Influence of Spousal Communication about Family Planning and HIV/AIDSrelated Issues on Modern Contraceptive Use in Nigeria

Abstract

Contraceptive use in Nigeria at 15 percent is low, despite a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence of 3.4 percent and fertility rate of 5.7 percent. We assessed the levels of spousal communication on family planning and contraception (FPC) and HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the influence of demographic characteristics on this communication and association between this communication and the respondents’ health behaviors. We used a cross-sectional and nationally representative data on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS-related issues from randomly selected 30,752 men and women of reproductive age. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square (c2), and logistic regression were used to analyze the data at 5 percent significance level. About 61 percent of the respondents were 25–49 years old and mostly from rural areas (65 percent). Only 20 percent of the respondents discussed HIV/AIDS with their spouses within 12 months preceding the survey while 15 percent discussed FPC. A discussion of both HIV/AIDS and FPC among spouses was reported among 9 percent compared to 26 percent who reported discussing either. Respondents were aged 35–39 years had higher odds of discussing HIV/AIDS (Odds Ratios [OR] = 7.06:6.16–8.09) than those aged 15–19 years. Urban dwellers also had higher odds (OR = 1.24:1.16–1.31) of HIV/AIDS discussions than rural respondents. Modern contraceptive use was 35 percent and 23 percent among respondents who discussed FPC and HIV/AIDS compared to 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively, among those who did not. Spousal communication on FP and HIV/AIDS was low and has influenced contraceptive use and HIV positivity in Nigeria. There is a need to encourage spousal discussion on FP and HIV/AIDS, especially among the rural dwellers and the poor and uneducated as a strategy for improving modern contraceptive use.