THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION ON THE ACCESS TO MODERN FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NARAYI AND BARNAWA AREA OF KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE

                                                                                     Abstract

The assertion that “religion still wields great power in the modern world. Religion continues to play a role in patterns of childbearing even in societies that have achieved replacement level. Religion is a critical socio-cultural dimension that has for long been considered as having important influence on attitudes towards, and the uptake of contraceptive methods. People’s attitudes towards family planning are important as they could promote acceptability of contraceptives, especially in areas with high fertility and low uptake of family planning methods. Those who perceive family planning to be of benefit to their well-being are more likely to use contraceptive methods.  While some religious institutions negatively influence acceptance of modern methods of contraception, others positively influence it. Religion is widely known to affect people’s views and acceptance of modern contraception use, thus affecting the outcome of their reproductive behavior. In view of this background, this study analyzes influence of religion on the access to modern family planning methods, a comparative study of Narayi and Barnawa area of Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State. To address the problem of study, three research questions were raised. The researcher adopted a survey research design. A total of one hundred and seven (107) respondents comprised the target of the study. Questionnaire and was the instrument used for data collection. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), frequency tables and percentages (%) were employed in the data analysis. It was discovered that religion continues to play a role in patterns of childbearing; it affects fertility behavior when it articulates norms relevant to fertility and communicates these values to promote compliance when it is central to the social identity. It is widely known to affect people’s views and acceptance of modern contraception use, thus affecting the outcome of their reproductive behavior. It is therefore essential to organize educational campaigns on the awareness of family planning services by emphasizing on the benefits of the services as it will help reduce misconceptions, and increase access and utilization of family planning services. Furthermore, provision of free family planning services in communities, involvement of communities and community leaders so as to enable them teach family planning to their members, regular seminars/workshops on family planning should be organized for the general public, and young people of the reproductive age are been able to make voluntary choice were suggested as ways access to family could be improved.

                                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background of the Study     -    -    -    -    -    -    1
1.2    Statement of the Problem     -    -    -    -    -    -   3
1.3    Research Questions     -    -    -    -    -    -    -      4
1.4    Objectives of the Study     -    -    -    -    -    -       5
1.5    Significance of the Study     -    -    -    -    -    -    5
1.6    Scope and Limitations of the Study     -    -    -     6
1.7    Definition of Key Terms    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    6
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL
2.1 Introduction     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -       -     -    -   -   -  -  -  - - 7
2.2 Determinants of Modern Family Planning Methods Use -    -    -    -     7
2.3   Influence of Religion on the Access to Modern Family Planning-       12
2.4 Level of Use of Family Planning Methods    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  - 24
2.5    Theoretical Framework     -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -     -   -   - -  - - -  28
2.5.1 Particularized Theology Theory    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  - - 28
2.5.2 Characteristics Theory            -    -    -    -    -    -  -  - - -    -   -  -  -  -30
2.5.3 Theory of Reasoned Action        -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  -  32
2.6 Hypothesis of the study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 34
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1    Location of the Study     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -  - -    - ---        34
3.2    Population of Study    -        -    -    -    -    -    -    -     -    -    -    -   - 36
3.3    Research Design    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -   -  - 36
3.4     Sampling Technique and Sampling Size    -    -    -    -    -   -    -  -  37
3.5    Instrument of Data Collection     -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -  -  -  -  - - 38
3.5. 1 Structured Questionnaire    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -  -   -   -  - 38
3.5.2 In-depth interviews (IDIs)    -    -    -    -    -    -   -   -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 38
3.5    Methods of Data Analysis     -    -    -    -    -    -   -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - - 35
3.6    Problems Encountered in the Field     -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  35
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1    Introduction     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - - - 41
4.2    Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents     -    -    -   41
4.3    Determinants of modern family planning methods use-    -    -      43
4.4    Influence of religion on the access to modern family planning-     47
4.5    Level of use of family planning methods    -    -    -    -    -   -   -  - 51
4.6 Hypothesis of the study    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -  -   -  -  -  -  -  -  53
4.7    Discussion of Major findings     -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  54
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1    Summary of Findings    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  - - - 64
5.2    Conclusion     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -  -    -   -  -  -  -  -  -  - - 66
5.3    Recommendations     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - - 66
    References    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - -68
    Appendices     -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -   -  - - - - - ---       - - - - - -  75