Choices and availability of family planning services: evidence from census-based health facility assessment data in Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Controlling family planning (FP) has long been the goal of most nations and cultures. FP aims to keep the population under control while also improving living conditions. Many countries, especially the developing ones, which Nigeria is among, face the challenge of dealing with overpopulation due to high fertility rates. FP is considered a veritable way of dealing with high fertility problems. The present study assesses the choices and availability of FP services in Bauchi state health facilities. Methods: This study leveraged Noi Polls census data on Health Facility Assessment for Bauchi state. We conducted a descriptive analysis and analyzed the primary health facility assessment data using counts and percentages. Result: Findings of the study revealed that 80% of the health facilities studied in Bauchi State offer FP services. 91.2% and 77% of the facilities in the urban and rural areas, respectively, offer FP services. This translates to 8.8% and 23% of health facilities in urban and rural areas, respectively, not offering FP services. Based on proportions, assessing the facilities that offer FP by ownership shows that public health facilities are more into FP services (80%) compared to the private-for-profit (80%) health facilities and facilities owned by NGOs and faith-based organizations (83.3%). By facility level of care, 87.5% of secondary healthcare facilities in Bauchi State offer FP services compared to primary healthcare facilities (79.5%). FP services provided in the studied facilities include counseling, contraceptive injectables, oral contraceptive pills, male and female condoms, implants, Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Devices IUCD, sterilization methods, and natural/traditional methods. Conclusion: Considering that over 80% of health facilities considered in this study locates in rural Bauchi state, with over 22% not offering FP clearly shows a gap that the government must address. The distribution of FP services across the state's local government areas is inequitable as some local governments have more health facilities offering the services than others, thus giving residents in those areas a higher chance of benefitting from those services.