article · Open Access Journal of Contraception
Contraceptive use in Nigeria remains low at approximately 11% to 13%, despite high levels of sexual activity and widespread awareness of contraceptive methods among adolescents and youths. Consequently, high numbers of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions contribute significantly to elevated maternal mortality ratios, reflecting a substantial unmet need for family planning. Research demonstrates that widespread myths regarding the side effects of modern contraceptives represent the primary driver of this low uptake. Addressing this gap requires national political will to scale up family planning programmes through community-oriented approaches and targeted communication strategies. Guiding revisions to national population policy aims to improve contraceptive uptake and ultimately enhance maternal health outcomes across the country.
Low contraceptive adoption directly drives preventable maternal deaths and unplanned pregnancies in Nigeria. By identifying prevailing misconceptions about side effects as the principal barrier, these insights highlight the necessity for clear public health communication and dedicated political commitment. Scaling community-focused programmes can help lower maternal mortality and improve reproductive healthcare delivery nationwide.
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Abstract: The current prevalence rate for contraceptive use in Nigeria is approximately 11%–13%. This rate is very low in spite of the high rate of sexual activity and widespread awareness of the various contraceptive methods among Nigerian adolescence and youths. As a result there are many unintended pregnancies and illegal abortions contributing to a high maternal mortality ratio, which seems to indicate a large unmet need for contraceptive use. There is ample research evidence identifying the various factors that contribute to the low prevalence of modern contraceptive use in Nigeria, with the most common factor being the myth about the side effects of modern contraceptives. However, what is lacking is a political will in Nigeria to provide family planning programs on a much larger scale, using community-oriented approaches and communication programs, to help change the myth about the side effects of modern contraceptives. This review highlights current methods and concepts in contraception, reasons for low contraceptive use and practice in Nigeria, and the need for Nigeria to generate a political priority and a will to make a change in maternal health indicators, with the ultimate goal of providing direction to guide changes in the Nigerian Population Policy as it affects contraceptive use and family planning. Keywords: contraceptive practice, literature review, research, Nigeria
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DOI: 10.2147/oajc.s9281
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