Revista de Enfermagem e Cuidados

Knowledge and practice of family planning among nursing mothers attending child welfare clinic in lagos university teaching hospital, lagos state

Abstract

Abiodun Samuel olowolafe*

This study assessed the knowledge and practice of family planning among nursing mothers attending child welfare clinic in Lagos university teaching hospital, Lagos state. The  family planning has called for global attraction because of its usefulness and importance in decision making regarding population growth regulation. The objectives of the study is to assess the Knowledge of family planning among nursing mothers, to assess the practice of family planning, to identify factors influencing utilization of modern family planning methods among nursing mothers. The significant of the study is to provide quality nursing care and support on family planning programme to nursing mothers confronted with the challenges. The target population consists of nursing mothers attending child welfare clinic in in Lagos university teaching hospital. Descriptive design of correlation type was adopted for the study and population of the study for three month comprised 600 nursing mothers and 240 nursing mothers was conveniently selected. Knowledge and Practice of Family Planning Among Nursing Mothers Questionnaire (KPFPANMQ) was used to collect data and same were analyzed descriptively and deferentially. The results showed that 60% of Nursing Mothers have good Knowledge of family planning, 53% of Nursing Mothers have not practice family planning. About 52% of respondent stated that myths, negative perceptions, false beliefs, weight gain, changes in the mood were factors influencing women from using modern family planning in their community. The study further indicated that sex education will lead to more sexual behavior. The hypothesis stated that there is no significant different between the educational backgrounds and knowledge of family planning in the study area was rejected (T-Cal= 136.98, df = 239 & p<0.5). The study concluded that the nursing mother have low practice of family planning despite the availability and accessibility of family planning method. It was recommended that Nurses should facilitate effective improvements on uses and practices of family planning among women during antenatal care.