Low awareness of family planning service sites among community members in Nigeria

Background: Only 10% of currently married women use a modern family planning method. The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) aims to promote the health of women and men through improved access to reproductive health services in six Nigerian cities. To ensure effective programming, results from research at the community level will inform the development of the project activities.

Methods: Participatory social mapping data collection activities took place in Ibadan and Kaduna. In three neighborhoods in each city, four groups convened, stratified by sex and age. Facilitators guided the participants through the exercise of drawing a map of their community and locating health care facilities, and identifying which health care facilities offer family planning services, and identify spaces where social interactions occur. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach.

Results: Findings suggest that the respondents were aware of many health facilities but were less aware of the available family planning services. Men had a more expansive perception of community boundaries – potentially reflecting their greater mobility. There was no difference in identified places of social interaction when comparing the older and younger groups. Social spaces identified included community leaders palaces, markets, sport grounds, bars, and places of worship.

Conclusion: The study indicated a need to increase awareness about the local available family planning service sites. Greater awareness of family planning service sites could improve utilization of family planning services and increase the contraceptive prevalence rate. Community and religious leaders' compounds appear to be important entry points into communities.