THE PERCEPTION OF RURAL WOMEN TOWARDS FAMILY PLANNING IN ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the perception of rural women towards family planning in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The study adopted the survey research and was guided by four research questions.  The population of the study comprised 200 rural women of reproductive age in Etsako East Local Government Area. The instrument for data collection was a self-designed structured questionnaire divided into two sections of A and B which cover demographic information of the respondents and research items respectively of a two-point scale of Yes and No.  Simple percentage and frequency distribution was used to analyze data related to the research questions. The results showed that the perception of rural women in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State was relatively high but not satisfactory. On the basis of foregoing, the study recommended, among others, that more family planning facilities be built in the Etsako East Local Government Area as this will raise awareness of the issue and motivate residents to use family planning more frequently and that the government should provide free family planning services, especially to women in rural areas, to help address the issue of financial hardship.