Influence of Family Planning Media Programmes on the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Residents of Enugu Metropolis

This study evaluates mass media coverage of family planning programmes and population control, with focus on married men and women in Enugu metropolis. Accordingly, the Survey research methodological approach was adopted. Based on the statistics obtained from the National Population Commission, Enugu State Office, the total population of Enugu metropolis is 722,664 with 40% (289,066) of them as married based on 2006 population Census figure. In consonance with the above statistics, the population for this research is 289,066. A sample size of 400 was taken using Taro Yamaneƒ??s formula. In testing the four hypothetical statements, Chi-square statistical tool was used. Evidence from research data, therefore, indicates that Media coverage of family planning programmes has not caused families in Enugu metropolis to adopt population control measures. Research finding shows that educated people are more prone to accepting family planning messages from the news media than uneducated people. The researchers conclude that the research findings conformed with the research objectives and assumptions earlier made. Based on the research findings and the conclusions drawn, the researchers recommend that medical professionals should be sent to the rural areas to educate them more on the need for family planning, if possible in their dialect for proximity. Taking cognizance of the heterogeneous and large audience spread across these locations, the communication media should be used by these professionals in this regard.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Not applicable

The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.