INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON ACCEPTANCE AND UTILIZATION OF MODERN FAMILY PLANNING METHODS AMONG NURSING MOTHERS IN MINNA METROPOLIS, NIGER STATE

Abstract

This study investigated influence of socio-demographic factors on acceptance and
utilization of modern family planning methods among nursing mothers in Minna metropolis,
Niger state. The purpose of this study were to evaluate the influence of religion on acceptance
and utilization of modern family planning among nursing mothers and examine the influence of
socio-economic status on acceptance and utilization of modern family planning among nursing
mothers. A descriptive research of survey type was adopted for the study. Population for the
study comprised of all nursing mothers in Minna metropolis. Multistage sampling technique
consisting of systematic, purposive and simple random sampling techniques was used to select
306 respondents. Researchers structured questionnaire was used after validated by three experts
from the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, University of
Ilorin. A reliability coefficient of .68r was obtained through test re-test method using Pearson
Product Moment Correction. Data was collected by the researchers with the help of Eight (8)
trained research assistants. The four (4) postulated null hypotheses were tested using the
inferential statistics of chi-square at 0.05 alpha levels. All the hypotheses were rejected. The
findings of this study showed that: religion significantly influence the acceptance of modern
family planning because calculated X2 value was 273.5 > critical value 21.026; socio-economic
status significantly influence the acceptance of modern family planning because calculated X2
value was 332.4 > critical value 21.026; religion significantly influence the utilization of modern
family planning because calculated X2 value was 293.93 >critical value 21.026; socio-economic
status significantly influence the utilization of modern family planning because calculated X2
value was 273.5 > critical value 21.026. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded
that religion, and socio-economic status of nursing mothers significantly influenced their
acceptance and utilization of modern family planning methods in Minna metropolis. Therefore, it
was recommended that family planning providers should health educate the religious bodies to
see the advantages in acceptance and utilization of modern family planning methods especially
among nursing mothers, and also, government should subsidize all modern family planning
commodities to encourage acceptance and utilization especially among nursing mothers.