CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Family planning (FP) helps couples and individuals realize their basic right to decide freely and responsibly if and when to have children, as well as how many children to have. The use of contraceptive methods results not only to improvements in health-related outcomes but also, advance educational and economic outcomes, especially for girls and women (United Nations, World family planning 2017).

More specifically, the use of contraceptives can save an estimated 2.7 million infant deaths and the loss of 60 million healthy lives globally each year (Darroch JE et al., 2008) Similarly, contraceptive use can prevent at least 25% of all maternal deaths by preventing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions and also protect against sexually transmitted infections (Weldegerima B et al., 2008).

 The international community is committed to reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030, as per the third Sustainable Development Goal (United Nations General Assembly 2015).Pregnancy-related complications like abortion account for a large number of deaths amongst mothers and infants, particularly in developing nations (Donovan P et al,. 2002).

However, irrespective of its considerable benefits, Family Planning practices are not being carried out by most of the developing countries (WHO 2018). Worldwide in 2017, 63% of married or in-union women were using some form of contraception, yet one in ten married or in-union women still have an unmet need for FP (United Nations 2017).  The most rapid growth in the prevalence of contraceptive use in 2015 occurred in Asia 61%, and Latin America 69% (United Nations; 2018). 

In Africa, as many as one in five women have an unmet need for Family planning and just 36% of married or in-union women were using contraception in 2017 ( World family planning 2017).  The prevalence of contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa increased at a much slower pace reaching only 25% in 2015 (United Nations; 2018).  Unmet need in 2017 was the highest (above 20%, double the world average in 2017) in the regions of Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Western Africa, and Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, where contraceptive prevalence ranged from 20% in Western Africa to 43% in Eastern Africa (World family planning 2017).

 In Cameroon, according to Macro (2017), an estimated 0.3% – 0.5 % of unwanted pregnancies were reported. The latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2001 show that 7.8% of women aged 15 to 19 years were pregnant of their first child in rural communities.

According to the 2011 National Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in Cameroon, it states that, only 16% of women of childbearing age were using a modern contraceptive method. The rate of modern contraceptive use was 20.9% in the Northwest Region of Cameroon with a 17.7% prevalence of unmet need for family planning.

1.2   Problem Statement

All over the world and Cameroon in particular, many women would like to delay or stop childbearing, but they fail to use any method of family planning.  Some of the reasons include knowledge of awareness, limited access to contraception particularly young and unmarried people, social issues including partner opposition and fear of side effects

Cases of unwanted pregnancies, high parity and clandestine abortions have been reported. This situation motivated me to carry out a study on the knowledge and factors hindering family planning among women attending the ANC in the CMA Muea hospital and the Muea community.

1.3 Rationale

This study will provide data that may help buildup knowledge and improve on how women in the Muea community will benefits from the family planning campaign and the use of contraceptives.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the Knowledge on family planning among women in the Muea community?
2. What are the factors hindering family planning among women in the Muea community?

1.5 Objectives

1.5.1 General Objective

To investigate the Knowledge and factors hindering family planning in the Muea community of Buea.

1.5.1 Specific Objectives

1. To assess the knowledge of family planning among women in the Muea community
2. To assess the factors hindering family planning in the Muea community.