THE POSSIBLE WAYS OF ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF FAMILY PLANNING IN ZARIA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE

Family planning plays a crucial role in promoting individual and societal well-being by empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and enabling them to achieve desired family size. However, successful implementation of family planning programs requires careful consideration of various factors that influence its acceptance and uptake within specific communities. This abstract highlights the possible ways to ensure the success of implementing family planning in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. This study aims to identify key strategies that can contribute to the successful implementation of family planning programs in Zaria Metropolis. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A survey questionnaire will be administered to a representative sample of individuals residing in Zaria Metropolis to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding family planning. Additionally, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions will be conducted to gather qualitative insights on cultural, religious, and socio-economic factors influencing family planning adoption. Preliminary findings suggest that several strategies can enhance the success of family planning implementation in Zaria Metropolis. Firstly, raising awareness and providing accurate information about the benefits of family planning through community-based health education programs and mass media campaigns is crucial. Engaging local leaders, religious institutions, and community influencers in promoting family planning can help overcome cultural and religious barriers. Furthermore, ensuring the availability and accessibility of a wide range of contraceptive methods at affordable prices within healthcare facilities and community outlets is vital for increasing uptake. In addition, integrating family planning services into existing healthcare systems, such as antenatal and postnatal care, can reach a larger population and facilitate continuous access to contraceptives. Strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers through training programs to deliver quality counseling and services related to family planning is essential. Lastly, establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the progress, identify challenges, and adapt strategies accordingly will contribute to the sustained success of family planning programs. In conclusion, the successful implementation of family planning in Zaria Metropolis requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses socio-cultural, economic, and healthcare system factors. By implementing the identified strategies, policymakers, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders can work collaboratively to create an enabling environment that promotes informed decision-making, supports contraceptive access, and fosters positive attitudes towards family planning. This research aims to provide actionable recommendations to improve family planning programs in Zaria Metropolis and serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working in the field of reproductive health.

Family planning cannot be discussed without discussing the concept of family. Therefore, family is one of the five basic universal institution of the society i.e. economic, political, education, religion and family. Family is also the oldest institution in the society. Engels (1972). Family planning today is regarded by many countries as an aspect of population control, especially as it relates to health policies and programs. Countries like India, China etc. are already consolidating the program. The idea of family planning all over the world is as old as the society itself. 

Some African countries i.e. Ghana, Kenya, Egypt have anti-family planning program to reduce the need for abortion, rein enforces people’s right to determine the number and spacing of their children as compared to others i.e. Nigeria, Colombia, Sierra Leone that have adopted the family planning services. (Safe Motherhood Initiative, 1986). The world health organization (WHO 2000) reported that 150 million women who become pregnant each year, half a million died from pregnancy related complications such as maternal mortality and mobility, which refer to the death of a woman who is pregnant during the first 42 days. While maternal morbidity is the injury sustained by women during child birth which can also lead to death.

The Nigerian government has been spending large sum of money annually through the Federal Ministry of Health to embark on public campaign for family planning service and some private organizations i.e. Non-Governmental organization (NGO) to provide clinical service and public enlightenment campaign on the important of family planning service. 

According to World Health Organization (WHO) technical service volume 40 (1971), family planning is a way of adopting voluntary policy upon the basis knowledge, attitude and responsible decision by individuals and couples to promote the health welfare of the family in order to contribute effectively to the socio cultural, economic and political development of the country. In a general term family planning can be seen as a way by which individual and family exercise their right in the family formation process to improve their living standards, health and life expectancy by deciding freely and responsibly on the issue of sexual regulation and birth control appropriately to determining the family size in relation to available resources on when to stop child bearing and use of contraceptive measure to achieve child bearing or not in a country. where family planning policies are adopted the emphasis seem to be family planning or reduction in fertility rate. 

Safe motherhood initiative, a partnership of the world health organization (WHO), United Population Forum (UNPF) and several agencies from more than 45 countries aimed to cut the number of maternal death, that is, pregnancy related death to half by the year 2000 by improving access to safe pregnancy, family planning, and safe abortion, when necessary. 

Nigeria has the highest population and population growth rate in Africa as confirmed by the United Nation Population estimate 1964. The 1991 provisional figures present Nigeria population figure at 88 million, the 1999 was 113.8 million and 2006 figure was 140 million which women constitute the highest portion. It gave the population growth rate at 4.3% while gross domestic product (GDP) was estimate at 3.2% (Nigerian demography report, 2008).  The National Population Commission (NPC) says Nigeria’s estimated 198 million population figure recently announced by the commission is based on an annual population growth of 3.2 per cent, spanning from 2006 till date. The NPC Chairman, EzeDuruiheoma, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. The NPC had on April 11; put Nigeria’s current population at 198 million people, with urban population growing at an average annual of about 6.5 per cent. MrDuruiheoma announced the figure in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration at the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development.

The NPC boss told NAN that the current estimated figure of 198 million was not just concocted but from annual growth of 3.2 per cent, judging from the last census of 2006.He added that “there are deaths and births and nobody imagined that there will be more deaths than births.“Irrespective of what anyone thinks about deaths, there is always more births than deaths and that is why the 3.2 annual growth rate is used in arriving at the current population figure.“The most important thing now is to conduct another census to ascertain the country’s actual population. “We want to do away with the projected figure because there is more to census than funds and we are waiting for a presidential proclamation that will empower NPC to conduct the head count.’’ MrDuruiheoma said having accurate data about a country’s population was essential in planning as it would be used for social, economic, political and other needs.

The modern family planning is now in Nigeria. However, the concept of family planning and child spacing is not new. History has revealed traditional methods of contraception amongst the different cultural groups in Nigeria. Due to the alarming rate of septic abortion and other related issues on fertility regulation, studies have shown that practice of illegal abortion are very common among married couples, with unwanted pregnancy, abandoned babies having the highest prevalence rate. 

The need for family planning on the other hand involves the use of contraceptive such as pills, injections, spermicidal, diaphragm, implant, vasectomy, condom etc. which are obtainable in government family planning hospital and private clinics. Nigeria, a member of the United Nation (UN) estimated a network for maternal and child welfare clinics where family planning can be obtained. 

In spite of the benefit and effort towards utilization of family planning services, success seem to be slow, if not un attainable, Hence the need to identify the factors that militates against the utilization of such service, i.e. family planning. The study therefore is concerned with exploring and identifying the factors militating against the implementation of modern family planning in Sabon Gari Local Government, Kaduna State.

The problem of societal pressure on couples to prove their fertility has hindered family planning, the belief that “money answered all things” make couples to bear many children with the belief their wealth can cater for as many children they want, many couples with their strong belief in the Holy Book which says be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth in obedience to this instruction many couples avoid family planning, many cultures have strong belief that God give mouth to children, therefore he is capable of feeding them. This makes many couple to produce many children without considering any side effect and traditionally, men are heads of households and decision makers in issues in their respective households. Men decide on family planning and number of children as well as how to use what is produce by the family.  

1.3 Research Questions                   

This study will seek to provide answers to these questions:

The objectives of the study is to investigate the factors that militating against the implementation of family planning in Zaria metropolis, of Kaduna state.

This research is designed to accomplish the following objectives.

(i) There is significant different between the implementation of family planning and the factors militating against it in Zaria metropolis, of Kaduna state.

(ii) There is no significant different between the implementation of family planning and the factors militating against it in Zaria metropolis, of Kaduna state.

Family planning has created a great concern to individual, government and private organization. Several studies have been conducted on the issue of family planning. This study will be theoretically important. Wikipedia, (2008), noted that the essence of family planning services is to benefit the health and wellbeing of women and families throughout the world. Pooda (2005), noting WHO’s estimate stated that one woman dies every minute due to complications of pregnancy and/or childbirth, about 4 million women suffer disabilities, some of which are serious and lifelong. Family planning therefore is expected to serve the purpose of helping couples to plan to have the number of children they desire and also be able to raise their children with full assurance of available resources, maintain good health and save (Wikipedia, 2010), and unmarried women including adolescents and minors to manage their active sexual lives properly without regret. It is hoped this study will provide additional insight to the existing literature on family planning services, attitudes and perceptions in Nigeria with particular reference to Zaria metropolis, Kaduna state.

The practical significance includes the fact that the findings will be of immense benefit for stakeholders in making policies that will empower women in accessing family planning services, and encourage male and female support of use of family planning services and their health in general. It is expected that this study will: (a) Help raise consciousness of not just the target group but all who have attained adolescence and are sexually active especially in the rural and semi-rural areas of the need for access and use of family planning services.  (b) Help stake holders co-join in making millennium development goal of attaining good health for all by the year 2020 a reality in Nigeria.

This research work is based on the factor militating against the implementation of family planning in Zaria metropolis, of  Kaduna state.

The study also covers many relevant solutions and suggestions close by other researchers in the field. The research work covers married/adult people resident in Zaria metropolis, of Kaduna state. The area of the study (Zaria) is divided into 11 segments i.ezaria city, Sabon-gari, Ban zauzau, Dakaci, layin-zomo, Tudunwada, Gwangila, unguwarkaya, Dan-magaji, Gwargwaji, Nagoyi For effective coverage and representatives of all segment.

The study is limited to some 11 segment in Zaria metropolis, of  Kaduna state. Also trying to extend it to other segment which required time and other resources which always limited in supply.

Family planning: family planning is defined as the ability of individual and couple to anticipate and attain their desired numbers of children and the spacing and timing of the birth achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility. 

Factor: This refers to a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result.

Militating: It may be seen as a fact or circumstance be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing and bringing about an effect or change.

Against:  This has to do with opposition or hostility

Implementation: The process of putting a decision or plan into effect execution.