Misconceptions as Predictors of Contraceptive use among Married Women in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract The low prevalence of contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa has been largely ascribed to a lot of factors. Among such factors is false impression about family planning use. This study examined misconceptions as determinants of contraceptive uptake among married women in Southwest, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out among 1187 women of reproductive age (15-49) years in Southwest, Nigeria. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure to select the study participants and questionnaire method was employed to elicit responses from them. The study employed statistical product for services solution (SPSS version 20) to analyze the data collected. Frequency distribution was employed to explain the socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants, while chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were employed at the bivariate and multivariate level. The study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 33.7 ± 7.7 S. D, while the mean age at first marriage was 24 years. The study further showed that contraceptive use is still low in the region despite marginal improvement. Moreover, there were significant positive relationships between misconceptions such as family planning causes promiscuity, embarrassment at the point of uptake and contraceptive use. However, there were significant negative relationship between women who believe that contraception causes cultural inhibition/lack of openness among spouses as well as irregular menstruation. The study concludes that misconceptions such as family planning causes promiscuity, infertility, weight gain, irregular menstruation, cultural inhibition and lack of openness between couples and lead to embarrassment at the points of uptakes still exist in the study area. The study recommends that to witness improved contraceptive use in the area, program interventions tailored to contraceptive needs of married women such as health education and awareness campaign at both the national and local level should be embarked upon.