Pattern of Family Planning Methods used by Antenatal Patients in Owo,Nigeria.

This study aimed at assessing the pattern of family planning methods used by antenatal patients at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study was conducted between December,2007 and February,2008 at the antenatal clinic of the hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical committee of the hospital prior to commencement of this study. One hundred pregnant women selected by simple random sampling participated in this study. Informed consent was obtained from each of the respondents. Information obtained from the respondents with the aid of the study instrument (questionnaire) included their bio-data, use of birth control measures prior to conception, methods used and their perceived barriers to family planning. Majority of the respondents(57%) practiced family planning. The commonest method used was condom;35(61.4%).Religion significantly affected the practice of family planning with a p value of 0.041.The main barriers to the practice of family planning were mainly fear of side effects (50.5%) and husband's opposition(17.2%).The reasons for getting pregnant were desire to have more children (79%), and failure of family planning (21%). Over half of the respondents practiced family planning. Condom was the commonest method of family planning used. Religion significantly affected the practice of family planning. Fear of side effects was the main identified barrier to family planning. There is need to make family planning services more readily available for ease of accessibility. Keywords: Family planning, practice, women, Nigeria Nigerian Hospital Practice Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 33-3