Knowledge, Attitude and Perceived Partner and Socio-cultural Support for Family Planning among Women of Reproductive Age in a Rural Community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Background: Family planning has been adopted as one of the strategies for improving maternal and child health. Family planning is beneficial in reducing maternal and child mortality and therefore, a vital strategy to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This study determined the knowledge, attitude, perceived partner and socio-cultural support for family planning among women of reproductive age in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 respondents attending antenatal clinic in a Primary health care facility in Nwezenyi village of Izzi Local Government Area. Data collection was in January 2019 over a 4-week period using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and 95% confidence interval was used with a p-value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Chi square statistics was used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and family planning knowledge. Predictors of family planning knowledge were determined with binary logistic regression using odds ratio as the measure of effect. Results: More than half of the respondents (65.5%) had good knowledge while almost all respondents (93.8%) had good attitude towards family planning. Few of the respondents reported that their doctrine/religion and culture supported family planning (23.9% and 23% respectively). Increasing age (AOR: 5.84, 95%CI: 1.85-18.46) and higher education (AOR: 16.69, 95%CI: 4.63-60.20) were predictors of family planning knowledge. Conclusion: There was good knowledge and positive attitude towards family planning among respondents, but cultural and doctrinal support of family planning were poor. Higher education and older age were predictors of family planning knowledge.