Impact of a Rural Family Planning Program in Ishan, Nigeria, 1969-72

A multiround fertility and knowledge attitude and practice survey was conducted among currently married women in Ishan Division of the Midwestern State of Nigeria in 4 rounds of interviews at 1-year intervals between 1969 and 1972. The objective of the survey was to evaluate the impact of the family planning program initiated at Zuma Memorial Hospital in Irrua in February 1969. This program was the 1st organized attempt to introduce modern methods of family planning to the population of Ishan. Survey results show that significant changes occurred in the attitude of women toward family size limitation and knowledge and practice of family planning in the 1st 4 years of the family planning program. In 1969 approximately 1/4 of the respondents indicated a desire to limit their family size but by the end of the survey period the proportion had increased to over 1/2. The greatest change in attitude was reported for women with 2 or fewer living childre n. The proportion of such women who wished to limit family size increased from 26% in 1969 to 66% in 1972. Education appears to have more influence than age on the desire to limit family size. 13% of the respondents knew at least 1 contraceptive method in 1969. This figure rose to 55% in 1972. By 1972 almost 1/4 of the respondents were using 1 or more methods of birth control in contrast to 1% in 1969. Neither the awareness of declining child mortality nor increased parental aspirations for children however seems to have affected family size ideals for the mean preferred number of children reported by the women remained at slightly over 7 for all 4 survey years. When evaluated in the context of a rural society the Ishan family planning program has accomplished much in terms of increases in family planning knowledge and practice in a short period of time. The success of the program can be largely attributed to its indigenous character.