LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF CONDOM AS A METHOD OF FAMILY PLANNING BY MARRIED
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:
Family planning entails planning on the agreed number of children a couple would want to have so that they do not breed more than they can manage. The main purpose of family planning is to improve the health of both mother and the child. This is because frequent pregnancies adversely affect a woman’s resources and health. It might in turn directly or indirectly affect the child’s health, and can lead to both infant and maternal mortality. In addition, family planning is also a social service, this is because an unrestrained population burdens a nation economically in that most of it’s resources will go to the non-productive sector of the economy.
Family planning can be traditional or modern. The modern methods include the barrier methods which involve the use of condoms (both male and female), diaphragm and cervical caps. It works by preventing spermatozoa from coming into contact with the ovum. The hormonal include the use of combined oral pills, progestin only pills. They are synthetic steroids hormones containing oestrogen and progesterone. They work by suppressing follicle stimulating hormones and lutenising hormones thereby in habiting ovulation.
Natural methods include billing ovulation method, basal body temperature, calendar, method and symptothermal. Surgical methods are the male (vasectomy) and female sterilization.
The need to control fertility has been identified even during the early time and the idea of controlling the family is as old as mankind.
In modern times, the decision of when or even whether to have children is a basic human right. The international conference on population and development held in Cario, Egypt in September 1994, clearly endorsed this right. This right is with benefits which include that family planning programme service, helps people to achieve, the number of children they desire reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI), reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and improve the health of women and children (Hatcher and Kowah, 2000). Current contraceptive use is higher among women than men. 69% of all women using a modern method obtained contraceptive service from the public sources, 21% from other sources ( Action and Omeara, 1997). Before the advent of scientific method of family planning, our fore-fathers were aware of the need for child spacing but traditional methods were used such as prolonged breastfeeding, use of lime juice, salt, waist band and blue powder (Dalsimer, Piotrow and Dumm 1985).
In early 1350 BC, various methods of birth control were introduced which condom was one of them. Condom seemed to be one of the most favourable contraceptives that was used as far back as 1350BC. It is made of a linen sheath contraceptive device, covering the penis, worn during coitus (Barbara 1999). In 18th century, the penile sheath were given the name “condom” and popularized as a means of protection from veneral disease and numerous bastards offspring (Foege, 1985).
Condoms are disposable and are available indifferent sizes, shapes, colours and quality of latex usually in pre-lubricated packs. Some lubricants contains spermicide and additional stimulatory appendages which have been added to increase the popularity of the method (Jones 2001)
Condoms have the following advantages over other contraceptive methods because it reduces the transmission of sexually transmitted infections including (HIV) in addition to its role in preventing unwanted pregnancies, it is sage, easy and effective and it is relatively cheap (Hatcher and Warner, 1992). The disadvantages include: breaking of the condom during sexual act and interruption of intercourse which may constitute a draw back for some couples. The concurrent use of condoms with another method of family planning such as pills are becoming more popular and it is known as “Double dutch method” (Mindel and Estcourt 2000).
Recent surveys of contraceptive use among married couples worldwide indicate that condom rank near the bottom among contraceptive methods used by married couples. The pill was the method most widely used among women (74%), IUCD (54%), injectable (58%) female sterilization (58%) and followed by condom (67%) among men. The most widely known methods were the pill (61%) and condom (51%). (Acton and Omerara (1998).
However, the Nigerian society with her multi various beliefs, customs, religious and traditional practices is still showing unconcern attitude to this awareness and enlightenment exercise. Unlike the European countries for instance UK, (Welling, 1994) found out that over 25% of women and 36% of men had used condoms in the previous years. This is clear opposite in Nigeria where only 11% for IUCD, 7% injectable, 0% for sterilization male and 1% female, condom 1% (Elzanaty 2000).
The researcher observed that many women turned out for family planning while men show no interest even with fact that condom are given free of charge in the family planning centers. It is on this ground that the researcher seeks to find out the level of acceptance and use of condom by married men in Ituk Mbang Uruan L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will be of profound significant in the following areas:
- Men will have acquired adequate knowledge about the benefits of condom.
- The research will help for further studies in the subject matter.
- It will make men and women to have sex without fear of contracting STIS.
- Men will have a positive behaviour towards the use of condom, as not only family planning method but protective device against STIS.
- It will assist the health workers to order the contents of their education about condom use.
1.3 PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Purpose
The main purpose of the study is to ascertain the acceptability and use of condom by married men in Ituk Mbang, Uruan L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
Objectives
- To determine the influence of culture towards the use of condom by married men.
- To determine the influence of education on the use of condom by married man.
- To determine the influence of gender roles on the use of condom by married men.
- To determine the influence of religion on the use of condom by married men in Ituk Mbang.
- OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Acceptance: To believe or use an idea.
Contraceptive: An agent used to prevent conception e.g. condom cap that occludes the cervix.
Family Planning: The arrangement, spacing and limitation of the children in a family.
Fertility: State or condition of being able to produce much.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- Does level of education influence condom use by married men in Ituk Mbang.
- Does culture of the society influence condom use among married men in Ituk Mbang.
- Does religion create a barrier to the use of condom by men in Ituk Mbang.
- Does gender roles affect acceptance and use of condom of married men in Ituk Mbang
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY/DELIMITATION
The study is delimited to all married men in Ituk Mbang in Uruan L.G.A., Akwa Ibom State.
1.7 LIMITATION
Due to limited time frame and financial constraints, the study will be limited to Ituk Mbang, Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
- STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
It is observed that despite campaign enlightenment programme made by Government and non-governmental organisation (NGO’s) to synthesize the public on the need for family planning, there are still a lot of men who prefer to take the risk of having sex without using condoms, even when they don’t expect pregnancy.
Personal interaction with some men in Ituk Mbang poses that married men use condom when they have sex with partners other than their wives, but refuse to use it when having sex with their wives, which result in unwanted pregnancy.
In Nigeria, less than 20% of married men of reproductive age use contraceptive while only 1% of condom user was recorded in 2000 (Hatcher and Kowal, 2000). This is why researcher wants to find out the level of acceptance and use of condom by married men in Ituk Mbang, Uruan Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
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