Abstract
BackgroundNigeria has the highest population in sub-Saharan Africa with high birth and growth rates. There is therefore need for family planning to regulate and stabilize this population. This study examined the relationship between access to mass media messages on family planning and use of family planning in Nigeria. It also investigated the impacts of spatio-demographic variables on the relationship between access to mass media messages and use of family planning.MethodsData from the 2013 demographic and health survey of Nigeria which was conducted in all the 36 states of Nigeria, and Abuja were used for the study. The sample was weighted to ensure representativeness. Univariate, bivariate and binary logistic regressions were conducted. The relationship between each of the access to mass media messages, and the family planning variables were determined with Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsThe correlation results showed significant but weak direct relationships between the access to mass media messages and use of family planning at p < 0.0001 with access to television messages (r = 0.239) being associated with highest use of family planning. Some of the results of the adjusted regression analysis showed that access to television messages (OR = 1.2.225; p < 0.0001), and radio messages (OR = 1.945; p < 0.0001) increase the likelihood of the use of family planning. The adjusted regression model also indicated increased likelihood in the use of family planning by respondents with secondary education (OR = 2.709; p < 0.0001), the married (OR = 1.274; p < 0.001), and respondents within the highest wealth quintiles (OR = 3.442; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThere exist significant variations within spatio-demographic groups with regards to having access to mass media messages on family planning, and on the use of family planning. The results showed that access to mass media messages increases the likelihood of the use of family planning. Also people with higher socioeconomic status and those from the Southern part of the country make more use of family planning. There is need to improve the socioeconomic status of the populations. Also, the quality and regularity of mass media messages should be improved, while other communication avenues such as traditional institutions, blogs, and seminars for youths should be used to make family planning messages more acceptable.
Highlights
Nigeria has the highest population in sub-Saharan Africa with high birth and growth rates
These show that the population was relatively a young one even as the majority of the Nigerian populace lived in rural areas
Both the bivariate and regression results showed that access to television messages influenced use of family planning more than messages from the other mass media
Summary
Nigeria has the highest population in sub-Saharan Africa with high birth and growth rates. Especially in sub-Saharan Africa face population related problems like spiraling population growth and contracting economy, resulting in situations where nations are unable to muster adequate socioeconomic resources to cater to the needs of their citizens [1]. Added to this is the need to promote reproductive health which can be harmed by uncontrolled child bearing, and unprotected sex, leading to avoidable social dislocations. One of the strategies often employed in the promotion of family planning is the utilization of the mass media to make populations aware of the benefits of the use of family planning. Lack of knowledge and misconceptions about family planning have been strongly linked with non-use of family planning methods [14]
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