Perception of and Attitudes toward the Nigerian Federal Population Policy, Family Planning Program and Family Planning in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This paper discusses the perceptions of the Nigerian population policy, family planning program and family planning using data obtained from a 1995 survey of 600 Atyap women aged 15–49 years, in Nigeria. Additional qualitative data were obtained from married and unmarried women and men, clergymen, government officials, and respected community elders. The predominantly Christian and rural Atyap community generally accepts modern contraception and the need for family size reduction but considers the “four-is-enough” policy to be unacceptable. Religion may be important in determining the success of the federal government to reduce family size to four children by the year 2000. (Afr J Reprod Health 2000; 4 [1]: 66-76) Key Words: Population policy, family planning program, Kaduna State, Nigeria