Family Planning Awareness, Perceptions and Practice among Community Members in the Kintampo Districts of Ghana

Obed Ernest A. Nettey¹, Yeetey A. Enuameh^1,2, Emmanuel Mahama¹, Abubakari Sulemana¹, George Adjei¹, Stephaney Gyaase¹, Samuel Afari-Asiedu¹, Robert Adda¹, Abena Konadu Yawson¹, Gifty Fosuaa Nuamah¹, Edward Apraku Anane¹, Livesy Abokyi¹, Charles Zandoh¹, Martha Abdulai¹, Ellen Abrafi Boamah¹, Kwame Adjei¹, Seeba Amenga-Etego¹, Francis Dzabeng¹, Charlotte Tawiah-Agyeman¹, Frank Baiden¹, Kwaku Poku Asante¹, Seth Owusu-Agyei¹

¹Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana.
²Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/arsci.2015.31001                

Abstract

Family planning is known to prevent maternal deaths, but some social norms, limited supplies and inconsistent use makes this difficult to achieve in most low- and middle-income countries. In spite of the high fertility levels in most sub-Saharan African countries and the potential economic benefits of family planning, its patronage remains very low in the sub-region. This study was with the objective of identifying the levels of awareness, utilization, access to and perceptions about family planning and contraception. A cross-sectional study design was used for the study, with data collected from multiple sources using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Relevant findings included a marked disconnect between family planning/contraceptive knowledge and use. The pills and injectables were the most frequently used, but females in the study population poorly patronised emergency contraception. Supplies of most family planning methods were found to be health facility based, requiring clients to have to necessarily go there for services. Some respondents harboured perceptions that family planning was the responsibility of females alone and that it fuelled promiscuity among female users. Recommendations made include ensuring that health facilities had adequate staff and expertise to provide facility-based family planning services and also to disabuse the minds of community members of the negative perceptions towards family planning.

Keywords

Family Planning, Contraception, Reproductive Health, Kintampo, Ghana

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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