ISLAM AND FAMILY PLANNING; A CASE STUDY OF ASOKORE MAMPONG MUNICIPALITY IN THE ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The study examined Islam and family planning uptake among Muslim women and adolescent girls in the Asokore Mampong municipality in the Ashanti region. The study employed the survey research design and used multi-stage sampling method to select 385 respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the demographic characteristics of respondents, Muslim women and adolescent girls’ access to FP services, point of accessing FP services, and common FP products accessed. Also, the study examined the effect of the Islamic religion on FP access. Finally the study examined the effect of other factors affecting FP among Muslim women and adolescent girls. The results of the study indicate that majority (30.9%) of the respondent fall within the age 30-34 years and 35-39 years (20.5%). Also the study indicate that majority (60.8%) were married and 32.2% being single. Furthermore, 10.6% of the respondents do not have formal education whereas the 89.4% have had basic, senior or tertiary education. The study again revealed high respondent (55.6%) to FP services and 71.6% of access to FP services. The various point of access of FP include; hospital (51.9%), drug store (39.48%) and other sources (8.57%). The study indicate that the Islamic religion has a significant influence on FP access at p-value=0.004. Also, other factors such as education (p-value=0.003), age (p-value=0.005) influenced FP access at 5% significance level. Again, other factors such as time spent on marriage (p-value=0.016), marital status (p-value=0.077) and type of facility for FP service (p-value=0.080) have significant influence on FP access at 10% significance level. Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations were made; the need for family planning education and advocacy: this should be targeted at male partners and Islamic leaders who preaching influence access to FP services. Also, widen up access to family planning services, to include rural communities, and health facility based FP counselling services to upscale uptake of FP in the Asokore Mampong municipality.