Religion, Fertility Intention and Contraceptive Use: A Retrospective Study of Couples in a Peri-Urban Community of South Western Nigeria

Politics, socio-economic, cultural and health related issues that serve as harbinger of social relationship among people in the society could not really be explained without looking at the religious belief of the people which formed out of social precept. This study is based on the baseline data from a longitudinal couple study in a peri-urban community, Ipetumodu, in Osun State, Nigeria collected between April and May, 2010. A total of 787 couples were sampled in this baseline and the cohort will be followed up for 2-3 years using an identical survey instrument and methodology in all the study sites. Our finding shows that religion play major role in couple’s decision for more children and more of the Muslim couples are not sure of their future fertility intentions. But as it concerns the use of contraceptive, more of the Christians are more favourably disposed to the use of family planning.