ABSTRACT
This study explored how women attending family planning clinics in hospitals in Kaduna State access and utilize family planning information. To address its objectives, the study posed four research questions, including: What factors influence women seeking family planning information at these clinics? What types of family planning information are available to them?
The research employed a quantitative methodology with a survey design, using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The study's sample consisted of 3,406 women (20% of the population) from a total of 17,029 women attending family planning clinics in Kaduna State. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations.
Findings indicated that the primary motivations for seeking family planning information were to prevent unplanned pregnancies and improve child and maternal care. The most accessible type of information was related to birth control, with doctors, nurses, and midwives being the main sources. Information on birth control and healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies were highly utilized by the women.
The study concluded that while women attending these clinics generally accessed and utilized family planning information, they did not fully utilize all available information resources, such as radio, television, friends/relatives, visual aids, and written materials.
Recommendations included encouraging women to stay informed about contraceptive use, the prevention of premature death, and the importance of healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies. Additionally, hospitals should expand the availability of various types of family planning information, including birth control, antenatal, and postnatal information.
