GENDER INEQUALITY ON CONTRACEPTIVE USE AMONG YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the countries deeply entrenched in patrilineal culture. This tends to create gender imbalance in most of its affair especially that which affects the household. One of such gender imbalances is in the use of birth control mechanism (contraceptives) especially among young married couples in Benin City. The study made use of qualitative method of data collection (which included in-depth interview and content analysis) using 14 respondents (7 males and 7 females) whose marriage was less than 15 years. It was observed that women usually have limited influence in determining the use of contraceptive method especially when the men (their husband) are deeply rooted in traditional belief of male dominance. Hence educative family planning needs to be re-awakened for both sexes to create a healthy individual, caring family and progressive society.