Perception of Married Women Aged 18-45 on the Practice of Family Planning in Ardo Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State of Nigeria

Abstract

This study is carried out to ascertain the perception and attitude of married women aged 18-45 on the practice of family planning. The study adopted the survey research method with questionnaire as the instrument.  The research deployed  multi stage technique to   select  5 wards out of the 12 wards in Ardo Kola namely Ardo Kola,  Jauro-Yinu, Jiru, Lamido-Borno, Mallum and then sets of questionnaire were distributed to 400 respondents   that were randomly selected from the 5 wards. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentage,  frequency distribution and Microsoft excel chart analysis. The study reveals among other things that married women in Ardo Kola Local government are aware of family planning/method but do not practice family planning because their husbands are not favorably disposed to the practice. The study recommends that Husbands in Ardo Kola should be enlightened properly by health care providers on the benefits derivable from family planning, and the attendant socio-economic and health problems where the practice is ignored.

Keywords: Married Women, Contraceptives, Ardo Kolo, Attitude, Family Planning