News Update
In commemoration of World Contraception Day (WCD) on Thursday, September 26, health experts in Nigeria, including Prof. Josiah Mutihir of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), have called attention to the critical role of contraception in empowering individuals to take control of their reproductive health.
At a Webinar hosted by Development Communications Network (DevComs) with support from The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Nigeria), titled ‘Breaking Barriers: Advancing Access to Family Planning in Resource-Limited Settings,’ the experts emphasised the need for Nigeria to address unbridled procreation that has led the country and its citizens to varied hardships over the years. Despite years of global celebrations aimed at raising awareness, Nigeria continues to face significant barriers in family planning.
Mutihir, along with other leading health professionals, at the Webinar emphasised that expanding access to contraception is key to improving health outcomes, reducing maternal mortality, and ensuring young Nigerians can make informed decisions about their reproductive futures.
This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Options: Empowering Choice, Enhancing Health,’ highlights the importance of diverse contraceptive choices, especially in resource-limited settings like Nigeria, where cultural, economic, and logistical challenges continue to hinder access to essential reproductive health services, he said.
The WCD serves as a platform for sensitising the public on contraception—what it is, its benefits, and how individuals can access it. While awareness levels are high, with over 90 per cent of both men and women in Nigeria knowledgeable about contraception, the usage rate remains alarmingly low at just 17 per cent.
Furthermore, Nigeria continues to grapple with an unmet need for contraception at 24.8 per cent, revealing a gap between knowledge and access to effective family planning methods. Mutihir emphasises that options create choices, and choices are key to empowering individuals to plan their families and futures.
From natural family planning methods to hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, and permanent solutions, various contraceptive options exist, but access remains a pressing issue, particularly in underserved areas of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) has shown minimal improvement over the years despite the significant resources invested by organisations and projects. Mutihir pointed out several barriers preventing widespread contraceptive use, including poor funding from national, state, and local government authorities; commodity stock-outs and limited availability of contraceptive methods; untrained healthcare providers and biases in service provision; inadequate facilities and poor access to contraceptive services, especially in rural areas; cultural, religious, and political influences, which further complicate efforts to promote contraception.
Additionally, widespread myths and misconceptions, concerns over future fertility, and the fear of side effects deter many young Nigerians from embracing modern contraceptives. These barriers are further exacerbated by spousal disagreement, poverty, and the influence of religious and cultural leaders. During the discussion, Lovina Emole, a participant from Akwa Ibom emphasised the significant challenge posed by limited government funding for reproductive health programmes.
As we celebrate WCD 2024, Mutihir called for a collective effort to break the barriers to contraceptive access in Nigeria. He emphasised the following areas of focus: government action at all levels is needed to ensure adequate funding, the distribution of commodities, and the training of healthcare providers; the role of leaders – Ethnic, religious, cultural, and community leaders must advocate for the importance of family planning and educate their communities; sustained advocacy.
The media, professional bodies, and NGOs must continue pushing for policies that promote access to contraception and challenge societal norms that hinder family planning; and private sector involvement in expanding access to affordable contraceptives, particularly in resource-limited settings.
On her part, Lovina Victor Ibiok, Akwa Ibom Health Promotion Officer, advocated educating religious leaders on family planning to dispel misconceptions.
“Many believers view contraceptives as immoral, by empowering leaders as influencers, they can promote informed decision-making and encourage followers to adopt family planning methods, improving overall health and well-being,” she said.
Mrs Patricia Osazuwa Edo State, Director of Nursing Services said “Comprehensive education on reproductive health and informed decision-making is essential for empowering young people”.
Isaac Adamu from Plateau emphasised the importance of male involvement in reproductive health decisions, suggesting that Family Planning Champions can be crucial in influencing informed choices.
The benefits of contraception extend beyond individual health. Increased contraceptive use can reduce maternal and infant mortality rates; improve socio-economic conditions, educational potential, and financial development for women and families; and empower women by offering freedom of choice in reproductive health decisions, leading to better quality of life at the individual, family, community, and national levels.