Family planning decisions among couples and the gender discourse in Nsukka Urban, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Gender still informs couple's choice in family planning decisions and has led to marital instabilities, child abuse, and increased maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria. Hence, this paper investigated gender implications in family planning decisions among couples in Nsukka urban, Enugu State, Nigeria. Six hundred married respondents were recruited through simple random sampling to respond to a survey questionnaire. Data were computed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while descriptive statistics and chi-square were used to interpret the data. The findings show that women’s use of family planning is significantly related to men’s control of family planning decisions (p = 000). The consequences include increased maternal and child mortality, bearing children more than they can cater for economically and emotionally, unsatisfactory sexual life and family instability. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the government should develop and implement policies that will ensure the participation of both males and females in family planning programmes by inculcating it in the school curriculum.