Religious Leaders' Knowledge of Family Planning and Modern Contraceptive Use and Their Involvement in Family Planning Programmes in Burkina Faso: A Qualitative Study in Dori in the Sahel Region

Exposure to mass media family planning messages among men in Nigeria: analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey data

Background

Family planning (FP) is essential for improving health and achieving reproductive goals. Although men are important participants in FP decision-making within households in Nigeria, a country with one of the highest rates of maternal mortality, we know very little about their exposure to mass media FP messages.

Methods

Drawing theoretical insights from the structural influence model of health communication and using the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (n = 13,294), and applying logistic regression analysis, we explored the factors associated with men's exposure to mass media FP messages in Nigeria.

Results

A range of socioeconomic, locational, and demographic factors were associated with men's exposure to mass media FP messages. For example, wealthier, more educated, and employed men were more likely to be exposed to mass media FP messages than their poorer, less educated, and unemployed counterparts. In addition, compared to those in rural areas and other regions, men in urban areas as well as South East Region, were more likely to be exposed to mass media FP messages. Finally, younger men and those who belong to the traditional religion were less likely to be exposed to mass media FP messages, compared to their older and Christian counterparts.

Conclusions

Based on these findings, we discuss implications and recommendations for policymakers as well as directions for future research.

Perspectives of Muslim Religious Leaders to Shape an Educational Intervention About Family Planning in Rural Tanzania: A Qualitative Study

INTRODUCTION

Uptake of effective contraceptive methods can be hindered by poor understanding and uncertainty about its compatibility with religious beliefs. We sought to understand the perspectives of Muslim religious leaders in rural Tanzania on family planning (FP) and acceptable strategies for providing FP education to leaders and their communities.

METHODS

We conducted in-depth interviews with Muslim leaders from 4 communities in northwest Tanzania. Open-ended questions explored leaders' views on FP in relation to their communities, Muslim texts and teaching, and their experience as leaders. We also investigated how FP education could be provided in their communities and asked practical questions regarding seminar implementation. Interviews were conducted in Kiswahili and transcribed and translated into English. Data were coded independently by 2 investigators using NVivo 1.5.1 and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

We interviewed 17 male and 15 female Muslim leaders. All leaders supported FP as a concept in which births are spaced, interpreting this as espoused by the Qur'an and a basic right of children raised in Islam. Leaders uniformly endorsed the use of breastfeeding and the calendar method to space births but had divergent and sometimes opposing views on other methods, including condom use, oral contraceptives, and intrauterine devices. All leaders acknowledged the need for FP education among their congregants and were in favor of helping to teach an FP seminar in their communities.

CONCLUSION

Our data reveal insights into how education for Muslim leaders may equip them to promote birth spacing and enhance understanding of FP in their communities in ways that are concordant with Islamic teaching. Our findings will guide the design and pilot-testing of an educational intervention for Muslim religious leaders to promote knowledge and uptake of FP in rural Tanzania.

Parental Knowledge, Willingness, and Attitude towards Contraceptive Usage among Their Unmarried Adolescents in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Background. Adolescence is a time of opportunity, vulnerability, and risk, particularly in relation to health, unsafe sexual activity, and reproductive health. Neglecting their reproductive health issues leads to a great risk of agonizing transition to parenthood, lifetime effects, and early pregnancy, which can compromise educational achievements and economic potentials. Meeting the reproductive health needs of adolescents mostly rests on the parents’ shoulders. Thus, this study explored parental knowledge, willingness, and attitude towards contraceptive use among their unmarried adolescents. Methods. This was an analytical cross-sectional study design. The multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 360 parents from Ekpoma community, Edo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to generate data for this study. Data processing and analysis were done using SPSS version 24. In order to determine association with outcome variables, chi-square ( ${\chi }^2$ ) and Fisher’s exact test statistics were used while statistical significance was set at $p<0.05$ . Results. The proportion of parental knowledge on contraceptive methods was at 96.9%, parental willingness for their adolescents’ contraceptive uptake at 31.7%, and positive attitude at 24.2%. Associated factors for parental knowledge of contraceptives include gender ( ${\chi }^{2=}8.655$ , $p=0.003$ ), age ( $†=13.377$ , $p=0.001$ ), marital status ( $†=133.730$ , $p<0.001$ ), educational level ( $†=103.689$ , $p<0.001$ ), religion ( $†=164.592$ , $p<0.001$ ), ethnicity ( $†=25.273$ , $p<0.001$ ), and duration of marriage ( $†=11.365$ , $p=0.008$ ). Factors such as educational level ( $†=21.220$ , $p<0.001$ ), marital status ( $†=9.001$ , $p=0.022$ ), and religion ( $†=6.058$ , $p=0.046$ ) were associated with parental attitude towards contraceptives for their unmarried adolescents. Education level ( $†=19.905$ , $p<0.001$ ) was associated with parental willingness for their unmarried adolescents’ use of contraceptives. Conclusion. Although parents have good knowledge of contraception, this knowledge has not been passed on to their adolescents. However, few parents would encourage their adolescents to use contraceptives and advise the use of condoms if they are sexually active. Parents should be advised about contraceptive matters further to influence their adolescents’ attitudes towards its usage. Establishing youth-friendly health centers will also encourage health information use and exposure.