Socioeconomic and Sociocultural Predictors of Family Planning Uptake amongst Females (15–49 Years) in Delta State Central Senatorial District

BACKGROUND: The Southern part of Nigeria, where Delta State’s Central Senatorial District lies, has continued to record low levels of family planning (FP) service uptake despite their high level of awareness. This situation has led to poor health outcomes amongst women, children and the general population. Thus, poor progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 which aims to ensure healthy lives and promotes well-being for all at all ages, with specific targets related to promoting family planning services.
AIM: This study aims to assess the level of awareness of FP uptake, the socioeconomic and sociocultural predictors of FP uptake and the major barriers influencing the uptake of FP services in the Central Senatorial District of Delta State.

METHODS: The study employed a cross‑sectional descriptive design. Multistage sampling method was used to obtain a sample of 407 respondents drawn from females of reproductive age in suburban and rural communities. Data were collected through a researcher‑administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 26. Chi‑square test was used to determine significant associations, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors.

RESULTS: Findings from this study revealed that awareness about FP amongst females was high (69.3%), but only two‑fifths (42.3%) were using FP. The socioeconomic predictors of FP uptake were marital status (P = 0.004) and the type of community lived in (P = 0.010). The sociocultural predictors of FP uptake were spousal approval (P = 0.02), social groups’ approval (P = 0.053), belief in the effect of curses (P = 0.001), prayers (P = 0.016) and traditional practises (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: This study revealed high awareness about FP but low uptake amongst females of reproductive age due to identified socioeconomic and sociocultural factors. Therefore, the local and state governments should increase health education and promotion in rural areas to improve health knowledge. Furthermore, non‑governmental organisations associated with reproductive health should extend their programmes into rural areas and promote the creation of more FP advocacy social groups, to channel FP messages to the communities.