Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward The Use And Preference Of Family Planning Methods Among Rural Dwellers: A Study Of Sentu Rural Community, Ilorin, Kwara State

Family planning addresses the problem of sporadic increase in population growth, and the reproductive health of people living in rural areas has been reported to be lagging compared to those in urban areas. The study, therefore, investigated factors influencing attitudes towards family planning among rural dwellers in Sentu community, Ilorin. The study also examined various methods of family planning among the rural dwellers as well as factors restricting them to the methods. The study used qualitative and phenomenological research design. Purposive and convenience sampling technique were used to select fifteen respondents. Data collected were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings show that rural dwellers of Sentu community have a good understanding of family planning, and virtually all of them practise at least one method of family planning. On the methods of family planning, the study reveals that all the female respondents use pills method of family planning while their male counterparts use condom. The study, therefore, recommends that more public enlightenment programs on modern family planning methods be initiated among rural dwellers. There should also be formulation and effective implementation of childbirth policy in Nigeria, which regulates and sanction the number of children per household.