Peter Olasupo Ogunjuyigbe

Violence Against Women: An Examination of Men's Attitudes and Perceptions About Wife Beating and Contraceptive Use

The objective of this study is to examine the attitudes and perceptions of men towards domestic violence and contraceptive use. Data for the study were obtained from a survey conducted between February and May 2003 in Osun and Ondo states of south west Nigeria. The study reveals that: (1) more than 80 per cent of men disapprove of a woman deciding to use contraceptives without consulting them; (2) a significant proportion of men view domestic violence as acceptable; (3) the results therefore signify serious problems concerning the role of men in reproductive issues, which the current efforts in family planning have not adequately addressed.

Violence against Women as a Factor in Unmet Need for Contraception in Southwest Nigeria

Evidence abounds that the relatively low patronage of family planning services in Nigeria is not simply as a result of the people being resolutely pronatalist. Available statistics indicate that some women are not using contraceptive despite their stated desires to limit or space births and as much as 62% of women with unmet need in Nigeria do not intend to use contraceptive. The paper examines the significance of violence against women in relation to unmet need for contraception. The study utilizes data obtained from a survey which took place in 2004 in six different locations (three rural and three urban) drawn from two of the six Southwestern states, Nigeria. Our findings indicate that domestic violence was not a strong factor influencing contraceptive use and unmet need in the area as spousal opposition was not cited as their reason by any of the women who were not using contraceptives.

Mate Selection and Marital Fertility: The Case of The Yorubas in the Rural Areas

Abstract This study demonstrates that marital fertility varies according to mode of mate selection among the Yorubas. Data for the study were obtained from a survey conducted in two rural communities in Osun State, Nigeria. The study reveals that (i) the involvement of family in choice of partner is declining in the rural communities just as it is happening among the Yorubas in the urban areas (ii) the level of marital fertility is still high among the group in spite of the changing attitudes of the people. The study therefore indicates the need to re-orientate the views of people towards achieving a lower fertility in the rural communities through such measures as incentive giving, education and extension of family planning programmes to the rural areas.

Spousal Communication, Changes in Partner Attitude and Contraceptive Use Among the Yorubas of Southwest Nigeria

Abstract The paper highlights the relevance of spousal communication on male attitude towards their partners’ contraceptive use. Data for the study were obtained from a survey carried out in three Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, mainly inhabited by the Yorubas. The results show that men have significant role to play in the adoption of contraception. Communication between husband and wife on reproductive matters was also recognized as a factor that may influence men participation in family planning. The results therefore suggest that men involvement in family planning should be encouraged through interspousal communication.

Perspectives on socio-cultural context of adolescent reproductive health behaviour in Nigeria

This paper utilizes data collected using structured questionnaire, focus group discussion, Rapid Participatory Assessment (RPA) and in-depth interview with stakeholders to obtain information from adolescents on the context of their behaviour at family level, work place, school, the society. The aim was to appraise the changes in the socio-cultural context of adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The study which was carried out among 3,141 adolescents selected from the state capital, one medium-sized town and two villages in three Nigerian states indicates that: (i) premarital sexual behavior has become more common overtime, as Nigerian society has undergone marked social change (ii) most parents do not talk with their adolescent children about family life issues such as sex, pregnancy and contraception mainly because of cultural beliefs. Increasingly, religion and its insistence on chastity is now a dominant factor in adolescent sexual and reproductive health matters.

Problems of Gender Differentials in Literacy and Enrolment Among the Yorubas of South- West Nigeria

Abstract This study was designed in response to the general concern for the low educational status of Nigerian women. Data for the study were obtained from a survey conducted in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Osun and Oyo states of South Western Nigeria. These include Ola-Oluwa in Osun State and Ogo-Oluwa in Oyo state, the two LGAs where the existing disparity is worsening to the disadvantage of women and girl child and Obokun local government area in Osun state with high female literacy and enrolment serving as control local government area. The study revealed the depth of the problem of gender disparity. It revealed (i) that the main causes of gender disparity are fear of early marriage and pregnancy, the poor attitudes of government, escalating costs and cultural factors (ii) that mostly in Muslim communities, parents and girls share the culture of early marriage and work towards it quite early, and (iii) that parents were more interested in boys’ education than girls’. To tackle these problems, measures such as public enlightment, free education at all levels, improved infrastructure and teaching standards, literacy campaigns as well as increased financial commitment by the parents were recommended.

Knowledge of STD / AIDS among Nigerian youths not-in-school and their risk reduction behaviour.

Abstract This study investigated the knowledge and awareness of STDs/AIDS among Nigerian youths not-in-school and their risk reduction behaviour. Two hundred and fifty youths operating around Mushin and Idumota areas of Lagos State were surveyed. Results indicated that majority of the youths knew that STDs and AIDS are contacted through sexual contact. However, a significant proportion still hold the views that the transmission of STDs and AIDS could be due to witches/wizard or an act of God or supernatural causes. Though most of the youths believe that condoms can prevent STDs and AIDS, but just one-third had ever used them. The youths believe that avoidance of sex with prostitutes and reduction of number of sexual partners will safe them from contacting STDs or AIDS. The results suggest that the adverse social and economic factors associated with perpetuation on a cycle of poverty which push many of these youths out of school should be attacked. It equally suggests that the youths not-in-school require a well organised and specifically targeted educational programmes.