Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T19:17:14.211Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE ON NON-USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG WOMEN IN NIGERIA: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 1990 AND 2008 NDHS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2014

ONIPEDE WUSU
ONIPEDE WUSU*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University, Nigeria
*
1Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The role of religion in contraceptive use is an issue of significant debate. This study employed the 1990 and 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data to examine differences and similarities in the influence of religious affiliation on non-use of modern contraceptives in Nigeria over the last two decades. The results suggest that a significant increase has occurred in the level of awareness of modern contraceptives in Nigeria over the last two decades, but that non-use remains very high. Religion could not independently predict non-use of modern contraceptives in 1990. Women of Islam and Traditional religions were more likely to have never used or not to be using modern contraceptives compared with Catholics and Protestants in 2008 (p<0.05). This can be explained by their poorer socioeconomic status relative to Catholics and Protestants. Therefore, improving women's socioeconomic status is an imperative in the promotion of modern contraception in Nigeria. Education and employment are critical in this regard and adherents of Islam and Traditional religions require special attention.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 47 , Issue 5 , September 2015 , pp. 593 - 612
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adinma, D. E., Adinma, J. I. B., Eke, N. O., Iwuoha, C., Akiode, A. & Oji, E. (2011) Awareness and use of contraception by women seeking termination of pregnancy in south eastern Nigeria. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease 1(1), 71–75.Google Scholar
Adongo, B. P., Phillips, F. J. & Binka, N. F. (1998) The influence of Traditional religion on fertility regulation among the Kassena-Nankana of northern Ghana. Studies in Family Planning 29(1), 23–40.Google Scholar
Agadjanian, V. (2013) Religion denomination, religious involvement, and modern contraceptive use in southern Mozambique. Studies in Family Planning 44(3), 259–274.Google Scholar
Agadjanian, V., Yabiku, T. S. & Fawcett, L. (2009) History, community milieu, and Christian–Muslim differentials in contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 48(3), 462–479.Google Scholar
Agha, S. & Rossen, V. R. (2002) Impact of mass media campaigns on intentions to use the female condom in Tanzania. International Family Planning Perspectives 28(3), 151–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Akintunde, O. M., Lawal, O. M. & Simeon, O. (2013) Religious roles in fertility behaviour among the residents of Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Economics, Management and Social Sciences 2(6), 455–462.Google Scholar
Alamri, Y. A. (2011) Islam and abortion. Islamic Perspective 43, 39–40.Google Scholar
Aramesh, K. (2007) Abortion: an Islamic ethical view. Iran Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 6 (Supplement 5), 29–33.Google Scholar
Avidime, S., Aku-Akai, L., Mohammed, Z. A., Adaji, S., Shittu, O. & Ejembi, C. (2010) Fertility intentions, contraceptive awareness and contraceptive use among women in three communities in northern Nigeria. African Journal of Reproductive Health 14 (3), 65–70.Google Scholar
Avong, N. H. (2012) Relationship between religion and use of modern contraceptives among the Atyap in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Research in Humanities and Social Sciences 2(8), 82–89.Google Scholar
Babalola, S., Folda, L. & Babayaro, H. (2008) The effects of a communication program on contraceptive ideation and use among young women in northern Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning 39(3), 211–220.Google Scholar
Babalola, S., Vondrasek, C., Brown, J. & Traore, R. (2001) The impact of a regional family planning service promotion initiative in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from Cameroon. International Family Planning Perspectives 27(4), 186–193 & 216.Google Scholar
Biddlecom, E. A. & Fapohunda, M. B. (1998) Covert contraceptive use: prevalence, motivations, and consequences. Studies in Family Planning 29(4), 360–372.Google Scholar
Bongaarts, J. (2006) The causes of stalling fertility transitions. Studies in Family Planning 37(1), 1–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Browne, A. (2012) What's religion got to do with it? Islam and fertility in Senegal and Cameroon. BSc thesis. Cornell University, Cornell.Google Scholar
Caldwell, P. & Caldwell, J. (2000) Fertility control as an innovation: a report on in-depth interviews in Ibadan. In Ebigbola, J. A. & Renne, E. P. (eds) Population and Development Issues: Ideas and Debates. African BookBuilders Ltd, Ibadan, pp. 235–281.Google Scholar
Casterline, B. J., Sathar, A. Z. & Haque, U. M. (2001) Obstacles to contraceptive use in Pakistan: a study in Punjab. Studies in Family Planning 32(2), 95–110.Google Scholar
Cleland, G. J., Ndugwa, P. R. & Zulu, E. (2011) Family planning in sub-Saharan Africa: progress or stagnation. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 89, 137–143, doi: dio:10.2471/BLT.10.077925 Google Scholar
Dalla-Zuanna, G. (2011) Tacit consent: the Church and birth control in Northern Italy. Population and Development Review 37(2), 361–374.Google Scholar
Doctor, H. V., Phillips, F. J. & Sakeah, E. (2009) The influence of changes in women's religious affiliation on contraceptive use and fertility among the Kassena-NanKana of northern Ghana. Studies in Family Planning 40(2), 113–122.Google Scholar
Edewor, A. P. (2005) The influence of religion on contraception and fertility. Journal of Religious Studies 2(1&2), 92–98.Google Scholar
Envuladu, E. A., Agbo, H. A., Mohammed, A., Chia, L., Kigbu, J. H. & Zoakah, A. I. (2012) Utilization of modern contraceptives among female traders in Jos South LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria. International Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research 1(3), 224–231.Google Scholar
Federal Office of Statistics & IRD/Macro International (1992) Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 1990. Federal Office of Statistics and IRD/Macro International, Inc., Lagos.Google Scholar
Goujon, A., Skirbekk, V., Fliegenschnee, K. & Strzelecki, P. (2006) New Times, Old Beliefs: Projecting the Future Size of Religions in Austria. Vienna Institute of Demography, Vienna.Google Scholar
Hirsch, S. J. (2008) Catholics using contraceptives: religion, family planning, and interpreting agency in rural Mexico. Studies in Family Planning 39(2), 93–104.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Izugbara, O. C. & Ezeh, C. A. (2010) Women and high fertility in Islamic northern Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning 41(3), 193–204.Google Scholar
Izugbara, O. C., Ibisomi, L., Ezeh, C. A. & Mandara, M. (2010) Gendered interests and poor spousal contraceptive communication in Islamic northern Nigeria. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 36(4), 219–224.Google Scholar
John-Stevas, N. (1960) Birth Control and Public Policy. Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Santa Barbara, CA.Google Scholar
Kane, T. T., Gueye, M., Speizer, I., Pacque-Margolis, S. & Baron, D. (1998) The impact of a family planning multimedia campaign in Bamako, Mali. Studies in Family Planning 29(3), 309–323.Google Scholar
Lutalo, T., Kidugavu, J. M., Serwadda, D., Zabin, S. L. & Gray, H. R. (2000) Trends and determinants of contraceptive use in Rakai district, Uganda, 1995–98. Studies in Family Planning 31(3), 217–227.Google Scholar
Monjok, E., Smeeny, A., Ekabua, E. J. & Essien, E. J. (2010) Contraceptive practices in Nigeria: literature review and recommendations for future policy decisions. Open Access Journal of Contraception 1, 9–22.Google Scholar
Murray, N., Winfrey, W., Chatterji, M., Moreland, S., Dougherty, L. & Okonofua, F. (2006) Factors related to induced abortion among young women in Edo State, Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning 37(4), 251–268.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Population Commission (2009) 2006 Population and Housing Census Priority Tables. National Population Commission, Abuja, Nigeria.Google Scholar
National Population Commission & ICF Macro (2009) Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008. National Population Commission and ICF Macro, Abuja, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Nazar-Beutelspacher, A., Molina-Rosales, D., Salvatierra-Izaba, B., Zapata-Matelo, E. & Halperin, D. (1999) Education and nonuse of contraceptives among poor women in Chiapas, Mexico. International Family Planning Perspectives 25(3), 132–138.Google Scholar
Odusina, E. K., Ugal, D. B. & Olaposi, O. (2012) Socioeconomic status, contraceptive knowledge and use among rural women in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria. Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences 3(3.2), 1–10.Google Scholar
Okonofua, F., Hammed, A., Abass, T., Mairiga, G., Mohammend, A. B., Adewale, A. & Garba, D. (2011) Private medical providers' knowledge and practices concerning medical abortion in Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning 42(1), 41–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Okonofua, F., Odimegwu, C., Ajabor, H., Daru, H. P. & Johnson, A. (1999) Assessing the prevalence and determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria. Studies in Family Planning 30(1), 67–77.Google Scholar
Olaitan, O. L. (2011) Factors influencing the choice of family planning among couples in southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 3(7), 227–232.Google Scholar
Olugbenga-Bello, A. I., Abodunrin, O. L. & Adeoni, A. A. (2011) Contraceptive practices among women in rural communities in southwestern Nigeria. Global Journal of Medical Research 11(2), 1–9.Google Scholar
Population Reference Bureau (2013) 2013 World Population Data Sheet. Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Raimi, O. M. (2000) Islam and contraceptive use in Kwara State. In Ebigbola, J. A. & Renne, E. P. (eds) Population and Development Issues: Ideas and Debates. African BookBuilders Ltd, Ibadan, pp. 283–301.Google Scholar
Roudi-Fahimi, F. (2004) Islam and Family Planning. Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Srikanthan, A. & Reid, R. L. (2008) Religious and cultural influences on contraceptives on contraception. Journal of Obstetrics Gynaecology Cancer 30(1), 129–137.Google Scholar
Sundaram, F., Juarez, F., Bankole, A. & Singh, S. (2012) Factors associated with abortion-seeking and obtaining a safe abortion in Ghana. Studies in Family Planning 43(4), 273–286.Google Scholar
United Nations (2012) World Contraceptive Use 2012. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. URL: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WCU2012/MainFrame.html Google Scholar
Whaley, Z. (2007) Birth control and abortion in the practice and tradition of Islam. Macalester Islam Journal 2(3), 27–33.Google Scholar
Wusu, O. & Isiugo-Abanihe, C. U. (2007) Gap in knowledge and use of contraceptives in southwestern Nigeria: a study of Ogu. UNILAG Sociological Review 8, 83–106.Google Scholar
Wusu, O. (2012) A re-assessment of the effects of women education and labour force participation on fertility in Nigeria. Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 10, 31–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yeatman, E. S. & Trinitapoli, J. (2008) Beyond denomination:the relationship between religion and family planning in rural Malawi. Demographic Research 19, 1851–1882. URL: http://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol19/55/ Doi:10.4054/DemRes.2008.19.55.Google Scholar
Zhang, L. (2008) Religious affiliation, religiosity, and male and female fertility. Demographic Research 18, 233–262. URL: http://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol18/8/ Doi:10.4054/DemRes.2008.18.8 Google Scholar