Evaluation of the Factors Influencing the Use of Contraceptives and Family Planning Methods Among Youths in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: The rapid increase in the proportion of sexually active adolescents is exposing large numbers of youths to the risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. This is because the knowledge of contraceptive and family planning methods use in Nigeria is low, resulting in serious reproductive health problems such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe induced abortion, high rate of vesico - vaginal fistula, (VVF) high maternal mortality rates, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS and above all, increase in population in both rural and urban areas. The main thrust of this study was to evaluate the factors influencing the use of contraceptives and family planning methods among youths in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study population were all youths between the ages of 15-30years in Calabar Metropolis. Non-probability sampling involving purposive and simple random sampling technique were adopted in the selection of two hundred and forty (240) respondents. The data for this study were obtained primarily through the questionnaire and personal interviews. The quantitative and descriptive approaches were adopted. The data were analyzed using frequency tables and percentage distribution. Results: The findings of the study showed that religious barriers, cultural barriers and educational status/level of awareness of the youths greatly influenced their knowledge and use of contraceptives and family planning methods. Conclusion: The study revealed that the adolescents of Calabar Metropolis had knowledge of the use of contraceptives and other family planning methods, but this did not translate to actual practice due to some factors such as religious barriers, cultural barriers as well as their educational status/level of awareness. It was therefore concluded that religious and cultural barriers which impede the use of contraceptives and family planning methods by youths should be modernized to imbibe the concept of proper use of contraceptive to protect them from preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases as well as guide against unwanted pregnancies and promote child spacing.