Knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning amongst women in a high density low income urban of Enugu, Nigeria.

A total of 334 Nigerian, non-pregnant women, living in a high density, low-income urban area of Enugu, Nigeria, were interviewed on knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning. About 97.6% were found literate. Knowledge and approval of family planning was high, 81.7% and 86.2% respectively, but the practice of family planning was low, as only 20% of the women were on a family planning method. The commonest methods for both ever use and current use were safe period/Billings, condom, IUCD and injectables. The commonest source of family planning information was health workers, while the commonest single reason for non-practice of a method was rejection by the husband. It is concluded that despite their high level of education/literacy, with the attendant high knowledge and approval rate of family planning, the socio-cultural influence of men on their wives is a major stumbling block to the use of modern family planning in this part of Nigeria. Policy makers should, therefore, increase male involvement in family planning programs.