FERTILITY DESIRES, ATTITUDE TO THE NIGERIA POPULATION POLICY AND WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT CONTRACEPTION AMONG FEMALE POST- GRADUATE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, OYO STATE

Abstract

In spite of high awareness of contraception and the Nigeria population policy, empirical evidence indicates that there is still increased fertility desire in Nigeria and many couples are having more children than they want. Most of the fertility literature reviewed were on married couples’ fertility desire, but little has been done specifically on women’s fertility desire. Therefore, this study assessed the fertility desires, attitude to the Nigeria population policy and willingness to adopt contraception among female post-graduate students of University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a validated semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. A total sample of 235 female postgraduate students were selected using a three stage sampling technique. Respondents’ attitude towards fertility desire was measured on 14- point scale. Attitudinal Score (AS) of ≤ 7 was rated as negative attitude while score >7 was rated as positive attitude and attitude towards government’s policy on four children per woman was measured on 12- points scale. Attitudinal score of ≤6 was rated negative attitude while score > 6 represented positive attitude. Willingness to adopt contraception was measured on 16-point scale with scores ≤ 8 and >8 categorized as poor and good practice score. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at p ≤ 0.05. Respondents’ mean age was 28.2 ± 5.6years. All (100.0%) were female. Majority (87.7%) of the respondents were single while only 11.9% were married. Majority (52.6%) of the respondents had positive attitude towards fertility desire but 47.4%were negatively disposed. Many (41.0%) of the respondents desired to have 3 children in the future and 54.2% reported that the husband was the major fertility decision maker. Many (53.4%) agreed not to have more than four children so as to avoid financial problems. Almost all (98.5%) have heard of contraceptives. The specific ones ever heard included; Pills (39.7%), condoms (33.1%), IUCD (15.7%), injection (4.1%) and implants. The contraceptives currently used included pills (47.1%), Injection (41.2%), IUCD (5.9%), and Condoms (2.9%). There was a significant association between attitude towards fertility desire and age of respondents using Chi square test statistics. One-third of the respondents did not support government four-child-per-family policy though majority did support. Major factor identified to influence the fertility desire of respondents was financial constraint (53.4%). Majority (67.0%) of the respondents were willing to adopt contraceptive in the future to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This study showed that fertility desire was high among the study population but contraceptive usage was low while religion and parental factors influenced high fertility desire, attitude towards the government policy of maximum of four children per family was good and most were willing to adopt contraceptive. Educational interventions for awareness creation and positive attitudinal disposition to population policy and low fertility desire, adoption of contraceptives and health risks associated with increased fertility should be implemented in the institution.