Thesis Abstract

Abstract
This research project aims to investigate the attitude of men towards family planning and its implications for their involvement in the Oghara-Efe community. Family planning is a crucial aspect of reproductive health and overall well-being for individuals and families. However, studies have shown that men's attitudes and involvement in family planning decisions can significantly impact the success and uptake of family planning services. The Oghara-Efe community in Nigeria serves as the setting for this research due to its unique cultural and social dynamics. The study will utilize a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews, to gather data on men's attitudes towards family planning, their current level of involvement in family planning decisions, and the factors influencing their attitudes and behaviors. Understanding men's attitudes towards family planning in the Oghara-Efe community is essential for developing effective strategies to promote male involvement in family planning initiatives. By identifying the factors that shape men's attitudes and behaviors towards family planning, this research aims to provide insights that can inform the design of targeted interventions and programs to increase men's participation in family planning decisions. The implications of men's involvement in family planning are far-reaching and can contribute to improved reproductive health outcomes, gender equality, and overall family well-being. Men play a critical role in supporting their partners in making informed decisions about family planning, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care. By actively involving men in these discussions and decisions, communities like Oghara-Efe can enhance the uptake of family planning services and promote healthier reproductive behaviors. The findings of this research are expected to shed light on the specific challenges and opportunities for promoting male involvement in family planning in the Oghara-Efe community. By engaging with men and understanding their perspectives on family planning, policymakers, healthcare providers, and community leaders can develop tailored interventions that address the unique needs and preferences of men in this setting. Overall, this research project seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on men's attitudes towards family planning and their implications for involvement in community health initiatives. By highlighting the importance of men's involvement in family planning, this study aims to promote gender equity, improve reproductive health outcomes, and enhance the overall well-being of individuals and families in the Oghara-Efe community and beyond.

Thesis Overview

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The issue of family planning all over the world has attracted attention due to it important in decision making about population growth and development issues. Uncontrolled birth is a major contributing factor of an increase in the world’s population, particularly in Nigeria. Statistics shows that the population of the world was about one billion in 1859 in 1930, the population had doubled (two billion) in 1976, the total population was said to be four billion. Today, it is more than six billion, with Nigeria having a population of over 162 million, thus being the largest country in Africa and the 7th in the world map (United States Census Buxau, 2010). Life is a precious gift that every individual hunger for and in an attempt to grab this gift, our health must be maintained. There are so many problems that have been found to result from poor family planning method. Some of these problems include: Over population, criminal abortion, child dumping, increased child morbidity and mortality, as well as increases material morbidity and mortality rates. Over population as one of the consequences of poor family planning has succeeded in causing a lot of harm to individuals, families, society and the nation at large. Maternal mortality and child mortality have been found to occur due to poor family planning practice, according to the statement of the WHO (World Health Organization) and United Nation Education, Scientific Children’s Organization (UNESCO) in 1991) that over three million children and two hundred thousand women die each year and also women’s health and action research (2004) had showed rates of child and maternal mortality and morbidity rate in the world due to poor altitude towards Ante-natal care in which family planning is one of the objectives. The President of Nigeria, his Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was quoted in Vanguard newspaper on June 28, 2012saying “Nigeria families should have only the children they can afford. To ensure this order was followed , a new planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) was created. He said it may be time for birth control legislation. Family planning, until recently, a very sensitive subject in Africa, is now very increasingly accepted as a necessary ingredient of socio-economic development. It is now thought to be an important health measure that contributes to the health of parents, children and the entire nation. Because of the great effect over population has on socio-economic status, education and health in general, a full understanding of this phenomenon and the major factors governing it are essential, thus the need to adopt family as a means of checking the escalating birthrate cannot be over emphasized. Unfortunately, this idea is not adequately emphasized on, especially in the rural areas, where it was observed that they g=have a high regard for large families and children are seen as a blessing from God. They believed that the more children a man has, the more hands to help with work especially on the farm. It is also believed that children give status to a women and security in old age. In Oghara-efe Community in Delta State, it was observed that husband often make sexual demands with little or no consideration for material health and the children’s survival. They compound their wives potential mortality rate by either not allowing her to seek family planning, advice or will not seek it as a collection responsibility. This present mentality in Oghara-efe community and its consequent socio-economic, educational and health effect on the villagers makes it important for this study to be carried out.