Rethinking Family Planning in Nigeria: A Critical Examination of Men's Attitude toward Reproductive Health Decision Making in Ikeja, Lagos State

Family planning is a critical public issue globally and more especially in developing countries like Nigeria where more emphasis is laid on women than men whose pivotal role as the head of families significantly affects household reproductive health decision making. This study critically examines men’s attitude toward reproductive health decision making in the Ikeja area of Lagos State with a focus on their roles, perceptions and level of involvement in family planning practices. The purpose of the study is to uncover the cultural, economic and information barriers that determines the level of male involvement in family planning practices in Lagos State. It also investigates if there is a significant relationship between men’s socio-demographic characteristics such as age, marital status, educational level, income and religious affiliation and their involvement in household family planning decisions. The study employed a quantitative research design using an online questionnaire survey to collect information from men in the Ikeja area of Lagos State. A total of 150 men, aged between 25 and 65 years were purposively selected. The questionnaires were distributed electronically via online platforms and the study records a 100% response rate. The data gathered was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. While the socio-demographic level of the respondents was analyzed using frequencies and percentages; Chi-square set at 0.05 confidence level was used to test hypothesis of the study. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to examine the linear relationship between awareness, belief, source reliability and men’s involvement in household FP decision making. The findings indicated that there is a very strong correlation between the men’s marital status and their willingness to participate in household family planning. The study also found that there is a strong correlation between men’s awareness and source of FP information on their involvement in family planning. The study argues that sustainable family planning outcomes can only be achieved when men are actively involved as partners in their household reproductive health choices. This informs the need for increased awareness, education a supportive interventions to encourage male engagements in family planning practices.