Factors Affecting Family Planning

2.2 Socio- Economic and Cultural Factors Affecting Family Planning Practice

The link between the belief in life after death, ancestral descent, and fertility is well documented in the literature (Caldwell, 1987). This belief entrenched in traditional religion, is part of the psyche of many Africans, it is unknown to what extent Westernization has changed this belief. Male dominance is another aspect of the cultural system that is said to promote high fertility in Ghana. Recently, much attention has been paid to the role that men play in respect to reproduction and family planning. Evidence suggested that men in most societies in Nigeria (and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa) often live pro-natalists life style and as such who use power to ensure

Men preferred fertility in their rural areas was 5.5 and that of urban men was 4.1 (GDHS, 2003). The economic theory of fertility used in demography, assumes that husbands and wives acting as a unit weigh the cost and benefits of children against the cost of other competing goods and subsequently arrives at a desired family size and that reflect their interest has put forth the’ wealth Flows theory ‘and argued that the inter-generational transfer of wealth, which he assumes, is usually from children to parents is a major determinant of high fertility (Becker, 1960; Caldwell, 1977). This theory addresses the rural nature of most African households and argues that in a predominantly subsistence economics such as Sub-Saharan Africa, large families constitute assets. However, some studies have shown that wealth flows theory has little effect on child bearing (Makinwa,

» (Male Respondent)

Many female non-FP users stated that men do not care about FP. One female non-FP user stated: “My husband told me that my responsibility in this home is to bear children so there is no need to discuss family planning at all and I accepted that!”

Community health workers who were interviewed also referred to gender power dynamics in couples’ FP decision-making: “A good woman obeys her spouse in all decisions; if she wants to use FP without her husband’s agreement, she can easily be kicked out. That is why women accept to be oppressed by their men and to have many children.” (Community Health Worker)

Other community health workers explained that, male dominance is well accepted in the community: «Men’s superiority is illustrated by proverbs such as « “a bull fertilizes but it is not attached to child care.”” (Community Health