Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing Choice of Bilateral Tubal Ligation Among Women Attending University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Abstract

The study examined socio-cultural factors influencing choice of bilateral tubal ligation among women attending University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Increase in child bearing subject women to reproductive health problem of ruptured uterus, miscarriage and abortion due to unwanted pregnancy which leads to high maternal mortality. A descriptive research design of survey type was used for this study. The population for this study comprised all child bearing age women attending Family Planning Clinic in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents from749 women attending the Family Planning Clinic, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Researchers’ structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire was validated by three experts. A correlation co-efficient of r= 0.73 was obtained through test re-test method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Questionnaire was administered by the researchers and three (3) trained research assistants. The three null hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics of chi-square at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The results revealed that educational status, psychosocial factors and religious belief have significant influence on the choice of bilateral tubal ligation among women attending family planning clinic, in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Therefore, it was recommended that there should be health education programmes for women through seminars to improve their knowledge on choice of bilateral tubal ligation. Women should be provided with adequate information by health care provider to be guided on psychosocial issue(s) such as fear of surgery and anesthesia complications.

Keywords: Bilateral Tubal Ligation, socio-cultural factors, educational status, psychosocial factors, religious belief