Characteristics of natural family planning users: a case study of Nairobi

Abstract

Natural Family Planning (NFP) , which is the core of this study, is a method of birth regulation which does not involve the use of chemicals mechanical gadgets or operations. It involves the use of fertility awareness of the female's cycle. The thesis intended to find out some of the socio-cultural, economic, behavioral and demographic attributes which characterizes the users of NFP methods. Here the selected variables for study included ethnicity, religion, occupation, educational level, difficulty in abstinence, spousal communication, age and duration of marriage. The other main objective of the study was examination of the perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of NFP methods. From the review of literature, the study found out that some primitive form of Natural Family Planning has been in use since ancient times according to Ramaswamy (1976), Guzzetti (1980) and Babara (1982), and it was not until 1930's when the modern NFP methods were discovered (C.D.C. 1983). The literature indicated that the characteristics of NFP users are varied and findings from different researches and regions at times seem to conflict as shown by findings on religion characteristics which ranges from Catholics to non-christian regions (Borkman et all 1983). However the literature reviewed generally concurred that NFP users are characterized by high level of couple communication, varied socioeconomic, socio-cultural and demographic attributes while the perceived advantages include absence of side effects and marriage enrichment and chief disadvantages is lack of husband co-operation as shown by works of Ramaswany (1976), Hatches (1980) Borkman et al (1983), Lancot et al (1984), Klan(1986), IISNFP, Gundy (1987), and Kiura (1990). The study, using descriptive statistical techniques, found out that socio-cultural, economic, behavioral and demographic characteristics of NFP users are generally similar to those of artificial users, and thus concluded in general terms that NFP methods, if given emphasis in all family planning clinics can be accepted and used by varied number of people. One significant different between NFP and artificial users, found by the study was the existence of high level of couple communication and cooperation among NFP users, while little among artificial users. Significant advantages given for NFP use included marriage enrichment and lack of side effects (37.6%; 56.5%) while the most mentioned disadvantaged is the creation of tensions between the spouses during the fertile phase of the woman's cycle (1.2%; 34.3%) from NFP and artificial users respectively. The study using its findings made some recommendations which include the need to widely disseminate the correct and most modern NFP services to dispel the widespread ignorance among the public and thus to enhance its use in the country and the need to underline the values associated with it in its teaching. Research recommendations include the need to investigate the various determinants of NFP acceptance and its continued use, inter alia