Psycho-Social Factors Influencing the Acceptance of Family Planning Methods

Abstract

This study explored psycho-social factors influencing the acceptance of family planning methods among the young adults in a tertiary institution in Kwara State. 150 students within the age of 18 and 25 years were randomly selected for the study. A self-reporting instrument was used for needed information. Findings from the study showed that religion, culture, abstinence/fidelity, exposure to knowledge of reproductive health services, multiple sexual partners, knowledge about sexually transmitted infection and HIV/AIDS, dangers of abortion, negative effects of pre-marital sex, accessibility to family planning facilities are some of the psycho-social factors identified as influencing the acceptance of family planning methods. It is therefore recommended that family health education should be properly taught in schools at different levels of education especially now that it has been built into the school curricula. Also, various programs should be sponsored by both public and private organizations on mass media on family health as this is necessary to sustain any gain from national development.