Improving contraceptive use in northern Nigeria: Could male involvement make a difference?

Latifat Ibisomi, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

This paper analyzed men’s attitude to and experiences with contraceptive use in northern Nigeria, a region characterized by high fertility regimes and very low use of contraception. Using individual male data of the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, we fitted logistic regression models to identify factors associated with men’s knowledge, approval, discussion and use of modern methods of contraception. Findings indicate that education and household wealth are positively associated with the four outcomes. Muslim men from the Core North are less likely to have knowledge, approve, discuss and use modern methods of contraception compared to men from North Central. The interactions of region with education, wealth and religion show that the effects of the three variables on knowledge, approval, discussion and use of family planning are generally stronger in the North Central compared to the Core North. The implications of findings for population and reproductive health policies are discussed.