Family Planning Attitudes and Use in Nigeria: A Factor Analysis

Context: Studies have found an association between attitudes toward family planning and the use of contraceptive methods, but the relationship between these two has not been critically examined and quantified. Methods: A randomly selected sample of 927 married men and women living in urban and rural areas of Nigeria were asked how strongly they agreed with 26 attitudinal statements regarding family planning. A factor analysis was used to measure the association between the respondents' attitudes toward family planning and their contraceptive practices. Results: Respondents'perceptions of family planning were associated with contraceptive use: Those who approved of family planning were twice as likely as respondents who disapproved to be using contraceptives. Furthermore, respondents who communicated with their spouse about family planning were three times more likely than those who did not to be using a contraceptive. Women who agreed with statements supporting girls ' education and discouraging early marriage were three times more likely than women who disagreed to be practicing contraception. Contraceptive practice was also more common among men who were exposed to family planning through the media than among those who were not. Conclusion: Factors found to be associated with contraceptive use should be utilized by the Nigerian government in its family planning awareness campaign. Changes in attitudes toward contraception among Nigerians may increase their practice of contraception. Clifford Obby Odimegwu is a research demographer and is on the faculty in the department of demography and social statistics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The author is grateful to A. Adewuyi and his research team for permission to use their data for this analysis.