Knowledge and Contraceptive Practices Among Mothers Attending Ante natal Clinic in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
Abstract:
Introduction: Among the 1.9 billion women of Reproductive Age group (15-49 years) worldwide, 1.1 billion have a need for Contraceptive. When births are separated for two years, infant mortality rate is reduced by 45%.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and contraceptive practices among mothers that attend antenatal clinic in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Methodology: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that assessed the Knowledge and contracep tive practices among mothers attending antenatal clinic in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State. Data was presented in tables. Summary statistics such as mean, frequency and proportion were used to represent quantitative data. Chi-square was used, at 95% confidence interval, and P-value was set at 0.05.
Results: Most of the mothers (87.2%) had good knowledge of contraceptives, while 12.8% had poor knowl edge. However, majority of the respondents (80.6%) had poor contraceptive practice while only 19.4% of them had good practice. The factors that affected the respondents’ contraceptive practice were: objection from spouse, cultural and religious belief, and difficulty in accessing most contraceptive methods.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The respondents had good knowledge, but poor contraceptive practice. Therefore, misconceptions about contraceptives should be debunked through continuous health education of the general population. Contraceptives should also be made readily available to the users.
