Experts emphasize need for health literacy for men to boost family planning
By Emiene Erameh
Kwara state commissioner of Health Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam has emphasized the importance of involving people men into family planning work more closely as a way of boosting the uptake of Family Planning (FP) among women in the state.
Dr EL-Imam was speaking against the backdrop of a panel discussion at the recently concluded 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference by Dr Abraham Idokoko who noted that the Health Literacy (HL) of Nigerian men aged 15-59 years old is a significant predictor of the uptake of modern contraception by their women partners aged 15-49years.
According to Dr Idokoko, research had shown that the higher the HL of a man, the more likely that his female partner will use a FP service in Nigeria.
Dr EL-Imam who agrees with the research finding said it is crucial to factor men into any discussions around health and specifically family planning noting that men cannot support what they do not understand.
Similarly, Zainab Nasir Ahmad the Executive Director of Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases & Social Vices, said in Kano Health Literacy is very important in order to address the misconception around family planning.
“If you say family planning, people always think you are saying people should not give birth. So, they will start using religious or cultural beliefs in order to counter the campaign, so we normally call it child birth spacing for acceptability because people.”
While Nigeria’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) experienced a marginal increase to 15 percent from 12 percent, according to data from the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, unmet needs remain pegged at 21 percent.
Dr EL-Imam who acknowledged that HL is a major part of securing buy-in from men when it comes to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly in the African context, said ensuring people have a clear understanding of the multitude of benefits of family planning makes it possible for them to make informed decisions around the health of themselves and their families and increase the uptake of FP.