify.

Table 15:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Yes, modern

15

75%

Yes, traditional

5

25%

Total

20

100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that 75% of the 20 respondents who used family planning contraceptive methods, out of the total number of 100 respondents, are using modern methods, while 15% are using traditional methods.

Question 17: If yes, what influence you?

Table 16:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Non-government organization

5

25%

Health workers

10

50%

Religion

5

25%

Total

20

100%

Source: Survey Research

Question 18: If No, what prevented you?

Table 17:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Religion

10

12.5%

Not having enough knowledge

50

62.58%

Don’t know

20

25%

Total

80

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 12.5% of the 80 respondence did not used family planning, because Islamic religion prevented them, 62.5% don’t have enough knowledge on family planning while 25% don’t know.


Question 19: Do you think family planning is worth pursing in Sumaila town?

Table 18:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

Yes

40

40%

No

60

60%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 40% of the respondents agree that family planning is worth pursuing, while 60% are of the opinion that is should not be pursued.

Question 20: What do you think is the level of acceptance of family planning in Sumaila town?

Table 19:

Types of Responses

No of Respondents

Percentage

0-20%

60

60%

21-30%

40

40%

31-50%

0

0%

51-100%

0

0%

Total

100

100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that of the one hundred (100) respondents, 60 of them believe that the level of family planning acceptance in sumaila town is 0-20%, while 40 of them believes its 21-30%. This means that even though 60% of the total respondents (100) are ware of family, 20% of them are using both traditional and modern methods.


4.2 Hypothesis Testing

To find answers to the research questions and to decide the outcome of this study, three hypotheses were developed. They will now be subjected to empirical test based on our finding. They are as follows:

i) Educational and income levels are the factors influencing fertility pattern among rural dwellers:

Based on the information gathered from the responses of the 100 hundred respondents who formed the subjects of this study, especially questions No. 4, 5, 6 and 7, it is very clear that 85% of the respondents have attended school, 60% said they knew about family planning, and 20% of them used contraceptive methods both traditional and modern.

Moreover, of the 20 respondents who are used family planning contraceptives, methods, 25% of them were influence by non-governmental organizations through training, 50% of them through health workers, while the remaining 25% through Islamic teachings.

Besides, from the responses of questions such as No. 8, 9, 10 and 11, it is obvious that 60% of the 100 respondents are into business and 80% of them are employed, and earned income, and income is a motivating factor towards their educational pursuit. From the foregoing, it is true that education and income level influence fertility patterns among rural dwellers of Sumaila town:


ii) Ignorance and illiteracy are responsible for high fertility and population growth among rural dwellers:

From our findings, especially with respect to questions no. 13, 15, 16, 17, and 18, it is clear that 40% of the respondents didn’t know anything about family planning, and 80% have never used contraceptive methods at all.

One can say that ignorance and illiteracy are responsible for high fertility and population growth among rural dwellers of Sumaila town:

iii) Poor quality services and lack of awareness are responsible for low level of contraceptive prevalence among rural dwellers of Sumaila town.

This is true because, from the findings of this study, only 20% of the 100 respondents have used family planning, and 40% doesn’t know anything about it, and the fact that Radio is the major medium upon which they heard about family planning.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, even though only 20% of the 100 respondents used contraceptive methods (both modern and traditional), 40% did not have access to the services and 40% didn’t show interest in it at all.

Therefore, it should also be noted that fertility rates of families in rural dwelling areas differ according to their educational and income levels.


CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary of Findings

From the forgoing, it is very clean that education and income are among the key factors affecting fertility patterns among rural dwellers of Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. Fertility rate will continue to go high and population will continue to grow if there are no increased awareness and availability of family planning contraceptive services among rural dwellers. It is also important to note that family planning used is imperative because without which Nigeria’s population will double it self in the next 22 years, there by making government unable to provide jobs and provide basic amenities to its teeming populace.

5.2 Recommendations

To ensure a more organized family setting and population control, below are some policy action steps:

1. Governments at local and state level should partner to create more awareness at the grass root, and the partnership should involve faith based organizations and traditional leaders.

2. All the three levels of government: federal, state and Local Government, should integrate Health Services with family planning services because, with increased family planning services and its usage, the chance of child survival will also increased, and birth spacing will also means more mothers survived.

3. State Governments should provide free maternal and child health services at all levels by allowing for free antenatal and neonatal treatments for women in general.

5.3 CONCLUSION

In conclusion therefore, and based on the findings of this study, family planning stood out to be the only option for the survival of any society in today’s contemporary world. This means that for a society to continue to exist and have relevance in terms of achieving sustainable human development, that societies most have a well organized system of family planning so as to ensure an orderly organized and stable family and population setting.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Akinrinola B. et al, (2009), Fertility transition in Nigeria: Trends and prospects

Boniface A. et al (2006); Community-based study of Contraceptive Behaviour in Nigeria.

Clifford O.O (1999); Family Planning Attitudes and use in Nigeria: A factor Analysis.

Diary – “KANO STATE GOVERNMENT 1998” where the population figures was made available.

Federal Office of Statistics (1999), Socio-Economic Profile of Nigeria

Isaac F.A et al (2006), Community Based study of cocntraceptive behavour in Nigeria.

Microsoft Encarta (2008), Nigeria Facts and Figures, Microsoft Corporation, USA.

M.S Isa (2010), Family Planning in the Islamic Faith

Netson E.A (2008), Education as correlate of fertility Rate among families in southern Nigerian.

Nasiru M. Ziyara – “Tariwan Kasar Sumaila Da Hausa”. And transalated into English given by the District Head of Sumaila.

NPC (2006), National Population Commission Report

NDHS (2008), Nigeria Demographic Health Survey

NBS (2008), National Bureau of Statistics Report

NDHS (2008), National Demographic Health Survey

NPC (1999 & 2006), National Population Commission

NPC (2006), National Population Commission Report

Population Reference Bureau (2004) The Unfinished Agenda: Meeting the need for family planning in less Developed Countries.

Yusuf M. et al, (2008), Reading in Social Science Research.

www.unfra.org/pds/trends.htm

www.kanoonlint.com/populationhtml

www.gatefundation.org/global.../family-planning-strategy.pdg

www.fphandbook.org/

www.healthpolicyinitiative.com/.../996_1_Nigeria_FamPlan_FINAL_12_3_09_acc.pdf

www.usaid.gov

www.prb.org/pdf/famplanworldwide_eng.pdf


APPENDIX I

RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Acceptance of Family Planning among Rural Dwellers in Kano State: A case study of Sumaila Town of Sumaila Local Government Area.

Dear Respondent,

I am a postgraduate student of Bayero University, Kano pursuing a Masters Degree in Development Studies with History Department. As part of the academic requirement of completing the course, I am currently conducting a research on the acceptance of Family Planning among Rural Dwellers in Kano State with Sumaila town of Sumaila LGA as a case study. It will be appreciated if you kindly answer the following questions which will immensely conduct of this research. All information provided is purely for academic purpose and will be treated confidentially.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please tick √ where appropriate and explain where necessary.

1. What is your Age?

15-25 years ( )

26-35 years ( )

36-45 years ( )

46-55 years ( )

2. Gender?

Male ( )

Female ( )

3. Marital Status

Married ( )

Single ( )

4. Did you attend School?

Yes ( )

No ( )

5. If yes, indicate your educational qualification below:

a. Primary ( )

b. Secondary ( )

c. Post secondary ( )

d. Others , please specify _________________________________________

6. Did you attend Quranic School?

Yes ( )

No ( )

7. If yes, indicate the level of Quranic knowledge?

a. Not completed Qur’an

b. Completed Qur’an

c. Completed with memorization

8. Are you employed

Yes ( )

No ( )

9. If yes, indicate your employer below:

a. Public sector

b. Private Sector

c. Non-Governmental Organization

d. Others, please specify __________________________________________

10. Are you into Business?

Yes ( )

No ( )

11. If yes, indicate your income level below:

a. 0-20,000

b. 20,000-40,000

c. 40,000-80,000

d. Others, please specify __________________________________________

12. How many children did you have please specify ________________________

13. Did you know about family planning

Yes ( )

No ( )

14. If yes, what is the source of information?

a. Seminar

b. Radio

c. Hospital

d. Other, specify ________________________________________________

15. Have you ever use family planning contraceptive methods?

Yes ( )

No ( )

16. Are the methods traditional or modern? Please specify

Yes ( )

No ( )

17. If yes, what influences you to use them?

a. NGOs ( )

b. Health Workers ( )

c. Religion ( )

d. Others specify ________________________________________________


18. If No, what prevented you from using them?

a. Culture

b. Religion

c. Non have knowledge of family planning

d. Others please specify

19. Do you think family planning is worth pursuing in Sumaila?

Please explain_________________________________________________

20. What do you think is the level of acceptance of family planning in Sumaila?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time.