Over a three-year period (1990-1992), the factors influencing the use of family planning among the 7,902 clients attending the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) Clinic in Ilorin were studied. The patients were predominantly females (74.1%). Urban residents (66.1%), educated clients (77.4%), clients aged 25-39 years (73%), and those with three or more children (74.8%) are more likely to use family planning. More Moslems (61%) than Christians (39%) appear to embrace family planning practice in Ilorin.
PIP: The records of 7902 clients of 3 Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) centers in Ilorin were reviewed to determine whether education, place of residence, age, sex, number of children, and religion influence the use of family planning methods and how or why they motivate PPFN clients. Contraceptive users tended to be female (74.1%), literate (77.4%), urban residents (66.1%), Moslem (61%), 25-39 years old (73%), and to have at least 3 children. Urban residence probably had a positive influence on contraceptive use because: family planning centers are easily available, residents have limited need for child labor, urban areas are crowded, and it is more expensive to raise many children in urban areas. The age distribution of contraceptive use suggests that women want to bear children while they are young, they then want to space births, and, finally, they want to cease child bearing when older. The greater contraceptive use among women than men (74.1% vs. 25.9%) reflects the male domineering attitude and reluctance to use family planning in this area of Nigeria. It also reflects the belief that family planning use is the responsibility of women.