CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
Family planning is one of the ways to
control high birth rate and reducing over population in the society, preventing
unwanted pregnancy among other benefits is a decision that many family need to
be fully aware. However, the problem of population growth may not only be seen
from an economical point of view. The high fertility rates, which account for
the rapid population growth, have serious consequences for maternal and infant
health. Short intervals pregnancy and many pregnancies and deliveries pose a large
burden on maternal health. Inadequate periods to recover strength between each
pregnancy, as well as many deliveries, all associated with different levels of
risk, are factors that makes high fertility rates a threat to women’s health.
Moreover, infant health is also plagued by the short interval between births,
because short birth interval is associated with increased risk of pre-term
births, low birth weight and infant mortality (Bongaarts, 1987; Norton, 2005;
Rutstein, 2005).
Family
planning is the planning of when to have and use birth techniques to implement
such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexual education, prevention
and management of sexually transmitted diseases, pre-conception counseling,
management and infertility management (Olaitan, 2009). However, family planning
is usually used as a synonym for the use of birth control. It is most adopted
by couples who wish to limit the number of children they want to have and
control the timing of pregnancy, also known as spacing of children (Olaitan,
2009). It also includes raising a child with methods that require significant
amount of resources namely: time, social, financial and environmental. Family
planning measures are designed to regulate the number and spacing of children
within a family, largely to curb population growth and ensure each family has
access to limited resources. The first attempt to offer family planning
services began with private groups and often aroused strong opposition.
