Study: Non-use of contraceptives rising among Nigerians

Family planning experts from different health organisations in the country have decried the increasing rate of non-usage of contraceptive methods among Nigerians.

The experts expressed their concern at the sub-group oral sessions of the ongoing fifth Nigeria Family Planning Conference in Abuja.

Alawode Oluwatobi, a graduate researcher, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun state, noted that findings from an academic study revealed that age, region, education and unemployment were some of the factors militating against contraceptive usage.

According to him, out of a sample of 9,207 never married women, findings revealed that 81 percent of them had never used any form of contraceptive.

He said: “The research, entitled ‘non-use of contraceptive among never-married women’, was conducted to examine the major reasons why this set of women does not use contraceptives.

“The study also found out that the major non-users include secondary school leavers, adolescents, Protestants and urban dwellers.

“Some of their major reasons include infrequent sex and opposition from their sex partners.”

Oluwayemisi Ishola, a participant from The Challenge Initiative project, added that inadequate and ineffective counselling of young women contributed to non-usage of any form of contraceptive.

She also said majority of young women who use contraceptives preferred to get the services from chemists and patent medicine stores without having any feeling of guilt or stigma.

Ishola urged family planning experts to train health practitioners on how to give friendly counsels to young women to enable them embrace contraceptive usage.

Mukhtar Gaya, another participant from Breakthrough Action Nigeria, noted that findings from his engagement with religious leaders revealed that religion was not against child spacing and FP services.